SICAMM
BIBBA becomes a founding member of “New” SICAMM
SICAMM is the acronym for Societas Internationalis pro Conservatione Apis Melliferae Melliferae, formed in 1994 for the protection of the European Dark Bee Apis mellifera mellifera. Until recently, it was a loosely structured organisation having few officials, with BIBBA members Dorian Pritchard as a past President and Philip Denwood, secretary. There was no bank account and no membership. It was a group of individuals, being a mixture of beekeepers and scientists, with loose connections to organisations across the dark bee range of Northern Europe. The main activity was a biennial conference that was held in various countries, including England (1998), Scotland (2009) and Wales (2014).
Since 1994, many things have changed, including communication, travel and a greater threat to the diminishing populations of dark bees. It was therefore suggested that a more formalised organisation would better support the interests of the dark bee, so the decision was taken to form a “New” SICAMM. The benefits of a formal organisation include instigating and supporting research, information sharing, lobbying and beekeeper education. Progress has been hampered for several reasons, including COVID and the issues concerning an international organisation, some countries being in the EU, some not.
An interim board was assembled and they have clearly done a lot of work to prepare for a formal organisation, for which they should be congratulated. A federation was proposed, basing membership mainly on subscriptions from member associations, also individuals. It can’t be easy dealing with so many different languages, cultures and organisations, but they have tried to satisfy everyone.
Potential member organisations vary considerably, some large, some very small, with less than 10 members, one being an offshoot of a rare breeds society, another, small-scale farmers. This poses obvious problems when formulating subscription categories.
Although SICAMM is mainly concerned with Amm, beekeepers in all areas throughout its natural range have similar problems, with the importation of non-native honey bees causing introgression, so there is support for locally adapted bees in areas where pure bees don’t exist. This makes SICAMM an exciting project that will be appropriate to BIBBA, as we have members in areas of high purity bees, others heavily mongrelised.
I understand there were over 50 organisations invited to join SICAMM, but as with anything new, there is caution. The Founding Assembly was held online on 16th March 2024. There were 11 founding member organisations, of which I’m pleased to say that BIBBA was one. The BIBBA Trustees had already agreed to join, appointing Roger Patterson and Emma Buckley as delegates. The interim board was elected, with two BIBBA members, Philip Denwood as secretary and Jo Widdicombe as treasurer. John Greenaway (NIHBS) was elected to the board and Mairi Knight of Plymouth University was elected Chair of the Scientific Board. The Native Irish Honey Bee Society (NIHBS) and Scottish Native Honey Bee Society (SNHBS) are also founder members, So Britain and Ireland are well represented at an early stage.
Roger Patterson
