Ecological beekeeping, with its environmental advantages, financial and therapeutic potential, generally is a substantial contribution to the preservation of the Congo Basin forests.
Relations between beekeepers and farmers within the Congo Basin usually are not at all times cordial, therefore these complaints from beekeepers.
“Throughout the dry season, some individuals clear their fields by setting fires. Generally the hearth crosses and arrives in our websites.” in response to Albertine Nzewang, a beekeeper.
“So if the individuals of Loudima assume that we made the bees depart Pointe-Noire to come back and kill them, to forestall them from cultivating their fields. That is fully false. It is an issue of hatred and jealousy.” added Alain Mvouity, one other beekeeper.
The bee is particular within the midst of different pollinators corresponding to butterflies, birds, flies, bats, bumblebees, and many others. By pollinating one third of all crops, they play a necessary position in meals safety.
“With out bees, there is no such thing as a forest, no meals. We cannot be speaking about cassava after 4 years. We are going to disappear like flies…it is true…I guarantee you” Alain Mvouity, reteirated.
“By way of beekeeping, I shield the atmosphere. It contributes enormously to the biodiversity. The entire world wants bees. Folks reduce down bushes. However alternatively, by trendy beekeeping, we do not destroy the forest or reduce down the woods.” stated Romaric Ngassedanga, supporting Alain’s level.
Bee, this tremendous pollinator, can be an awesome indicator of the standard of the atmosphere. It doesn’t tolerate air pollution.
Higher nonetheless, it represents an actual various to the artisanal exploitation of the forest by way of the earnings generated by the sale of honey and merchandise derived from the hive corresponding to royal jelly, wax, and many others.
Juste Goma, a promoter for beekeeping, compares the manufacturing of honey with oil enterprise.
“You realize, a barrel of oil has a capability of 159 litres. The 159 litres should you promote them, the costliest at the moment prices 100,000 CFA francs. However should you put 159 litres of honey in a barrel that you just promote on the lowest value of 5000, you understand what that does? That is seven, eight occasions greater than a barrel of oil.
The ecological, socio-economic and therapeutic advantages of beekeeping are actual, however largely ignored by the individuals residing within the Congo Basin.
The problem for authorities and residents is to focus on these advantages.
The intention is to direct the inhabitants in the direction of these assets and, in flip, to minimise the strain on forest exploitation and thus give an opportunity to the preservation of the forest within the Congo basin.