Keeping honey bees in London is now so popular it is at risk of becoming unsustainable, experts have warned.
Concerns over the practice have also been raised in other major European cities, such as Paris and Berlin.
Professor Phil Stevenson at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, London, said the dwindling amount of pollen and nectar in the city was insufficient to sustain the insects, while honey bees were also "outcompeting" other species for food.
This worrying trend could potentially extend to Oslo and Copenhagen, he added.
Prof Stevenson was speaking at the launch of a major Kew Gardens report, State of the World's Plants and Fungi.
“While the honey bee is a fantastic animal – it provides fantastic services and pollination, it’s a great way to engage people in conservation – beekeeping in cities is now becoming so popular it’s actually becoming unsustainable in some because there’s insufficient nectar and pollen available to support the numbers of hives, let alone the other wild species that we have,” he said.
“Honey bees are now outcompeting these other species for food that they all need. So beekeeping to save bees could actually be having the opposite effect in some locations.”
The report warns that the message around biodiversity in regards to saving bees has not always been clearly communicated. Urban beekeeping has saved only one species – the honey bee – with no regard for how it interacts with other species, it says.
For instance, there is mounting evidence that honey bees transmit diseases to other wild species.
“In many city parks you’ll see signs telling you about the birds, bats, fungi, trees, grasses and wildflowers that live there, said Prof Stevenson. “This is fantastic, as positive interactions with nature in cities are known to improve well-being and inspire changes in lifestyles that promote conservation of biodiversity.
“However, what they don’t say is how all these organisms interact. We need much more information on the interactions and interdependence of organisms, and we mustn’t be afraid to give people more complex information.”
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Oscars in the UAE
The 90th Academy Awards will be aired in the UAE from 3.30am on Monday, March 5 on OSN, with the ceremony starting at 5am
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 2
Keita 5', Firmino 26'
Porto 0
Spain drain
CONVICTED
Lionel Messi Found guilty in 2016 of of using companies in Belize, Britain, Switzerland and Uruguay to avoid paying €4.1m in taxes on income earned from image rights. Sentenced to 21 months in jail and fined more than €2m. But prison sentence has since been replaced by another fine of €252,000.
Javier Mascherano Accepted one-year suspended sentence in January 2016 for tax fraud after found guilty of failing to pay €1.5m in taxes for 2011 and 2012. Unlike Messi he avoided trial by admitting to tax evasion.
Angel di Maria Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain star Angel di Maria was fined and given a 16-month prison sentence for tax fraud during his time at Real Madrid. But he is unlikely to go to prison as is normal in Spain for first offences for non-violent crimes carrying sentence of less than two years.
SUSPECTED
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid's star striker, accused of evading €14.7m in taxes, appears in court on Monday. Portuguese star faces four charges of fraud through offshore companies.
Jose Mourinho Manchester United manager accused of evading €3.3m in tax in 2011 and 2012, during time in charge at Real Madrid. But Gestifute, which represents him, says he has already settled matter with Spanish tax authorities.
Samuel Eto'o In November 2016, Spanish prosecutors sought jail sentence of 10 years and fines totalling €18m for Cameroonian, accused of failing to pay €3.9m in taxes during time at Barcelona from 2004 to 2009.
Radamel Falcao Colombian striker Falcao suspected of failing to correctly declare €7.4m of income earned from image rights between 2012 and 2013 while at Atletico Madrid. He has since paid €8.2m to Spanish tax authorities, a sum that includes interest on the original amount.
Jorge Mendes Portuguese super-agent put under official investigation last month by Spanish court investigating alleged tax evasion by Falcao, a client of his. He defended himself, telling closed-door hearing he "never" advised players in tax matters.
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Mercedes V250 Avantgarde specs
Engine: 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder turbo
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Power: 211hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0 l/100 km
Price: Dh235,000
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