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La gestion de la biodiversité apiaire est un enjeu fort. En France, certains dispositifs ont pour objectif de conserver des abeilles locales alors que le modèle majoritaire a pour but de sélectionner des abeilles pour la production en toutes localités. L’article analyse les modalités d’émergence et la trajectoire du dispositif de gestion de l’abeille corse dont l’objectif est tout à la fois le maintien de l’abeille locale et sa sélection. La gestion de l’abeille locale est en relation étroite avec l’appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) Miel de Corse et combine plusieurs registres d’intérêts qui vont bien au-delà des seules considérations de gestion génétique. Nous montrons que la gestion de la population de l’écotype local s’inscrit dans un milieu biogéographique, sociotechnique et socioéconomique.

Beekeeping is facing challenges worldwide and management of honeybee biodiversity is a key stake. In France, some set ups aim at conserving local honey bees whereas prevailing model selects honeybees for production first. The Corsican honeybee have a unique situation as the stakeholders both aim at maintaining and making selection of the local ecotype, with an aim of honey production with bees adapted to the island apiary conditions. This paper aims at questioning how such a set-up has been built. Our work is based on interviews of beekeeping stakeholders. We first show the strong links between the local ecotype management and the protected designation of origin for the honey. We then show that selection criteria are not specific to the local conditions, whereas the activity in general appears very connected to those conditions. We show that the set up for selection of the Corsican bee produces (and is expected for) other elements then the single genetic aspects. We show that the management of local bee population, rather than combining two genetic management orientations, combines several items of interests beyond the single genetic management aspects, and should be comprehended in its milieu (biogeographical, sociotechnical, socioeconomics, etc.)