Mount St Joseph Retreat House Joins Insect Conservation Efforts

The Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee is proud to announce that Mount St Joseph Retreat House in Mosta has officially joined the Custodians of the National Insect Initiative as a Proprietor, further strengthening Malta’s growing conservation network dedicated to safeguarding the endemic Apis mellifera ruttneri.

The agreement, signed on 24th February 2026, marks an important step forward in translating national recognition into concrete conservation action. Following the historic Legal Notice of 24th September 2024 declaring the Maltese Honey Bee as Malta’s National Insect, the Foundation has been actively establishing Conservation Zones across the islands through strategic partnerships with sponsors, beekeepers and landowners.

Three men standing outdoors, smiling and holding documents, with beehives in the background surrounded by grass and trees.

Three men standing together in a grassy area with beehives in the background, smiling at the camera.

Three men engaged in conversation in a field, with beehives in the background and greenery surrounding them.

By becoming a Custodian of the National Insect, Mount St Joseph Retreat House has committed to hosting an apiary on its grounds as part of this nationwide initiative. The retreat house will provide a designated and secure area for the responsible rearing of Maltese Honey Bee colonies, contributing directly to biodiversity protection, ecological balance and long-term genetic conservation.

A Site of Reflection Supporting Environmental Stewardship

Nestled in the tranquil surroundings of Targa Gap, Mosta, Mount St Joseph Retreat House has long served as a place of reflection, spiritual renewal and community formation. Through this new role, it now extends its mission of care to Malta’s natural heritage, aligning environmental stewardship with its broader values of responsibility and sustainability.

As Proprietor within the Custodian model, Mount St Joseph Retreat House will:

Provide space for conservation apiaries
Support the establishment of protected breeding zones
Contribute to the preservation of the Maltese Honey Bee’s genetic integrity
Promote sustainable environmental practices

Strengthening Conservation Through Collaboration

The Custodians of the National Insect Initiative operates through a three-pillar structure:

Sponsors, who fund hives and conservation infrastructure
Proprietors, who provide land or suitable locations
Beekeepers, who serve as Guardians of the National Insect

Together, these stakeholders form a collaborative framework designed to reduce genetic introgression, increase local mating among Maltese Honey Bee colonies, and establish clusters of Conservation Zones across the Maltese archipelago.

The participation of Mount St Joseph Retreat House reinforces the initiative’s growing national footprint and demonstrates how institutions can actively contribute to environmental leadership while strengthening their social responsibility profile.

A beekeeper in protective clothing examining a honeycomb in a green field, with a historical building visible in the background.

Close-up of a wooden beehive with bees gathering at the entrance, set on a metal stand with green grass in the background.

A beekeeper wearing protective clothing inspects a beehive, manipulating wooden frames covered with bees on a grassy field.

Building a Lasting Legacy

With only a small proportion of the Maltese Honey Bee population remaining genetically pure, structured and geographically distributed conservation apiaries are essential. By joining the Custodian network, Mount St Joseph Retreat House is helping to secure a future for a subspecies that symbolises resilience, adaptation and national identity.

The Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to the Jesuits and the leadership of Mount St Joseph Retreat House for embracing this socio-environmental commitment. Their decision serves as a powerful example of how faith-based and community institutions can contribute meaningfully to national conservation efforts. We would like to especially thank Fr Cecil Azzopardi SJ, Superior of Mount St Joseph Retreat House, and Jonathan Cassar Torreggiani, Manager, for their support, as well as arborist Jonathan Henwood, who played a key role in facilitating these contacts.

Together, through collaboration, responsibility and shared vision, we continue to take decisive steps to protect Malta’s National Insect for generations to come.

A cartoon illustration of a smiling bee character with a round face, wearing a black and yellow striped outfit, and large eyes. The background features a honeycomb pattern, with the name 'Katerina' written in a playful font.

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