As autumn arrives, Aurélien Gondron, a beekeeper at Cambre d'Aze in the Pyrénées-Orientales,…

As autumn arrives, Aurélien Gondron, a beekeeper at Cambre d'Aze in the Pyrénées-Orientales, is completing his final honey harvests. This time allows for a review of the season and an understanding of how climate change affects his profession.

Aurélien’s bees, located at 1,800 meters altitude, will soon be moved. He practices migratory beekeeping, with most of his 400 hives placed in plains and scrubland during winter, spring, and autumn. Mountain conditions give his honey a distinct flavor.

Climate change alters the timing of seasons and flowering. For example, the period to harvest rhododendron honey, once fixed around June 10, now varies between May 25 and June 20, with flowering durations becoming more variable.