The Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee is proud to have collaborated with Project Green on the launch of the BEECON installation on World Bee Day 2026. This innovative initiative, developed and led by Project Green under the direction of Matthew Grima Connell, is currently located at San Klement Park.
BEECON combines technology with the extraordinary behaviour of the Maltese Honey Bee as a bioindicator to help monitor the environmental health of Malta’s parks and green spaces. Developed in collaboration with the Malta Beekeepers Association, the initiative builds upon years of conservation work, environmental education, and outreach activities. Special contributors to the project also included Michael Muscat, Prof. David Mifsud, Saviour Bonnici, Mario Sammut, Stephen Ellul, and SC Engineering Ltd represented by Mariella Lia.
A central aspect of the project is the prominence given to the Maltese Honey Bee, Malta’s National Insect, which today faces a serious risk of extinction. Data previously collected through the Medibees project revealed that only 11% of honey bees in Malta still retain pure Maltese Honey Bee genetics, highlighting the urgent need for stronger conservation measures, increased public awareness, and environmental action to safeguard this endemic subspecies for future generations.
Through the Foundation’s educational campaigns and community outreach initiatives, the character of Katerina, the representative of the Maltese Honey Bee, has played an important role in engaging children, older persons, people with different abilities, and families with the importance of pollinators, biodiversity, and environmental conservation. These outreach activities helped lay the foundations for greater public awareness and community engagement, which ultimately contributed to the development and vision behind the BEECON project.
Beyond environmental monitoring, BEECON aims to inspire a wider appreciation for biodiversity through art, immersive experiences, educational outreach, and community participation. By encouraging people to better understand the importance of bees and ecosystems, the project seeks to foster greater respect for, and protection of, Malta’s natural environment.
The Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee is honoured to have supported this important initiative from its inception and congratulates Project Green for spearheading such a forward-looking and impactful project.
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