The BeeSmart demonstrator promotes sustainable apiculture as an integrated WEFE solution in southern Albania. Through the installation of solar-powered electric fences, it protects beehives and wildlife, reducing human–bear conflict. The initiative enhances biodiversity and rural livelihoods by promoting organic honey, apitherapy, and pollination-based food production. BeeSmart demonstrates how renewable energy and ecosystem services can jointly strengthen food security, health, and environmental resilience in Mediterranean rural areas.
Descriptive Summary
Background
In rural Albania, especially in the Vlorë and Vjosa corridor, small-scale beekeepers face combined ecological and socio-economic challenges. Frequent bear attacks destroy hives and reduce livelihoods, while pesticide use and climate variability threaten pollination services. These pressures compromise both biodiversity and local food systems. Additionally, rural communities have limited access to renewable energy and lack digital or technical tools to manage apiaries sustainably.
The BeeSmart initiative was developed to address these challenges by integrating solar energy, biodiversity conservation, and apitherapy-based health approaches within one holistic model. The area is characterized by a Mediterranean climate with high potential for solar power and floral diversity, but vulnerable ecosystems and rural poverty make the transition toward sustainable resource management essential.
Aims and Goals
The BeeSmart demonstrator aims to integrate three WEFE Nexus pillars — Energy, Food, and Ecosystems — through sustainable apiculture practices. Its goals are to:
• Implement solar-powered fencing systems to protect apiaries from bear attacks, ensuring coexistence between pollinators and charismatic wildlife species;
• Promote organic and bio honey production, improving food security and creating rural income opportunities;
• Strengthen ecosystem resilience through pollination, plant diversity, and reduced pesticide use;
• Introduce apitherapy techniques using royal jelly and propolis to improve children’s immunity in poor rural families;
• Encourage women and youth participation in sustainable beekeeping;
The project’s short-term goals include training beekeepers and installing solar fences. Long-term objectives focus on scaling up across other Mediterranean regions and linking renewable energy, biodiversity protection, and local food systems as a replicable WEFE model.
Actions taken
Installed solar-powered electric fences around vulnerable apiaries to prevent bear attacks while protecting wildlife;
• Organized local training workshops on renewable energy use, organic production, and apitherapy;
• Promoted the use of propolis, royal jelly, and honey for community health in rural schools;
• Participated in regional fairs and honey exhibitions to showcase bio and organic products;
• Developed awareness campaigns on the role of pollinators in food and ecosystem health;
• Partnered with local institutions and beekeepers’ associations to expand the model across the Vjosa–Karaburun area;
• Engaged youth and women beekeepers through practical demonstrations and digital monitoring tools.
A total of approximately 300–400 meters of solar-powered electric fencing have been installed to protect around 120 beehives from bear attacks.
The system includes 2 solar panels of 120W each, powering low-voltage perimeter fencing designed for wildlife-friendly protection
In the pilot area, approximately 450 meters of solar-powered fencing were installed to protect around 120 beehives from bear attacks. The system operates through 6 solar panels (each 300W) connected to an automatic electric pulse controller. Since implementation, annual honey production has reached over 1,200 kg of organic-certified honey, directly improving local incomes and promoting sustainable beekeeping practices.
Main Achievement to date
• Reduction of hive losses due to bear attacks by 80% in pilot areas;
• Improved coexistence between wildlife and beekeepers using solar-powered technology;
• Increased production of organic honey and introduction of bio-certification standards;
• Raised community awareness about apitherapy and natural immunity boosters;
• Empowered 40+ rural beekeepers, including women and youth;
• Created synergies among local institutions for sustainable energy and biodiversity management;
• Demonstrated measurable ecosystem benefits through pollination and vegetation regeneration in the Vjosa corridor.
-Annual honey production in the pilot site increased to approximately 2,000–2,500 kg per season, due to reduced hive losses and improved colony stability.
The initiative has been implemented in collaboration with students of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and in cooperation with the Union of Beekeepers of Albania, enhancing practical learning and community participation in sustainable apiculture.
Lessons, replicability and scalability potential
The BeeSmart model demonstrates that integrating renewable energy with biodiversity-based livelihoods can deliver tangible co-benefits across the WEFE pillars. The use of solar-powered fences can be replicated easily in other Mediterranean rural areas facing similar human–wildlife conflicts. Apitherapy practices and organic honey production offer additional income and health benefits. Lessons learned emphasize the importance of community engagement, local training, and multi-stakeholder partnerships for long-term sustainability.
The demonstrator has strong scalability potential — the solar-beekeeping model can be adapted for different ecosystems and combined with digital monitoring for climate resilience. The initiative contributes to the SDGs 2, 7, 13, and 15, and offers a replicable WEFE-based framework linking food systems, clean energy, and ecosystem conservation.
