B.S.C.A. is using beehives near the airport site to analyse biodiversity, as part of its environmental policy A project led by B.S.C.A., in collaboration with the not-for-profit Terre@Air, BeeOdiversity and SOWAER

CHARLEROI, 23 April 2024 – As part of its environmental policy, Brussels South Charleroi Airport has launched a project involving four beehives located near the airport site, on land belonging to SOWAER. The goal is twofold: to assess biodiversity and to analyse the impact of any pollution in and around the airport site. Working alongside the not-for-profit Terre@Air and BeeOdiversity, who are responsible for taking samples and analysing them, B.S.C.A. is planning to be proactively responsible and continue to reduce its environmental impact.

Bees are essential to maintaining plant biodiversity, playing an important role in our ecosystem. Acting as nature’s drones, they help us monitor pollutants and plant biodiversity, as well as the impact of an activity on the environment. With the support of BeeOdiversity and not-for-profit Terre@Air, Brussels South Charleroi Airport has set up two beehives around the airport on land belonging to SOWAER, towards Ransart. These are in addition to the two beehives belonging to the not-for-profit Terr@Air located in Jumet right next to the airport.

“My political work has always been, and continues to be, influenced by my scientific training,” explains the Minister in charge of Airports, “I feel that, in order to make the right decisions and set yourself realistic goals, it is vital that your sources of information are objective as well as being tried and tested.With this in mind, I applaud the scheme to set up beehives at B.S.C.A. in order to monitor the impact of the airport’s activity on the surrounding environment.Above and beyond the image that is conveyed, I feel that it is vital that public policies rely on facts and scientifically proven evidence if they want to have all the information they need to work together and in good conscience to decide what measures need to be taken to safeguard the airport’s future.”

In total, a bee colony gathers nectar from eight billion flowers every day. They travel within a radius of three kilometres around the beehives. The pollen collected is then analysed and helps B.S.C.A. take action to improve biodiversity on the airport site.

“Thanks to this project, we will have access to comprehensive data about the impact of our activities on the health of local residents,” explains Philippe VERDONCK, Chief Executive Officer of B.S.C.A. “Depending on the results, practical improvement measures will be taken accordingly.”

Professional, passionate beekeepers will make sure the beehives are looked after and the colonies are healthy. They will also be responsible for collecting pollen samples, which will then be analysed and fully assessed by BeeOdiversity.

The honey produced will then be subject to in-depth analyses in order to meet AFSCA standards. Once it is declared as being fit for consumption, it will then be distributed among the airport’s employees.

This project is also part of Well’Air, a SOWAER initiative, the aim of which is to create an airport community to implement innovative, collaborative projects involving Wallonia’s two airports. It also intends to get local people involved.

“Keen to create excellent living conditions for residents, SOWAER is delighted that pollution can be monitored naturally thanks to beehives set up near the airport.As the owner of these sites, it is important that we enhance the land in the interests of citizens, as well as coming up with sustainable initiatives.This partnership with not-for-profit Terre@air, which has already been launched via the Well’Air airport community, fits in perfectly with this principle,” clarifies Nicolas THISQUEN, Chairman of SOWAER’s Management Board.