Let it Bee : when the pollinators become mainstream

Stingless bee visiting flower of crop

Buzzzz…zzzzz  no we can’t hear the bee flying, this is tiny bee, size as flies, no sting, role as pollinators and producing honey too, Stingless bee!!. We have done shared our knowledge and gain new experience on meliponiculture in the habitat of critically endangered primates. Located in Kemuning village, Temanggung regency, Central Java, this site is recognized as habitat of Javan slow loris, first time we discover in this area in 2013 (read here for the report). After we found the javan slow loris existed, students continue to do research in this area. And now a conservation organization (Javan Wildlife Institute) initiated by Wildlife Lab of  Forestry Faculty, Gadjah Mada University continue the fieldwork, not only academic research but also assist people of Kemuning to protect and generate alternative income.

Shadegrown coffee habitat of Javan slow loris

Javan Slow loris

As we know wildlife hunting is the main threats for the biodiversity in Kemuning forest, we try to develop solution to increase their knowledge and capacity to maintain sustainable forest product. We have been working since last year to manage stingless bee honey from the Javan gibbon habitat, and now we try to introduce this scheme in the kukang habitat. Mainstreaming conservation of pollinators and introducing management of the stingless bee honey production.

Stingless bee honey 

On Saturday and Sunday (21/22 January 2017) organized by JAWI we conduct training for villagers in Kemuning, and there are 10 participants from the Kemuning village to join in the two days training. Our team give an introduction and share experience on stingless bee, honeys and their relationship with crops and forest habitat. Introductory about native bees and it’s role in our environment were emphasized in the discussion with the participants. Moreover, this bee is producing honey that very healthy and economically viable.

knowledge sharing about stingless bee

This training is intended to bring some long-term solution to conserve forest as habitat of endangered animals but also give real example for sustainable forest product who provide sustainable income. Next activities is we will active to encourage participants to manage bees colonies and give direct assistant on marketing strategy for the  stingless bee honey.

field practice, how to manage stingless bee colony