Written Answer by Ministry of National Development on removal of bee hives and conservation of key pollinators

Aug 3, 2021

Ms He Ting Ru: To ask the Minister for National Development

(a) in each of the last five years, how many requests for removal of bee hives have been referred to NParks; and

(b) whether the Ministry will consider implementing pollinator protection and management measures that ensure that key pollinators in Singapore’s biosphere are protected against and properly managed by pest control methods to minimise ecological impact.

Answer: 

From 2016 to 2020, NParks received around 8,400 requests for the removal of bee, wasp and hornet hives.

NParks works closely with stakeholders including agencies and the nature community to conserve key pollinators such as bees, butterflies, bats, and birds, in Singapore’s biosphere. Guided by the Nature Conservation Masterplan, these measures include habitat enhancement at our parks and nature reserves. Specific to bees, NParks has also constructed nest boxes in selected parks and nature reserves, to create conducive habitats for bees. In 2018, NParks launched a bee trail at HortPark to educate visitors on various bee species and their ecological role. NParks also conducts studies on key pollinators to better understand the ecology of these species, such as their movement and distribution.

Public safety is a key priority in the management of key pollinators such as bees. For example, bee hives found in public areas are typically removed, to prevent stinging incidents. This may involve engaging pest control operators to remove these hives quickly, to safeguard public safety. The ecological impact of removing such bee hives is assessed to be relatively low, as most of these hives are used by the honey bee species, which are common and widespread locally. NParks and NEA will continue to work together to manage pest control methods, with public safety and health as a key priority, while safeguarding our native biodiversity.