Honey production from native stingless bees (Meliponini)

This project offers the generation of stable incomes and long-term economic alternatives for the families, thereby reducing the cultural and environmental impacts as well as the dependencies, which result from economic interaction with other actors (colonial settlers, companies,…). The breeding of bees also represents an effective way of undertaking sustainable, low impact agro-forestry as already practiced by the Yuracaré communities, given that they accelerate the pollination and contribute to the regeneration of the forest and the productivity of crops.

Facing the asymmetric relations and dependencies resulting from temporal or permanent employment with the colonial settlers in the region, rolling out of the programme for honey production in the southern zone of the TIPNIS brings several advantages. It not only improves the incomes of the families in quantitative terms, but also allows a better control and autonomy of the individuals, families and communities over their interactions with local and regional markets.

Considering the strategy of implementing means of sustainable living in the southern zone of TIPNIS, as outlined by the DELPIA foundation and integrated in the strategic action plan of the CONISUR (2005), the honey production represents an alternative way of generating resources through sustainable management of resources. This alternative contributes to the conservation of the ecosystem and to the revitalization and appreciation of the cultural and ecological heritage of the Yuracaré and Trinitarian communities.

The tasks and processes necessary for the success of the production are feasible and absolutely compatible with the indigenous culture, and can thus be incorporated easily in their productive habits. The communities know the different species of bees, their life cycles and beehives, so that their domestication is simple and the families can already count on some important skills for the management of the bees. The work of the foundation involves providing the necessary knowledge to the beneficiaries, in order to make the breeding and production of honey from different stingless bee species (Meliponini) more effective.