THE Mangrove Beekeeping PROJET

CONTEXT AND MAIN ISSUES

Mangroves are one of the most productive marine ecosystems on Earth. At the land-sea interface, these forests provide food, breeding grounds and nursery sites for a wide variety of marine organisms, including many species of commercial interest and juvenile reef fish.

They sequester up to 4 times more carbon per hectare in their rich soils than tropical rainforests, and are coastal communities’ first line of defence against storms, floods and hurricanes.

Yet these habitats are shrinking at an alarming rate: 20-35% have already disappeared since the 1980s, mainly due to rising sea levels and human activities on the coast (urban development, aquaculture, mining, agriculture and overexploitation of timber, fish and shellfish). Guatemala is no exception in this context, and the global pandemic there has made coastal communities even more vulnerable.

GOALS

Development of a local beekeeping activity based on mangroves, sustainable for both communities and ecosystems.

METHOD

The Mangrove Beekeeping project aims to strengthen their resilience over the medium and long term, while helping to protect mangrove ecosystems. With a technical training program targeting women in particular, the project will provide a sustainable alternative source of income for the Barra Sarstún community via honey production. Long-term mangrove conservation will be encouraged through a campaign to raise awareness of the ecological importance of mangroves and their many services to human populations.

HOW IS THIS PROJECT INNOVATIVE?

The Mangrove Beekeeping project stands out for its original approach, which combines mangrove conservation with sustainable beekeeping. By promoting the ecological services of mangroves through honey production, it creates a direct economic incentive for their preservation. What’s more, by prioritizing women for the training and development of this sector, the project combines environmental protection with the empowerment of local communities, strengthening their resilience in the face of socio-economic and climatic challenges.
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