CIFOR’s researchers in Zambia are confident that a new draft beekeeping policy, tailored to the context and the needs of bee keepers, will have a meaningful effect on forest communities. Photo by Fiona Paumgarten
The Zambian Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources has developed a draft beekeeping policy, which is a recognition of the sub-sector’s importance to the country’s economic and environmental prosperity.
The draft policy has been strongly supported by a research project spearheaded by CIFOR, which is focussing largely on the production, packaging and marketing of honey and beeswax products.
According to Davison Gumbo, a scientist from CIFOR’s Zambia Office, “the new policy will assist those working in the beekeeping industry to better manage the trade and to better capitalise on the opportunities that are available. Currently, bee farmers earn little more than $3000 for a tonne of honey on the international market.
“ In addition to these direct livelihood benefits, the policy will provide the incentives and the framework for these people to manage the forests more sustainably,” said Gumbo.
“Until now, monitoring and control of the beekeeping industry in Zambia has been incorporated under Zambia’s National Forest Policy,” he added. “This has not sufficiently reflected the nuances of the industry and the needs of the stakeholders involved.”
CIFOR’s researchers in Zambia are confident that an official policy, tailored to the context and the needs of bee keepers, will have a meaningful effect on forest communities.
Honey and beeswax are among Zambia’s major non-traditional exports, with international markets including South Africa, Germany, Libya, the UK, Japan, Canada and the US. Honey and beeswax have multiple uses. For example, honey is used as a sweetener and an ingredient in herbal medicines, while beeswax is used in the manufacturing of cosmetics.
On Friday, September 19, 2008, CIFOR’s Zambia Office hosted an Open Day for forest stakeholders - attended by government officials, donors and NGO representatives - which showcased the work of CIFOR in the region.
In a speech read on her behalf, Mukuka Zimba, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources, praised CIFOR’s role in supporting the development of the beekeeping policy and stressed the importance of forestry research in providing data on which to base policy decisions and appropriate actions.
She urged all stakeholders to develop new frontiers for forest research in Zambia, in order to gain a better understanding of the underlying causes of, and necessary measures to address, issues related to climate change, deforestation, and charcoal production.
Story by Tim Cronin, CIFOR