Beekeeping with Indigenous People in the Amazon

With each new hive and harvest, stingless beekeepers advance their craft. There are over 300 colonies in just three Maijuna communities, and beekeepers are tending more species of bees than ever. To ensure this progress endures, OnePlanet supports the formation of Uare Yojuna, the Indigenous-led association that brings beekeepers together to collectively shape their own future. Together, we are helping them transform success into sustainability through an adaptive business model and improved market access. 

Accessing high-value markets for their honey requires strong organization among the beekeepers. By pooling their harvest, beekeepers can reduce costs, increase bargaining power, and reach better-paying buyers. We partner to strengthen Uare Yojuna as they navigate these new challenges and build a foundation for fair market access and long-term sustainability.

Through participatory workshops, our team is building both individual skills and collective capacity in accounting, planning, and financial transparency. The association has already reached key milestones, including independently managing honey harvests, leading their annual meetings, and legal recognition. Now, OnePlanet is helping them strengthen governance and commercial management to ensure autonomy and resilience.

These skills serve the beekeepers beyond stingless beekeeping. Equipped with financial and organizational know-how, participants are able to apply these tools to other activities in their communities. Together, they’re building a practical toolbox for leadership and resilience that transcend stingless bees.

All of this is possible through your generous support. Together, we’re not only teaching families to care for stingless bees, but helping them build a network that connects knowledge, culture, and livelihoods. Your support reaches far beyond honey sales—it sustains traditions, strengthens community ties, and protects the forests that make beekeeping possible. With your help, we are preparing Uare Yojuna to flourish on its own: with strong governance, financial transparency, and the collective capacity to thrive for years to come.