Haika Kimaro | December 18, 2024
News Brief
In the small coastal village of Msimbati, nestled along Tanzania’s Indian Ocean shores, an unlikely partnership is flourishing between the community and nature: beekeeping in the mangrove forests. Mangroves play a critical role in coastal ecosystems, protecting coastlines from erosion and providing a habitat for marine life. In recent years, villagers have discovered that these mangroves can also support sustainable livelihoods, such as honey production. By keeping bees within the mangrove forests, they are creating an alternative income source while protecting their environment. Mustafa Issa, a former fisherman, explains, “Experts showed us that the loss of mangroves affected fish populations. They taught us that beekeeping could save the mangroves and also provide income.”
In the small coastal village of Msimbati, nestled along Tanzania’s Indian Ocean shores, an unlikely partnership is flourishing between the community and nature: beekeeping in the mangrove forests.
Mangroves play a critical role in Msimbati’s ecosystem, protecting coastlines from erosion and providing a habitat for marine life. In recent years, villagers have discovered that these mangroves can also support sustainable livelihoods, such as honey production. By keeping bees within the mangrove forests, they are creating an alternative income source while protecting their environment.
The mangroves provide a unique floral source that contributes to the production of mangrove honey, which can be marketed as a specialty product with a higher value. Honey production, processing, and sale provide income to local families. By adding value through the production of honey by-products such as beeswax candles, and cosmetics, communities can further enhance their income. As beekeeping becomes a more profitable and sustainable livelihood, it reduces the need for unsustainable practices like cutting mangroves for firewood or charcoal. This shift helps in the long-term conservation of the mangrove ecosystem, as fewer resources are extracted destructively.
Villagers in Msimbati began exploring beekeeping as a means to earn income after mangrove logging had depleted fish stocks and left coastal areas vulnerable to flooding. They learned that mangrove trees like Avicennia and Rhizophora provide rich nectar sources, allowing bees to thrive and produce honey unique to the area.
One of the first to embrace beekeeping was Mustafa Issa, a former fisherman. He recalls, “People were cutting mangroves for timber, and we noticed a decline in fish.” Mr Issa adds, “Experts showed us that the loss of mangroves affected fish populations. They taught us that beekeeping could save the mangroves and also provide income.”
Now, instead of cutting trees, villagers tend beehives and protect the mangroves that sustain them. Beekeeping has brought significant economic benefits. Mr. Issa says that while he used to earn around 8,000 shillings ($2.90 US) per bundle of mangrove timber, he now makes 10,000 shillings ($ 3.60 US) per liter of honey.
On average, he earns 400,000 shillings ($147 US) monthly from honey. He shares, “I earn more from honey than I did from fishing.” He harvests between 40 to 50 liters of honey every six weeks.
Villagers have set up local rules to protect the mangroves, and community leaders like Issa Nampalanguka, the village chairman, work with organizations such as the Indian Ocean Conservation Alliance to raise awareness and replant mangroves. To date, they have planted over 3,000 new mangrove trees and continue educating residents on the importance of conservation.
Beekeeping is an environmentally-friendly practice that aligns with conservation goals. It requires minimal land use and does not harm the mangroves, making it a sustainable livelihood option for communities engaged in conservation efforts. In many communities, beekeeping is particularly accessible to women, giving them an opportunity to participate in income-generating activities. This contributes to improved livelihoods for households and promotes gender equality.
For some residents, like Fatuma Khamisi, beekeeping has improved family nutrition and daily life. She says, “My children can now have tea before school, which I couldn’t afford before.” she says.
Having previously sold fish, Mrs. Khamisi now supplements her income with honey sales, allowing her to afford essentials for her family.
The partnership between Msimbati residents and environmental organizations is yielding broader ecological benefits. Boniphace Michael from the Indian Ocean Conservation Alliance explains that mangrove conservation directly impacts other ecosystems, such as coral reefs. He says, “When one ecosystem is harmed, others suffer.”
This shift in Msimbati has inspired coastal communities across southern Tanzania, who are now following similar conservation and sustainable livelihood strategies. By embracing beekeeping, eco-tourism, and sustainable fishing, they demonstrate how protecting the environment can go hand-in-hand with economic growth.
