48. Paul van Westendorp: Asian Giant Hornet, Honey Bees, & Agriculture
Paul van Westendorp is a bee expert, researcher and British Columbia's Provincial Apiculturist.
In 2019, Mr. van Westendorp was called in to help address the Asian Giant Hornets discovered in Nanaimo, BC. As provincial apiarist, van Westendorp oversees statistics and the provincial beekeeper registry, which includes approximately 4,300 beekeepers, most of whom are hobby beekeepers concentrated in the Fraser Valley. In an interview with Provincial Employees Association, Paul comments “The importance of bees is not a luxury. Deep down we know that without bees we are in trouble”.
Introduction to Beekeeping Course: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/animals-and-crops/animal-production/bees/bee-courses
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LsIQlr1lbWc