In rural Zambia, sustainable beekeeping incentives are boosting local forest conservation.

Box beehives have been introduced as a way of increasing honey production in an environmentally-friendly way.

In the past, traditional beekeepers utilized destructive practices including cutting down trees where bees had made a hive to get to the honey.

In order to boost sustainability, several NGOs and businesses in the country have introduced box beehives as a way of increasing honey production in an environmentally-friendly way.

Honey from these boxes is sold commercially, providing beekeepers with an alternative livelihood to charcoal production or clearing forests for agriculture.

According to a 2023 study carried out in this north west region of Zambia by Bees For Development, sustainable beekeeping incentivizes boosted local forest conservation.

Deforestation is a serious concern in Zambia.

The country lost 11% of tree cover between 2001 and 2024, according to Global Forest Watch.

While traditional beekeeping played a relatively small role, clearing forests for agriculture and burning trees to make charcoal have been significant drivers of this forest loss.

Timber production has been a further issue.

Keeping forests intact is a key way to help mitigate climate change as trees absorb carbon dioxide.

By becoming guardians of their forests, beekeepers in Zambia are helping a national and global heritage.

AP video shot by Neil Shaw