Creating Thriving Livelihoods and Protecting Natural Habitats through Beekeeping
Many communities across Kenya especially in the Rift Valley region depend on livestock
for income generation. However, this
practice makes
them vulnerable to the impacts of climate change where periods of extreme weather and
drought leave
them without income. Beekeeping create thriving livelihoods by utilizing the available
natural
resources and the environment. As compared to livestock, it requires very little land,
which also
means that each member of the community especially Women & youth can
get
involved.
Beekeeping also encourages planting of flowers, shrubs, and trees which ultimately encourage environmental conservation. Studies have also shown that bee keeping has positively contributed to conservation by:
- Improving the resilience of smallholder farmers by increasing the pollination success of many flowering plants
- Generating income for beekeepers thus alleviating pressure on the locally available resources
- Altering the way people view their local environment