Impact of beekeeping on forest

conservation, preservation of
forest ecosystems and
poverty reduction

Charlotte Lietaer
Charlotanza@gmail.com
22 October 2009
WFC, Buenos Aires

Picture James Burke

1. Role of bees in nature
2. Role of bees for humans
3. Beekeeping, forest programmes and policies
4. Beekeeping and poverty alleviation
5. Conclusion: beekeeping is a
tool for raising awareness
about the importance of forest
conservation and preservation
of forest ecosystems and for
reducing poverty
1. Role of bees in nature

Pollination

Cross-
Seeds
pollination

Conservation Ensure
of ecosystems biodiversity
1. Role of bees in nature (con’d)
Pollination of
crop

Better
Higher yields product
quality

More Higher prices

earnings for crop
 2. Role of bees for humans
Characteristics of beekeeping
• Part of many traditional cultures
• Beekeeping skills are easily transmitted from generation
to generation
• Not a capital intensive activity, easy to start up with
locally available material
• Not a labour intensive activity, can be combined with
farming activities
• Can be practiced by young and old, male and female
• Does not deplete natural resources
• Additional source of income
2. Role of bees for humans (cont’d)
Economic value, and health and nutritional value

Increased
yield

Source of
Source of
foreign
income
exchange

Beekeeping Source of
Source of raw high nutrient
material in food (energy,
industries minerals,
vitamins)

Creation of
Source of
activities
natural
related to
medicines
beekeeping
“If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth,
man would have no more than four years to live.
No more bees, no more pollination … no more men!”

Albert Einstein

Picture James Burke

3. Potential role of beekeeping in forest
programmes and policies

Bees live in trees

Better
pollination,
richer
biodiversity

Trees are a
source of nectar
More bees,
better
pollination,
better harvest,
better product
quality
More trees,
more honey,
more bees
 3. Potential role of beekeeping in
forest programmes and policies (con’d)

• Tool to re-establish the

relationship between
communities and
nature.
• Tool to raise
awarenessabout the
importance and value
of forests.
 3. Potential role of beekeeping in
forest programmes and policies (con’d)

• Beekeepers as advocates of sustainable forest

management, forest conservation, agro-
forestry and integrated pest management
• Beekeepers as Government partners in
fighting illegal logging and forest wildfires
 3. Potential role of beekeeping in
forestry programmes and policies (con’d)

• Beekeeping as an alternative
source of income during forest
rehabilitation programmes

• Bee-reserves with exclusive access

to beekeepers

• Reforestation with native

melliferous plants
 4. Potential role of beekeeping in
poverty alleviation
During periods of food insecurity
• Source of cash
• Source of nutritious food
Beekeeping as a safety
net
During periods of political unrest and war
• Bees continue to harvest, even when not attended
• Bees harvest on mined fields
• Can be practiced by displaced people
During illness
• Source of cash to pay hospital fees
• Cheap and safe natural medicine
• Not labour intensive activity
• Bees harvest even when not attended
Climate change
• As long as there are flowering plants, bees harvest
nectar
 5. Conclusion
Beekeeping can play an important role in forest
conservation, the preservation of forest
ecosystems and in poverty reduction.
But….
•Need for beekeeping
programmes supported by
the Government

•Need for financial,

extensional and
technological support
Thank you for your attention

For further information:

Charlotanza@gmail.com
• Economic value

Source of cash in
Honey can be easily
periods of food
stored
insecurity
Additional source of
income
Value added products
s.a. candles, creams,
polish, etc.