A central tenet of the environmental initiatives supported by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco involves community engagement and youth education. This week, the Prince participated in an event commemorating the 10th edition of the "Des Fleurs pour les Abeilles" (Flowers for Bees) campaign.
The event, held yesterday in the Principality's Jardins Saint-Martin, brought together ten-year-old students from the Institution François d'Assise-Nicolas Barré. The symbolic photo call served to celebrate the campaign and to reinforce the importance of local actions for global environmental health.
In attendance with the Prince were Thierry and Arnaud Dufresne, respectively the Founding President and Vice-President of the OFA, the Observatoire Français d'Apidologie (French Observatory of Apidology). The OFA is the primary organizer of the campaign and had, last year, provided these specific children with essential training on the crucial, indispensable role bees play in the process of pollination.
The "Des Fleurs pour les Abeilles" campaign was officially launched in 2017. It has consistently received the support of both the Sovereign Prince and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. The primary objective of the initiative is a public mobilization effort, encouraging individuals and organizations to sow melliferous flowers. These flowers are essential for providing a food source to nurture bees and, consequently, to preserve biodiversity.
Since its inception, the campaign’s impact has been substantial. Over 1.5 million sachets of seeds have been distributed, leading to the creation of numerous new flowered prairies. The upcoming 10th edition of the campaign is scheduled to take place from May 9 to May 24, 2026. This milestone is intended as a clear, collective reminder of the significant impact that individual, seemingly small gestures can have in the critical task of environmental protection and bringing a concrete solution to the decline of pollinators.
Photo credits: Michaël ALESI / Palais princier