Taal Wipes Out Bee Farm in Laguna

Heavy ashfall from stubborn Taal Volcano has worn out a bee farm in Calamba, Laguna.

Bee farmer Ame Locsin, who supervises the pasture for the University of Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Bee Program, said the field was a "miserable sight" following Taals explosion.

Calamba City in the province of Laguna lies about forty kilometers from Taal Volcano in neighboring Batangas province. Ash reached Laguna almost immediately after the volcano began erupting on January 12.

By Locsin's estimate, the farm misplaced approximately P200,000 in damage because of Taal's eruption, not to mention the effect on the bees that have lost their plant life.

The bee pasture is one of the program's experimental farms meant to show farmers and stakeholders the benefit of insects as pollinators, especially bees, Locsin stated.

"We want to bring back the pollinators to these areas and show them that it may be executed via planting and keeping a sanctuary sector inside the farm," she added.

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Within the farm's 1,500-square meter asset is a 350-square meter sanctuary zone or "yellow lane" where cosmos, marigold, copies, lagundi, and some wild plants had been planted. All of this was ruined by using the ashfall, which had became the rich brown earth gray.

"Ideally, the plants should have been lightly brushed then hosed down as soon because the ashfall lessened. But, unfortunately, there has been no water nor electricity to be had for several days," Locsin said.

Once the plots are cleared, the plants that could not be saved are discarded and replaced.

ALSO READ: Ash-Covered Fruits, Veggies Affected by Taal Eruption Still Safe to Eat After Washing

Backup plan needed

Locsin remarked that "being prudent" and having "backup plans" are needed for a calamity-susceptible country just like the Philippines. 

She said they have additional seedlings for replanting, which are housed in another site unaffected by the ashfall. Locsin added they had a contingency plan prepared even earlier than we started their project.

Relocating the bees from a new region is recommended if plant life is wiped out from an area, according to Locsin. She explained that bee colonies go back to their hive or container after sundown. To relocate these insects, the bee expert said just shut the bee's box at night and change the container to other areas.

Bees can assist after disasters

The farm's next step would be to assess the economic value in keeping with which of the bee flora had precise yields of honey, pollen, and propolis.

Set up in 2018, the Calamba farm has also been developing "bee houses" made of local materials to trap local solitary bees to nest. Nearby bee flowers then get pollinated, even as locals earn a living with the aid of planting inside the farm.

"We want bees for food security. Thirty-five percent of the world's plants are reliant on bee pollination directly. Indirectly, a number of the forage used for livestock also are dependent on pollination with the aid of bees," Locsin pointed out.

Cultivating bees can also assist in recovering in the aftermath of disasters. By planting trees and plant species pleasant to endemic bee populations, the new foliage might propagate faster due to pollination via the bees.

The government, according to Locsin, could assist by using changing the list of trees used in reforestation to native bee-friendly timber. She added vegetation used to beautify government buildings, and structures can be changed to bee-friendly flora.

The UPLB Bee Program already did the same approach with Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) survivors in Eastern Samar, she added.