Across the globe, a critical interdependence is being leveraged to save vanishing ecosystems: the symbiotic relationship between native bees and the forests they pollinate. From the dry montane forests of Peru to the peatlands of Indonesia, local communities are discovering that beekeeping can make forests more valuable when left standing than when cleared.
The Fight for Pollinator Survival
The pressure on global pollinators is mounting. According to reports from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Convention on Biological Diversity, nearly 35 percent of invertebrate pollinators, including butterflies and bees and 17 percent of vertebrate pollinators are facing extinction.
This decline is driven by climate change, invasive species, pesticide use, and intensive agriculture. The stakes are high, as approximately 75 percent of the world’s food crops depend, at least in part, on these pollinators.
Peru: Redefining the Bee
In the Lambayeque region of northern Peru, Ysabel Calderón is working to change the public perception of bees. While many imagine only stinging, black-and-yellow insects, Calderón highlights that there are about 20,000 known bee species, 75 percent of which are solitary and do not produce honey in large quantities.
Calderón founded Sumak Kawsay in 2017, an enterprise that produces medicinal honey from native stingless bees. The business relies on trees like the palo santo, higuerón, and hualtaco, creating a financial incentive to protect the habitat these bees need to build their nests.
Beyond honey, the initiative has established “The Honey Route,” an ecotourism trail. This project provides employment for local women through environmental education, tourism, and honey sales.
Indonesia: Peatlands and Sacred Harvests
In Indonesia, beekeeping is being used to protect carbon-rich peatlands. In Baru Village, the 2022 Peat-IMPACTS project introduced stingless beekeeping in homegardens, allowing residents—including women—to build small businesses without requiring large plots of land.
The project saw rapid growth, moving from 20 nests at its start to 126 nests a year later. This model has since spread to Sumber Makmur Village, with the Indonesian Honeybees Association (APIDA) committing to support marketing and capacity-building.
Meanwhile, in the Mount Mutis Nature Reserve on the island of Timor, the Olin-Fobia community practices a traditional harvest of the giant honey bee, Apis dorsata. Climbers ascend Eucalyptus alba trees up to 80 metres high to collect honey without cutting the trees, producing about 30 tonnes of honey annually.
Ethiopia and Botswana: Scaling Restoration
In Ethiopia’s Oromia Region, Teyib Hussien has transitioned from beekeeping to seed supply. In 2009, he helped found the Segni Lalissa Cooperative, which now includes 25 members, half of whom are women. The cooperative has secured significant payments from private companies and the government-owned Dima Tree Seed Centre for supplying tree seeds.
In Botswana, beekeeping is being integrated into the National Forest Master Plan for 2021–2039. In the Northwest District’s Shaikarawe Community, training provided by the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) in July 2023 focused on combining beekeeping with land restoration and fodder tree establishment.
The Path Forward
While these examples show promise, they do not provide a universal blueprint. The viability of beekeeping as a conservation tool may depend on the availability of habitat, quality control, storage, and access to buyers.
Future efforts could see a wider adoption of these methods if training and market access are prioritized. However, without nectar-rich trees and healthy surrounding vegetation, hive productivity is likely to remain limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of bee species are social?
Only five percent of bee species are social, meaning they live in colonies and produce honey.
How does beekeeping help Indonesia’s peatlands?
Because bees require flowers and trees, which in turn require intact peat to thrive, beekeeping gives local communities a financial reason to keep the peatland ecosystem working and avoid burning or draining it.
What is the role of women in these beekeeping cooperatives?
In Peru, women earn income through honey sales, tourism, and environmental education. In Ethiopia’s Segni Lalissa Cooperative, women make up half of the membership, handling seed extraction and cleaning.
Do you believe that economic incentives are the most effective way to ensure the survival of endangered pollinators?
