The ETBA is currently involved in a program to rebuild the honeybee population in native East Texas forests and to concurrently provide area residents an opportunity to observe a large hive in operation. In a partnership with Texas Eastman Chemical Company, ETBA has established colonies of honey bees on Texas Eastman lands (approximately 6000 acres) and is allowing these colonies to generate "swarms" which would become established in the surrounding forests. This type of program is unprecedented and will be a first step toward learning how to effectively re-establish feral honey bee populations across the US. The importance to agriculture of a large, healthy population of feral honey bees can not be understated. Pollination of domestic farm crops depends largely on these wild bees.
The information gained from this program will be shared with Texas A&M University and other organizations around the nation in hope that our effort to "Save the Honey Bee" will catch on nation wide. Texas Eastman has funded the construction (labor donated by ETBA members) of a large, outdoor observation hive on this same land. The following pictures are of the construction of the observation hive. A second hive is now under construction at Stephen F. Austin State University at Nacogdoches, Texas. Again, the ETBA is building the observation hive in partnership with Eastman Chemical Company.
Members of the ETBA, the Boy Scouts of America, Greg County Master Gardeners, Texas A&M, Texas Forestry Service and many other organizations and individuals have contributed to the overall program to establish this wildlife and nature preserve. Two nature trails are provided in which the various trees are identified by markers and visitors will observe the modern forestry practices being used. The preserve is also home to an abundance of wildlife. Tours of the Texas Eastman wildlife and nature preserve including the Honeybee observation hive are available, free of charge, to schools and organizations. For tour information contact Eastman's Communications and Public Affairs (CPA) - Mike Childress (903-237-5082) or Jackie Bean (903-237-6403).
| ETBA members working the hives established for the purpose of intentional swarming to repopulate the surrounding forest with ferral colonies |
 |
|
Construction of the observation hive at Eastman Nature and Wildlife Preserve. |
Construction of the observation hive at Eastman Nature and Wildlife Preserve. |
 |
|
Boy Scouts building the protective pen around the observation hive's "bee entrance". |
| View of the information panels attached to the observation hive. |
 |
|
ETBA Executive Director Dick Counts at the newly completed observation hive. |
Dick Counts and Mike Childress (head of Eastman's Communications and Public Affairs) at the dedication of the new observation hive. |
 |
 |
ETBA members at the dedication of the observation hive. |
©2001 Ardy Stuart |
