Beekeeping with Indigenous People in the Amazon

Every time we go out to Maijuna lands to run a stingless beekeeping workshop it reminds us of all the different things that we love about this project. One of the best parts is how inclusive the project is. Stingless beekeeping is something that can be done by all segments of society (young and old, women and men) ultimately empowering all community members. The Maijuna beekeepers that we have been working with include little girls less than 10 years of age (pictured here) all the way up to older men and women in their 70s. That’s what makes this so much fun and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Another reason why we are so passionate about this project is that it is providing critically important sustainable income to Maijuna families, supporting their desire to conserve and sustainably use their ancestral lands and biocultural resources. On average, each Maijuna family earns less than $2/day and they have been searching for sustainable ways to earn a living. Without viable sustainable income generating activities such as stingless beekeeping, the allure of logging, overhunting, and other unsustainable activities may be too great for the Maijuna to ignore given the need to provide for their families. So, this project is providing the Maijuna with real and meaningful sustainable income that they can use to better the lives of their families.

We couldn’t be happier with our partnership with the Maijuna and how this project has unfolded. We continue to increase the number of Maijuna beekeepers involved in the project, touching more and more families along the way. Please help us to achieve the Maijuna’s vision for a more sustainable future by continuing to support our stingless beekeeping work with the Maijuna. Thanks so much for your continued support – your generosity has helped to make this exciting project possible!