Photo by Luis Garcia
Las Meliponicultoras
Empowering Women, Protecting the Amazon
Indigenous women in the Amazon face significant barriers to economic independence, including limited training, financial resources, and gender norms. According to the International Labour Organization’s report, Study on the Employment Situation of Indigenous Women in Peru, women in these communities face systemic obstacles in accessing education, business opportunities, and sustainable income sources.
Las Meliponicultoras directly addresses these challenges by equipping over 280 women from Ashaninka and Kukama communities in Loreto, Junín, and Cuzco in Peru with technical training, business incubation, and resources to develop sustainable stingless beekeeping enterprises. In the community of Eyiyoquibo, Bolivia, we began conversations with the local Ese Ejja community of semi-nomad women and provided resource materials to lay the foundation for future stingless beekeeping initiatives.
“We are committed to strengthening the capacity of stingless beekeepers so they can generate sustainable income while also protecting our natural environment.”
Impact at a Glance
Through our partnership with EcoAshaninka, Reserva Comunal Ashaninka, Asociación Meliponicultores Región Loreto, and Earth Law Center, we have achieved the following impacts:
✔ 280+ indigenous Ashaninka and Kukama-kukamiria women trained in stingless beekeeping and sustainable entrepreneurship
✔ 100+ stingless beehives distributed to new and raising female beekeepers in Loreto, Junin and Cuzco in Peru and Eyiyoquibo in Bolivia
✔ 3 indigenous women in Peru awarded seed funding to expand their eco-friendly businesses
✔ Reforestation initiatives launched to restore pollinator-friendly landscapes
✔ Each stingless bee sanctuary established supports at least 20,000 square meters of rainforest, contributing to pollination, soil regeneration, and water cycle restoration, ensuring long-term ecosystem resilience.
“Stingless bees are not just part of the ecosystem—they are integral to our culture and environment. Their honey holds medicinal value, and their survival ensures the balance of our forests”
Revitalizing an Ancestral Tradition
Meliponiculture—the practice of raising stingless bees—has been an ancestral tradition in Amazonian communities for generations. However, the decline of bee populations, deforestation, and a lack of economic support have led to its decline.
By revitalizing this practice, Las Meliponicultoras provides the necessary training, beekeeping equipment, and sustainable market opportunities for indigenous women to reclaim this tradition while ensuring its long-term conservation.
“The honey produced by stingless bees is valued not only for its unique taste but also for its nutritional and medicinal properties”
Beyond Beekeeping: A Model for Sustainable Development
In addition to providing economic opportunities, this programme integrates:
🌱 Environmental conservation – Restoring degraded ecosystems through reforestation of native species that support stingless bees and the broader rainforest ecosystem.
📜 Cultural preservation – Protecting and revitalizing indigenous knowledge of stingless beekeeping and the medicinal properties of melipona honey, in collaboration with the Earth Law Center and the development of Community Biocultural Protocols.
🌍 Women-led sustainability – Elevating female leadership in conservation and sustainable entrepreneurship, with impact at both national and international levels.
Stories of Change
To conclude the first phase of the programme, in January 2025, Las Meliponicultoras will provide personalized mentoring for the three winners of a national contest, including two Kukama-kukamiria and one Ashaninka female leader in the regions of Loreto and Cuzco, respecively. These women will receive specialized support to scale their businesses, alongside storytelling sessions featuring successful female entrepreneurs who will share their experiences to inspire and empower future beekeepers.
Photo by Brenda Rivas
“For me, as a community member, the training on stingless bees was very productive for generating new income to benefit our children and set goals for the future”
A Future Built by Women, for the Amazon
This initiative was recognized on an international stage at COP16 (link), where one of our indigenous female leaders was invited by the Ministry of Environment to present the project, highlighting the critical role of women in conservation and biodiversity protection in the Amazon.
This programme is just the beginning. With continued mentorship, funding, and advocacy, Las Meliponicultoras is laying the foundation for a new generation of female conservation leaders in the Amazon. In 2025, we aim to expand Las Meliponicultoras into new regions across the Amazon Rainforest of Peru and Bolivia, strengthening our current efforts and reaching more indigenous women who can benefit from sustainable stingless beekeeping enterprises.
Press:
A 3-min summary video presented at the United Nations Conference COP16 in partnership with the Ministry of Environment: Link
Fondo Socioambiental del Perú (2024) – Comunidades Asháninkas de la selva central impulsan la crianza de abejas sin aguijón en la selva central. Link
Ojo Público (2024). Asháninkas del VRAEM defienden sus tierras y las abejas sin aguijón. Link
Las Meliponicultoras: The First Stingless Beekeeping Program for Indigenous Women in the Peruvian Amazon
In 2024, Amazon Research Int (ARI) launched Las Meliponicultoras, the first-ever stingless beekeeping programme dedicated to empowering indigenous women in the Peruvian Amazon. This initiative bridges biodiversity conservation with sustainable livelihoods, providing training, mentorship, and entrepreneurial support for female stingless beekeepers.