Condition and Perspectives of Meliponiculture in Mayan Communities at Los Petenes Biosphere Reserve in Campeche, Mexico

Raising stingless bee (Melipona beecheii), called ko'olel kaab by the Maya of Campeche in The Petenes Biosphere Reserve, Mexico, is an age-old practice which is in danger of disappearing. Given the importance of meliponiculture to families' life strategy in this protected natural area, as well as to conservation of the diversity of native bee species, this study aimed to evaluate the current state of meliponiculture in the area through semi-structured questionnaires, interviews and participant observation. Only six of the 17 communities in the study region were found to still manage ko'olel kaab bees, and most keepers of native bees are men over the age of 65. Furthermore, the communities lack the ability to produce and market honey. However, points in favor of meliponiculture among the Maya people of Campeche are that it is being practiced in a protected natural area, that traditional knowledge persists, and that families still raise stingless bees using traditional management techniques to produce honey and other products for medicinal uses and ceremonial use. Increasing the market value of meliponiculture and fomenting appreciation for its cultural value may contribute to its recovery.