Protection of wild bees in reserves and national parks in the south of the Russian Far East

In the article, the authors consider the issue of biological diversity protection in federal nature protection zones in the south of the Russian Far East. Nature reserves and national parks surrounded by cultivated land are refugiums for wild bees - unique pollinators of flowering plants. The authors have analyzed 17 Regulations on Institutions (reserves and national parks). It was revealed that in practice the requirement of federal legislation, regarding the preservation of the natural environment «in a natural state» in specially protected natural areas (SPNA) of federal significance and the ban on the introduction of animals, is violated. The provisions on natural reserves and national parks allow the location of beehives and apiaries with honey bees (Apis mellifera), which enters into competitive relations for fodder facilities with wild native species of bees, in their territories. However, the placement of apiaries of honey bees on protected areas is rated as unacceptable and harmful: the honey bee is a competitor for each type of pollinator, as only one bee family consists of tens of thousands insects providing their advantage over other pollinators. When placing apiaries at the perimeter of the protected area of 10-20 thousand hectares and less, its land is completely «covered» by the influence of honey bee families. To resolve this threatening situation, it is required a wide protection zone or zone with a ban on the placement of hives and apiaries (up to 3-5 km wide). For larger areas (from 50 thousand hectares or more), a single placement of apiaries at the perimeter of corresponding zones is permissible.