A delicate link between Ecology and Economy
Beekeeping plays a vital role in forest conservation, supporting agriculture, sustaining livelihoods, and ensuring food security. However, its potential remains underutilized in forestry and development programs due to a lack of awareness among stakeholders. Bees’ pollination activities are crucial for the survival of over 100,000 plant species, including important tree species like the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa). Their products—honey, wax, and medicinal derivatives—contribute to food security, health, and raw materials for various industries. Honey serves as a sweetener and antioxidant, while wax is used in industries like batik-making.
Forests provide organic nectar sources that sustain bee populations, especially in areas like Lindi, Tanzania, and Kenya’s Mau Forest. Beekeeping has become a transformative tool for environmental conservation and income generation in these regions. In Kenya’s Nyandarua County and Tanzania’s dedicated bee forest reserves, integrating apiculture into forest conservation has proven successful. According to journalist Waikwa Maina, beekeeping around Aberdare Forest has significantly reduced forest fires, boosted honey production from under 500 kilograms to over 20 tonnes annually, and improved local incomes. Local initiatives include farmer training, tree planting for improved foliage, and building honey processing facilities to support economic growth.
Global organizations, including the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), emphasize the importance of integrating beekeeping into forest programs to enhance biodiversity conservation and combat deforestation. Beekeeping offers minimal investment and labor while yielding significant economic, environmental, and social returns. Developing countries are urged to establish honey councils, incentivize community participation, and integrate beekeeping into national strategies for poverty alleviation, food security, and natural resource management.
Accessible information and empirical evidence on beekeeping’s relevance to forest conservation are essential for realizing its full potential. As demonstrated in Nepal’s Gwalek Forest, Tanzania’s Mpika projects, and Kenya’s Aberdare Forest, beekeeping is not only a conservation strategy but also a pathway to sustainable development.
