The Slow Fund: Supporting Research with Ujubee Project
This feature is part of our Slow Fund Series: projects and stories that highlight the communities we visit and how we give back. We established The Slow Fund to support innovative projects that are reflective of the regions that inspire them.
Whether through educational, cultural, or conservation and preservation initiatives, the Fund helps protect various forms of heritage and promotes the health of vibrant living cultures and the eco-systems that support them.
The Ujubee project is a conservation effort focused on recording scientific data on wild honeybee populations in South Africa. Unlike many parts of the world where bee populations are managed by humans and live in manufactured hives, South Africa is home to honeybee populations where 80% remain wild and an integral part of their habitat’s ecosystem.
This provides an opportunity to study their natural habitat and behaviour, contributing valuable research that can help honeybee populations around the globe.
In turn, Ujubee can take steps in order to protect the delicate biomes where these bees live, ensuring both the survival of the bees and the range of species their pollination helps to maintain—specifically, the fynbos region of South Africa, which is the smallest and most diverse floral kingdom in the world. Butterfield & Robinson is proud to support their research efforts.
When possible, we bring our travellers through these areas in the Western and Eastern Cape, led by an ecologist to explain the importance of biodiversity and habitat conservation.
MORE FROM Africa and Middle East + South Africa
![Spectacular Stays: Singita Lebombo Lodge](https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Singita-Lebombo-Lunch_2000x1250-480x300.jpg)
Spectacular Stays: Singita Lebombo Lodge
South Africa![Spectacular Stays: Dulini Lodge](https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Dulini-Lodge-2000x1250-480x300.jpg)
Spectacular Stays: Dulini Lodge
South Africa![Spectacular Stays: Singita Ebony Lodge](https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Singita-Ebony-Lodge-1600x1000-480x300.jpg)
Spectacular Stays: Singita Ebony Lodge
South Africa![7 Best Wines from South Africa](https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Franschoek-1600x1000-480x300.jpg)
7 Best Wines from South Africa
South Africa![The Epitome of South African Luxury: Jamala Madikwe](https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Jamala-Madikwe-Main-Lodge-Grass-1600x1000-NEW-compressed-480x300.jpg)
The Epitome of South African Luxury: Jamala Madikwe
South Africa![Cape Town’s Coolest Bars](https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/iStock-477451698-CAPE-TOWN-1600x1000-480x300.jpg)
Cape Town’s Coolest Bars
South Africa![24 Hours in Cape Town](https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/cape-town-1562907_1920-1600x1000-compressed-480x300.png)
24 Hours in Cape Town
South Africa![Into the Wild: South Africa’s Kruger National Park](https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/brad-elephants-1600c-480x300.png)
Into the Wild: South Africa’s Kruger National Park
South Africa![Top 5 Family Adventures in South Africa](https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/tablemtn_izakvh_1600_c-480x300.png)
Top 5 Family Adventures in South Africa
South Africa![The 7 Best Luxury Safari Lodges in South Africa](https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Best-Luxury-Safari-Lodges-banner2-480x300.jpg)
The 7 Best Luxury Safari Lodges in South Africa
South Africa![Six Things Every Flower Lover Must Do](https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/flowers-480x300.jpg)
Six Things Every Flower Lover Must Do
South Africa![Biking the Winelands](https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/BikingTheWinelands-2-480x300.jpg)
Biking the Winelands
South Africa![4 Stunning Cape Town Hotels](https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Cape-Grace-450x300.jpeg)
4 Stunning Cape Town Hotels
South Africa![In Deep: What You Need to Know About Cape Town](https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Cape-Town-new-blog-banner-1-480x300.jpg)
In Deep: What You Need to Know About Cape Town
South Africa![Vines 101: South Africa Wine](https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/South-Africa-Wine-new-blog-banner-1-480x300.jpg)