The bee population has been declining in the past few decades toward extinction–due to changes in agricultural processes, habitat loss, and pesticides. This has a huge consequence on food production and environmental stability.
The excess and irresponsible use of chemicals (pesticides and herbicides) by farmers during agricultural production has resulted into massive killing of African honeybee populations (apic melifera) and other pollinators in many rural communities of Uganda. This is worsened by high levels of deforestation (cutting of trees to create space for agriculture, to get firewood and charcoal) which poses a big threat to wild honeybee populations and their habitat. In Uganda, over 93% of the population in rural communities has no access to electricity and 94% of the population depends on biomass for energy supply.70% of the forest estate is at the risk of destruction. In fact, over 20 million tons of firewood is consumed annually and nearly 6,978,000m3 of charcoal is consumed annually.( Uganda National Forestry Report 2014).
Suffice to note; bee hunting as traditionally practiced in Ugandan rural communities results into unprecedented death of bee colonies because they use rudimentary methods of retrieving honey which lead to destruction of honeycomb. This involves the use of fire in the process of honey collection which also leads to killing of bees and at the same time trigger forest fire that destroy habitat and result in great damage of the ecosystem. Even more environmentally damaging, is a common practice in which large holes are cut in the trunks of trees and the insides are set on fire hence eventually killing the tree. Therefore, these uncontrolled fires set by honey hunters in many cases burn extensive areas devastating many communities and reduced agricultural productivity. It should be noted that wild honey bee populations provide crucial pollination that is necessary for agricultural productivity and support the food chain. This also provides business opportunities especially as a source of an alternative income and employment for vulnerable youth and women.
Like any other developing world, Ugandan communities have a great need to preserve their African wild bee ( apic melefera) through conservation and at the same time leverage from highly profitable business opportunities of modern bee farming,
EcoBees social enterprise will build the capacity of communities in sustainable and ecologically friendly modern bee farming practices coupled with the protection and preservation of bee habitats (flora and fauna) hence contributing to achieve global agendas like the climate agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs).