People’s Perceptions of the Benefits of Natural Beekeeping and Its Positive Outcomes for Forest Conservation

Abstract

Natural beekeeping is an alternative livelihood for poor people in rural areas with poor accessibility and important for maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. We set out to answer the following two questions: (a) Can beekeeping really provide a significant contribution to local people's income generation? (b) Do beekeepers have a strong willingness to protect natural forest? To do this, we systematically sampled and interviewed 60 beekeepers and 60 nonbeekeepers from 12 villages in three districts of Oudomxay Province, Lao PDR. We found that beekeeping households have a significant marginally higher income compared with nonbeekeeping households. Meanwhile, beekeepers also showed a significant concern for forest protection. Factors constraining the sustainability of beekeeping include chemical pesticide use, lack of technology, and several others. Governmental agencies and conservation organizations thus could promote natural beekeeping in rural areas for both a partial income source and regional biodiversity conservation.

The Role of Non-Timber Forest Products in Creating Incentives for Forest Conservation: A Case Study of Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, Cambodia

“…NTFPs are also acknowledged as being positively associated with forest conservation [12,13]. Some scholars claimed that economic benefit from non-timber forest products is likely to change local community attitude to maintain forest biodiversity [12,14]. Indeed, extraction of non-timber forest products is less ecologically destructive because it does not critically impact forest functions and regeneration of species [2,15,16].…”

“…Likewise, NTFPs provided the economic value of around US$42 million per year in the Eastern Arc Mountains [11]. NTFPs are also acknowledged as being positively associated with forest conservation [12,13]. Some scholars claimed that economic benefit from non-timber forest products is likely to change local community attitude to maintain forest biodiversity [12,14].…”

Why bees are critical for achieving sustainable development

“…For example, Brazil nut trees (Bertholletia excelsa) require bee pollination to set their high-value fruit, with much greater productivity in the wild, likely due to low numbers of native bees in plantations (Cavalcante et al 2012). Beekeeping within forest boundaries can support forest conservation (target 15.1) alongside rural livelihoods (Sande et al 2009;Chanthayod et al 2017;Mudzengi et al 2019). Chanthayod et al 2017;Klein et al 2018;Mudzengi et al 2019 Bees contribute to biodiversity by pollinating flowering trees and plants (15.5) and beekeeping can contribute to forest conservation (15.1).…”

“…Beekeeping within forest boundaries can support forest conservation (target 15.1) alongside rural livelihoods (Sande et al 2009;Chanthayod et al 2017;Mudzengi et al 2019). Chanthayod et al 2017;Klein et al 2018;Mudzengi et al 2019 Bees contribute to biodiversity by pollinating flowering trees and plants (15.5) and beekeeping can contribute to forest conservation (15.1). Incorporating beekeeping in local planning processes may support reforestation activities which can result in poverty reduction and sustainable regional development (15.9).…”

Efeitos da meliponicultura na diversidade genética de Melipona quadrifasciata 1836 (Apidae, Meliponini) na região sul do Brasil

“…Meliponicultores tem o potencial de colaborar na redução da necessidade de desmatamento e exploração de novos habitats e recursos naturais, ao contrário de outras atividades agrícolas tradicionais. Além disso, podem promover experiências de interação entre o homem e o ambiente, estimulando atitudes de conservação, de laços emocionais com os elementos naturais e de reflexão sobre questões ambientais, além de aumentar a participação popular em políticas de cunho ambiental Athayde, Stepp, & Ballester, 2016;Maderson & Wynne-Jones, 2016;Chanthayod, Zhang, & Chen, 2017;Carvalho et al, 2018).…”