THE Billion Bees Foundation has been awarded a Black Summer Connecting Communities federal government grant and is now calling upon Coffs LGA organisations to join their project.

Founded by Saverino Russo in 2020, the Billion Bees project draws together local community groups to work on an environmental project that brings Australian native stingless bees and beehives into their community.

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“Our project is about giving nature the upper hand; by setting up Australian native beehives, the bees naturally want to propagate and bring the bushfire affected areas back to life,” Saverino told News Of The Area.

Fulfilling the criteria of the grant, Billion Bees focuses on Black Summer Bushfire affected communities, helping to build community resilience by developing and sharing trade and project management skills to create employment opportunities within these communities.

“Across the country Billion Bees is inviting local Aboriginal Land Councils, Men’s Sheds, Local Government, TAFE, Landcare and Schools to work with our amazing native stingless bees,” Eilis Beirne, Project Director, Billion Bees Foundation told NOTA.

“As a bushfire affected region, the Coffs Coast is invited to become part of this important restoration program.

“The participating individuals and community groups learn how to build hives, propagate stingless bees and manage projects.

“Each Billion Bees group is supported from initially setting up through to becoming a thriving bee-keeping community.

“This first week in March the Billion Bees Foundation is launching its website where interested individuals or organisations will be able to find out more about these important projects and sign up as a Men’s Shed, School or Community Group to let us know that you would like to participate in the program to bring native bees back into our bushfire affected communities.”

Their current focus is working with Black Summer Bushfire affected communities in New South Wales and Queensland, to restock their lands with Australian native stingless bees.

This is for natural bushland restoration, pollination and to help biodiversity in these devastated places.

“Without these bees the restoration of the burnt-out bushland may never happen,” said Eilis.

To express interest in joining the program please go to www.billionbees.com.au or follow Billion Bees on FB.

By Andrea FERRARI