Beekeeping with Indigenous People in the Amazon

We are thrilled to share that our beekeeping initiative has entered a transformative new phase: the birth of our Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Program. This quarter, we launched a series of intensive workshops to begin training a new cohort of "Promoters", or local leaders dedicated to spreading sustainable meliponiculture (stingless beekeeping) throughout their communities and beyond.

For beekeepers already practiced in the technical aspects of hive management and honey harvesting, these workshops focused heavily on leadership and community facilitation. The most inspiring aspect of these workshops is that the teaching was led by our very first class of project graduates! Our veteran promoters helped the new cohort gain confidence in public speaking and engagement practices, strengthening their interpersonal tools to support new capacity builders through the challenges of starting to work with native bees. By prioritizing these peer-to-peer skills alongside technical training, we are building a resilient network of advocates who can protect the Amazon’s pollinators for years to come.

Voices from the Field

One of our new promoters, Lesley, shared her perspective on the transition to educator:

“I'm excited to become a promoter to teach in other communities. As a beekeeper, I know how to raise bees and harvest honey, so I want to teach in other places. I liked the workshop because I am learning so much from the trainers”. 

Wilson, one of our original promoters who began training years ago, shared his experience with the incoming cohort:

“At first I was nervous about speaking in front of others. Now I'm more confident, and when I go to other communities to teach workshops, I'm already prepared. As a promoter I’ve learned to speak in public, give hands-on lessons, design capacity building workshops, write reports, and manage activity funds.” Wilson is passing on his knowledge to grow the team of local educators.

To date, our original group of 8 promoters has trained and empowered more than 30 communities in 7 river basins in collaboration with 7 different institutions! With this budding new cohort of 10 additional promoters, we expect that impact to increase long into the future. Thank you for standing with us and the beekeepers! Your support makes this chain of knowledge possible!

With each new hive and harvest, stingless beekeepers advance their craft. There are over 300 colonies in just three Maijuna communities, and beekeepers are tending more species of bees than ever. To ensure this progress endures, OnePlanet supports the formation of Uare Yojuna, the Indigenous-led association that brings beekeepers together to collectively shape their own future. Together, we are helping them transform success into sustainability through an adaptive business model and improved market access. 

Accessing high-value markets for their honey requires strong organization among the beekeepers. By pooling their harvest, beekeepers can reduce costs, increase bargaining power, and reach better-paying buyers. We partner to strengthen Uare Yojuna as they navigate these new challenges and build a foundation for fair market access and long-term sustainability.

Through participatory workshops, our team is building both individual skills and collective capacity in accounting, planning, and financial transparency. The association has already reached key milestones, including independently managing honey harvests, leading their annual meetings, and legal recognition. Now, OnePlanet is helping them strengthen governance and commercial management to ensure autonomy and resilience.

These skills serve the beekeepers beyond stingless beekeeping. Equipped with financial and organizational know-how, participants are able to apply these tools to other activities in their communities. Together, they’re building a practical toolbox for leadership and resilience that transcend stingless bees.

All of this is possible through your generous support. Together, we’re not only teaching families to care for stingless bees, but helping them build a network that connects knowledge, culture, and livelihoods. Your support reaches far beyond honey sales—it sustains traditions, strengthens community ties, and protects the forests that make beekeeping possible. With your help, we are preparing Uare Yojuna to flourish on its own: with strong governance, financial transparency, and the collective capacity to thrive for years to come.