Beekeeping offers a great development potential, as a source of food, as a nutritional complement and
also as raw material provider to several activities. Moreover, biodiversity improvement conservation,
incentive for retention of natural habitats and an ideal activity for forest conservation programmes are
important factors associated with this activity.
Honey is a natural sweet product that is produced in almost all Portuguese Regions. Honeys from
certain areas are preferred mainly because of their sensory characteristics, which are related to their
floral origin. The pollen and nectar variability influences the honey flavour and determines its
commercial quality.
The aims of this work are: geographical identification of existing apiaries in the central region of
Portugal; identification and quantification of floral sources; characterization of honey (sensory and
physico-chemical); construction of thematic maps supporting the new hives installation, predicting
the honey characteristics.
This methodology has been applied in a Portuguese studied area (Vila Velha de Ródão). A first
identification of the apiaries allowed the establishment of the potential zones to future beekeepers
installation (Lidónio et al., 2009) (Figure 1). In order to complete the previous information, it is in
progress the identification and quantification of species for apiculture interest as well as the honey
physical and chemical characterization.
Potential apiculture development characterization has been mapped using the following attributes:
surrounding area for 200 vegetation units (Forestry zones, agricultural zones and bush zones); slopes
warm temperate (warm and very hot); the surrounding area, about 200m, around the water lines and
water points; surrounding feeding apiary area (50m diameter); urban admissible legal boundary (100
m diameter for each apiary). It was also considered, the shading maps because of its importance on
hive production and bee behaviour. Shading values considered favourable are between 0 and 127. A
methodological procedure was developed, aiming the potential beekeeping map construction.
Identification of favourable areas, for future beekeepers apiaries installation, will be possible in result
of this study.
In many Portuguese regions some beekeepers transport their hives, according to the floral sources
development in order to reach regions where the production of some species is higher, allowing the
improvement of some crop pollinization, for a specific month. Vila Velha de Rodão area, about
10885ha, presents excellent conditions for proper development of beekeeping.
It is well documented that the pollen quality and variability, influences the honey flavour and quality
(Anjos et al., 2009). The studied region is limited by the major watercourses and their respective
valleys and steep slopes. Predominantly those uncultivated land, presents high biodiversity with high
beekeeping potential. Some of the most important species present in this region are, Lavandula
pedunculata (Miller) Cav., Cistus ladanifer L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Erica umbellata L., Erica
13th AGILE International Conference on Geographic Information Science 2010 Page 2 of 3
Guimarães, Portugal
australis L., Erica lusitanica, Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull, Retama sphaerocarpa (L.) Boiss., Echium
plantagineum L., Genista triacanthos Brot., Quercus rotundifolia Lam, Quercus pyrenaica Willd.,
Cytisus multiflorus (L'Hér.) Sweet and Cytisus striatus (Hill) Rothm, Arbutus unedo L., Eucalyptus
globulus Labill. and Juniperus oxycedrus L. (Almeida, 2004; Carvalhinho, 2004; Monteiro, 2003).
In future works, iso-quality mapping, for beekeeping potential characterization, will be concluded,
for central Portugal. This will allow the beekeepers installation optimization and support a honey
production sustainable management
