Project Description Region: Western Europe Country: Belgium Location: Limburg Total Budget: $75,000 Area of Focus: The environment Global Grant Project: "Save our bees". The Asian hornet, an invasive wasp species, poses a serious threat to honeybees and the entire ecosystem. Its rapid spread reduces pollination, disrupting plant reproduction and biodiversity. In some parts of Europe, where it thrives, vegetation species are already in decline. Native insects, including bees and bumblebees, lack defenses against this predator, further endangering their populations. Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_8B4bcrSs8 It is an unequal battle. Beekeepers are becoming discouraged, and we need to support and encourage them. While eradicating the Asian hornet in Flanders is unrealistic, controlling its growth remains essential. Rotary, GoodPlanet NPO, and beekeeping associations are partnering to support beekeepers and to limit the Asian hornet's impact through a four-pillar action plan: 1. Educational Program GoodPlanet NPO will develop a digital educational package about bees and the Asian hornet, distributed to 4,000 schools. Train-the-trainer sessions will enable volunteers and Rotarians to expand awareness to families and communities. 2. Selective Traps Approximately 2,000-4,000 traps, produced by a sheltered workshop, will target Asian hornet queens during their peak season. Each queen caught prevents a nest that could consume over 11 kg of insects annually, mostly honeybees. Instructions and follow-up programs will ensure long-term use. 3. Nest and Hornet Registration A campaign with Vespa Watch and local authorities will encourage public reporting and registration of Asian hornet sightings and nests for quicker detection. 4. Nest Extermination Equipment The project will fund equipment to destroy nests up to 30 meters high and train volunteers to assist where local governments lack resources. Project Budget: USD 75,000 Rotary clubs are invited to support this grant through cash or DDF contributions. Any amount will be welcomed. Submission is planned for the end of January 2025. For more details, contact Dominiek Willemse, Rc Houthalen Midden-Limburg, at +32 475 381300 or rotary.houthalen@gmail.com, Website RC Houthalen Midden-Limburg: https://houthalen-midden-limburg.rotary2140.org/en/ Primary Host Partner District: 2140 Rotary Club of: Houthalen Midden-Limburg Primary Contact: Dominiek Willemse Email: dominiek@juranv.be Primary International Partner We are looking for a Club partner. Click here to pledge support for this project. Recording a pledge will make you the Primary International Partner for this project. Project Status Need $24,000 This project needs to receive some pledges to go to the next level. Please check the "Financing" tab to see the list of current pledges. Once the amount pledged is equal to the project budget, the status of the project will be automatically changed to "Fully Pledged". Click here to pledge support for this project. Project listed for the 2024-25 Rotary Year. The TRF Grant application number is #2573415.

Proposed Financing Existing Contributions Towards This Project Date Cash DDF Total Houthalen Midden-Limburg (2140) 29-Dec-24 $15,000 $20,000 $35,000 Remaining Amount to Raise Additional Club Contribution (Needed) - Add a contribution $24,000 - $24,000 Amount Requested from The Rotary Foundation - $16,000 $16,000 Total $75,000 Note: as of July 1, 2015 there is a 5% additional support fee for cash contributions. This fee does not appear in the financials above because it does not apply if the funds are sent directly to the project account (without going through TRF, and therefore without Paul Harris credit). Clubs sending their cash contribution to TRF must be aware they will have to send an additional 5%.

Project Supporting Documents Alphabetical with icons By date with icons Alphabetical list format By date list format [29-Dec-24] Save our Bees

Project Photos

History Log Entries 29-Dec-24 by Dominiek Willemse System Entry: Creation of project page.