An on-line meeting of the partners of the international technical assistance project devoted to the revival of the traditions of beekeeping was held at Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno

The participants of the project, which started in August this year, have joined efforts to preserve the traditions of beekeeping in the Belarusian-Lithuanian region.
The international technical assistance project "Preservation of Ethnocultural Heritage and Tourism Development in the Historic Region Famous for Hollow Tree Beekeeping" is implemented within the framework of the Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus Cross-Border Cooperation Program for 2014-2020 and is funded by the European Union. The main goal is to preserve and revive the ancient tradition of hollow tree beekeeping and use it for the development of tourism in Dzukia cross-border region and Grodno region.
The kick-off meeting of the project partners was held at Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno in on-line mode. The event was attended by the representatives of Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno, including the project manager, the Head of the Department of Zoology and Human and Animal Physiology Olga Yanchurevich, as well as other Belarusian partners – the representatives of the Belarusian Public Association “Ecological Initiative” and State environmental institution “Republican Landscape Reserve “Ozery”. There were discussed the activities planned for the near future with the Lithuanian partners of the project, represented by the Natural Heritage Fund, the Administration of the Dzukija National Park and the Chepkeliai Nature Reserve.
Thus, the project participants intend to create a cross-border tourist route-guide, which will present the beekeeping traditions typical for the Belarusian-Lithuanian region. In addition, within the framework of the project, old bees will be repaired and new ones will be created in the cross-border region, which will confirm the importance of beekeeping for the local economy. There are also activities planned to teach this ancient craft to those who are interested in preserving the traditions of hollow tree beekeeping. It is planned to organize thematic festivals, which, as the project participants expect, will become the hallmark of the cross-border region.
All planned activities of the international technical assistance project "Preservation of Ethnocultural Heritage and Tourism Development in the Historic Region Famous for Hollow Tree Beekeeping " will be implemented until July 31, 2022. It is expected that the project will contribute to an increase in the number of visitors to the Dzukia National Park, State environmental institution “Republican Landscape Reserve “Ozery” and the cross-border region as a whole, which will have a positive impact on its socio-economic development.