ATHU-0200114

A projekt tartalmának bemutatása:

The project aims to establish the foundations for cross border cooperation between beekeeping, agriculture, and nature conservation, with a particular focus on the dangers posed by invasive pests.
Invasive species with more significant impacts are rare and do not necessarily affect the entire population; they mostly appear as pests in a given segment. The Asian hornet is highlighted in this pilot project as a particularly suitable and well-applicable model for invasive species because its damage is fatal to bees, causes significant damage to biodiversity, and poses a direct threat to human life. Unlike the native species, Vespa velutina (i) attacks en masse near the nest; (ii) can spray venom that can cause eye damage; (iii) its nesting place is extremely varied, its presence can be expected in ground cavities, bushes, human constructions, and high trees; (iv) the upper limit of the number of nests per km2 is unknown.
The invasive hornet appeared earlier than expected in the border region in 2023 (Márta & Vas 2023), and was also detected in Austria in early 2024 (Schorkopf et al. 2024). In 2024, the species was reported from Slovakia (Kolics et al. 2024. in preprint). As its reappearance and spread in the region are expected in the near future, proactive defence methods need to be launched as soon as possible. Its hibernating forms spread effectively with shipments; thanks to its excellent flying ability, its spread is rapid, so coordinated monitoring and defence implemented in the border region is crucial. Our pilot project can also serve as an example for dealing with other, similarly effectively spreading invasive species, as the emerging network and institutional relationships can also be used for other invasive species that will have to be reckoned with in the near future for reasons of nature conservation and the economy.

News from the border areas shows that the population, but especially beekeepers and farmers, are already concerned about the spread of the species. The implementation of the project can also credibly inform the population and involve them in the proactive management of the problem. The network created in the pilot project forms the basis for a coordinated cross-border defence against invasive species expected in the region.
An important part of our project is to implement coordinated defence to prevent the further spread of invasive species. The later we act, the more serious the problem we have to deal with, and the costs involved will also multiply. This is supported by numerous examples from countries where the species has already settled. With the measures aimed at slowing down the spread, we want to achieve a synergistic effect:
- Growing trust in scientifically based new technologies
- Developing the ability to act with the help of networking
- Demonstrating the usefulness and effectiveness of cross-border measures through rapid, tangible success from the very beginning
The project creates a network that strengthens effective communication between the relevant partner institutions (AGES, MATE) in the two countries. There are a number of challenges faced by both partner countries in the cross-border natural area that can only be addressed with difficulty, expensively, or not at all without cooperation. This project focuses on the challenges faced jointly by beekeeping, agriculture, and nature conservation. In the case of the model species, one of the key elements of effective defence is the early detection and removal of nests. Radio telemetry can play an important role in this, as it can be used to find these in time, before the release of new queens.
Early intervention is crucial for containing invasive species, so sharing best practice methods through cross-border cooperation is essential.
The creation of a joint knowledge base and the exchange of experience is essential for effective defence. Workshops and online platforms can play an important role in this, enabling the involvement and information of experts, relevant economic actors, decision-makers, and the public.