Indigenous women save the sacred Mayan bee

In southeastern Mexico, Mayan women continue to play a vital role in protecting the Melipona bee, a native stingless species at risk of extinction. During this period, women guardians strengthened their knowledge and practices in meliponiculture, contributing to both environmental conservation and income generation through a sustainable, culturally rooted activity.

Participants advanced in the processing and commercialization of honey-derived products and improved their production facilities and practices. At the same time, several groups strengthened alternative income strategies such as guided visits to meliponaries, combining conservation, cultural heritage, and community-based tourism. These activities also help raise awareness about the ecological importance of the Melipona bee and the need to protect its habitat.

Nearly 200 women across the region are actively involved in protecting hundreds of thousands of bees while building sustainable livelihoods. Despite challenges such as strengthening young hives and completing formal administrative processes, the women remain committed to long-term sustainability. Thanks to donor support, they are preserving biodiversity, ancestral knowledge, and a more resilient future for their communities.