Suitability of Current and Future Conditions to Apiculture in Egypt using Geographical Information System

Abstract

Apiculture is currently considered as an important economic activity in Egypt. Most agricultural areas in Egypt are located close to Nile river as well as apicultural activities. Recently, various desert areas have been widely reclaimed and inhabited. In this study, the land suitability to apiculture in Egypt, either cultivated or desert areas, was investigated using geographical information system (GIS), under current and future conditions (2070). Two maps were extracted from the spatial analysis; one map for current conditions and the second one for future conditions. The study shows that most Egypt is suitable for apiculture but the more suitable areas are restricted to specific locations. In the future, land suitability was found to be impacted by future conditions, mainly thermal stress. Upper Egypt will be greatly impacted than the middle or north Egypt. Apiaries relocation is advisable especially at upper Egypt when necessary during 2070. It could be expected that apiculture could be practiced widely throughout Egypt currently and in the future as well, and in reclaimed lands. The spatial analysis was done using the major factors that could impact beekeeping; namely, maximum and minimum temperatures, precipitation, slope, land type, and distance from plants.