Interview André Dunand: Part III

Returning to the essential: meeting FreeTheBees

Before continuing with this article, we invite you to discover the first two parts of our interview with André Dunand:

Interview André Dunand: Part I
Interview André Dunand: Part II

How can individuals contribute concretely to the protection of bees and pollinators in their daily lives?

Everyone can act, at their own scale, to support bees. The essential thing is to adapt to one’s environment. A person living in the city can, for example, add greenery to a balcony with aromatic plants such as thyme or oregano, which bees particularly appreciate. With a garden, it is possible to dedicate part of the space to biodiversity, create a melliferous area, or even plant a tree.

On a broader scale, municipalities, cities and villages can also act by encouraging tree planting and supporting biodiversity. Every gesture counts. There is also a real need for awareness. Today, many people say: “I know a beekeeper, I buy his honey.” But that is not enough. It is essential to understand how that honey is produced. Are there chemical treatments? What practices are being used? This is a matter of individual responsibility: becoming a conscious, informed consumer, in line with the protection of bees and nature.

What, in AGUAdeORO’s approach and in the Save The Bees project, seemed particularly consistent with the values of FreeTheBees?

First of all, two words especially caught my attention: ethics and transparency. For me, these are fundamental values, both in human relationships and in relationships between associations and companies. That is precisely what I found at AGUAdeORO, and it truly appealed to me. The desire to ensure product traceability, to work with Fairtrade gold, to offer diamonds created in laboratories in Switzerland, and above all this determination to be demanding in the choice of partners…

All of this echoes what we also do at FreeTheBees. On our side, we draw inspiration from ancestral methods, because we know they hold deep value in relation to nature. There is also this shared desire to work with a network of conscious, committed and positive people who want to move things forward and concretely improve the lives of bees. Ultimately, this notion of transparency is found both in your work and in ours. And it is truly these values, ethics and transparency, that are essential in this type of collaboration.

Why is it important for environmental organisations and responsible companies to work together on issues such as biodiversity?

The more actors work hand in hand, the greater our chances of reversing the trend, or at least supporting a shift towards better solutions. When a company like AGUAdeORO and an association like ours come together, we necessarily reach a wider audience. On one side, there are AGUAdeORO’s clients, and on the other, FreeTheBees’ supporters, members and committed community. It is precisely by bringing these different audiences together that we can transmit messages, raise awareness and help consciousness evolve. Together, we can have a real impact.

How will this collaboration concretely support your mission and your projects for bee protection?

In a partnership, I think there are two aspects. First, thanks to AGUAdeORO, the FreeTheBees association will be highlighted. Our mission will be shared with AGUAdeORO’s clients. So, already in terms of awareness, that is a very important point. Then, there will also be financial support coming back to us. This will help us bring our projects even further to life, develop them and carry them out.

For example, here, this could mean improving the educational trail, or developing projects linked to the creation of cavities for bees. So there is both an aspect of transmission and a very concrete aspect that allows us to go further in our actions.

To conclude, what message would you like the public to remember about bees and the role we all have to play in protecting them?

The greatest success of such an initiative is above all information, transmission and awareness. A person who is informed will very likely behave differently, whether in general towards nature, or more specifically towards bees. The objective would be for everyone to become more responsible, for nature to become an integral part of our reflections. Just as AGUAdeORO asked itself: “How can I help an association?”

Everyone, at their own level, can make an effort and contribute something. With this collection and this action, AGUAdeORO has a very important role to play, and has chosen a truly beautiful mission.

And perhaps, after these words, the most meaningful thing is still to go and see, feel and understand for oneself by walking this discovery trail, open to all, nestled in the heart of the Gruyère region. An accessible place, whether one comes alone, with family or with friends, where everyone can move at their own pace, marvel, learn and reconnect with the living world.

Discover the honeybee trail in Vaulruz

Read also

Bees in Switzerland: understanding FreeTheBees’ commitment
Little Bee and FreeTheBees: protecting bees differently
When gold protects bees
Earth Day: blooming cities for biodiversity