By Omkar Pai | Project Leader
Ho ho ho honey Bee Supporters,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance! As we embrace the festive spirit, we are filled with gratitude for your unwavering support toward our honeybee conservation campaign. This holiday season, let us take a moment to celebrate the incredible contributions of honeybees—nature’s little Santas—who gift us pollination, honey, and countless ecosystem services.
At AERF, we continually strive to innovate and implement unique ways to conserve biodiversity and habitats. For this campaign, our efforts have been intertwined with the lives and knowledge of the "Mahadeo Koli" community from India. This indigenous group, residing in close proximity to the forests for generations, possesses a profound understanding of the interdependent relationships within their ecosystem. Their traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and fauna, combined with sustainable practices, has been a cornerstone of our conservation approach.
The Mahadeo Koli community harvests honey from various species, including the Asian Honeybee (Apis cerana), Dwarf Honeybee (Apis florea), and Giant Honeybee (Apis dorsata). Their skill in locating bee colonies is truly remarkable, as they track the bees’ flight paths from flowers such as Hirda (Terminalia chebula) and Jambhul (Syzygium cumini). Using non-destructive methods, they harvest wild honey sustainably, preserving the natural balance of the forest.
This wild, crude honey has significant market demand, creating an excellent opportunity for a sustainable intervention. By establishing a supply chain for honey harvested from managed bee boxes, we aim to mitigate the risks of overharvesting and ensure the long-term sustainability of bee colonies. This initiative not only protects these essential pollinators but also provides the Mahadeo Koli community with economic opportunities—a true WIN-WIN solution.
With your support, AERF is installing 20 bee boxes for Asian Honeybees (Apis cerana) and training community members in their management. These boxes represent a sustainable approach to honey production and colony growth. A pilot project has already demonstrated success: one parent colony was maintained for three years, resulting in increased colony size and the establishment of two new generations in additional boxes—effectively creating three colonies from one. Building on this success, we aim to scale up to 40 bee boxes within the coming year.
This holiday season, as you gather with loved ones, remember that honeybees are a vital part of the circle of life. They’re not just Santa’s helpers in delivering nature’s gifts but also an inspiration for how we can work together to create harmony between humanity and the environment.
Once again, thank you for your generous support and encouragement. We will keep you updated on the progress of the new bee boxes and the stingless bee colonies we are nurturing. Together, we are making a difference, one buzz at a time.
Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a prosperous New Year 2025!
KEEP BUZZING!
By Akshay Gawade | Project Leader
By Akshay Varsha Gawade | Project Leader
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