Beekeeping creates a buzz in Paris
Parisian beekeeper Simponpierre Delorme
Photo: Sarah Elzas
Despite being under threat from mystery diseases and new predators, bees are enjoying something of a resurgence in the French capital.
Beekeeping is becoming an increasingly popular pastime in Paris. Hives are popping up everywhere - in gardens, parks, on roofs and even on top of the Opéra Garnier - and a growing number of Parisians proudly serve honey they have harvested themselves.
According to the French National Association of Beekeepers, there are now 300 known colonies in the city, thanks to a sucessful programme to boost urban beekeeping.
This is one bright spot in the gloomy global picture for the insect, which plays a vital role in the ecosystem by pollinating a huge variety of flowers and plants. A recent report by the French National Institute of Agricultural Research warned that the decline in bee populations, particularly in rural areas, could have dire consequences for European agriculture.
Euranet's Sarah Elzas reports on how urban beekeeping became 'a la mode' in Paris:
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