Beekeeping, as a sustainable activity, can provide alternative income to coastal communities, reducing their dependence on fishing and increasing their resilience in the face of various economic and cultural vulnerabilities. At the same time, it promotes mangrove conservation by offering an economic incentive for their protection and restoration.
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Mangrove forests, located in estuaries and coastal zones, are ecosystems made up of various mangrove species adapted to the high salinity of the surrounding aquatic environment. By connecting terrestrial and aquatic environments, these forests support a high level of biological diversity.
Balance is essential for ecosystems to function properly. Mangroves and oceans are a clear example of this crucial balance. The complex root system of mangroves acts as a natural filter for nitrates, phosphates, and other contaminants that flow down rivers, cleaning and improving the quality of the water that reaches the seas and ocean. These ecosystems also contribute to the ecological balance of the oceans by serving as shelter and feeding grounds for many aquatic species during their juvenile stages. Once mature, these species migrate to the open sea and play important roles within the marine food web.
In addition to their role in maintaining ocean health, mangroves are vital for the well-being and resilience of coastal communities, as they provide a wide range of ecosystem services. These include the supply of food such as fish, mollusks, and crustaceans for both consumption and commercial use. Mangroves also play a key role in regulating environmental processes: filtering and improving water quality, reducing coastal erosion, protecting communities from hurricanes and floods, and mitigating the effects of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere. They also support biodiversity by producing oxygen and serving as breeding grounds for various animal species. Culturally, mangroves offer opportunities for sustainable recreation and ecotourism, generating income for local communities.
Despite their importance for both nature and human well-being, 35% of mangroves have disappeared globally due to decades of unsustainable use, mainly driven by international market demands. The loss of mangroves has had particularly harmful effects on the lives and livelihoods of local coastal communities.
On the Caribbean coast of Guatemala lies the Río Sarstún Multiple Use Area (AUMRS), a protected area that contains the second-largest mangrove system in the Guatemalan Caribbean. It is also home to several communities, including Barra Sarstún. This community has shown genuine interest in mangrove conservation and has actively participated in reforestation efforts since 2021, improving the ecosystem and the local environment. To support conservation and address the challenges faced by the mangrove ecosystem, the Mangrove Beekeeping Project was launched in Barra Sarstún with support from Pure Ocean Fund, New England Biolabs Foundation, and The Summit Foundation.
Beekeeping involves the care and management of bees, which play a critical role in pollinating plants during their search for nectar and pollen. This, in turn, significantly contributes to the reproduction of local flora. Therefore, promoting beekeeping in coastal communities like Barra Sarstún also helps restore mangroves in the area, benefiting overall ocean health.
Beekeeping also produces a variety of hive products such as honey, wax, propolis, royal jelly, and other by-products that can be commercialized. This makes it a valuable economic alternative for diversifying community income sources. Expanding job opportunities is essential to offset the negative economic impacts of declining fish populations and climate change—factors that directly affect fishing, the main livelihood in Barra Sarstún.
Furthermore, beekeeping can open new employment opportunities for women in the community, who often have limited access to and control over household financial resources. By engaging in beekeeping, women can not only support their families but also gain greater economic and social empowerment. Their involvement strengthens the local economy while promoting gender equity and sustainable development in Barra Sarstún.
As part of the Mangrove Beekeeping Project, a series of hands-on and theoretical training sessions were conducted on how to manage an apiary, inspect and care for hives, and extract and bottle mangrove honey for sale.
Together with participating community members, the project’s logo and honey brand were developed and named Ki’il Sarstoon, which means “Sarstún Honey” in the Q’eqchi’ Mayan language.
The commercialization of this honey not only generates income for the beekeeping group in Barra Sarstún but also helps raise awareness—both within and beyond the community—about the importance of mangroves as a source of ecosystem services and economic benefits. It also highlights the value of beekeeping as a sustainable livelihood that benefits both the community and the surrounding mangroves. The hope is that beekeeping will contribute significantly to mangrove conservation—both through bee pollination and by providing economic incentives for continued community involvement in mangrove protection and restoration.
As part of the project, environmental education workshops about bees have also been held with children and youth from local schools. These workshops aim to expand their understanding of the importance of mangroves, bees, and beekeeping, while also inspiring future generations to engage in these activities. This approach ensures the continuity of the project and promotes active youth participation in the conservation and sustainable use of Barra Sarstún’s natural resources.
Additional Reading
Friess, D. A. (2016). Ecosystem services and disservices of mangrove forests: Insights from historical colonial observations. Forests, 7(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/f7090183
Getzner, M., and Islam, M. S. (2020). Ecosystem services of mangrove forests: Results of a meta-analysis of economic values. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(16), 5830. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165830
Hernández-Félix, L., Molina-Rosales, D., and Agraz-Hernández, C. (2017). Ecosystem services and conservation strategies in the Isla Arena mangrove. Agriculture, Society and Development, 14(3), 427–449. https://www.revista-asyd.org/index.php/asyd/article/view/644
Hidalgo, H., and López, C. (2007). Sarstún River Multiple Use Reserve. Ramsar Wetlands Fact Sheet (RIS). https://rsis.ramsar.org/es/ris/1667?language=es
Himes-Cornell, A., Grose, S. O., and Pendleton, L. (2018). Mangrove ecosystem service values and methodological approaches to valuation: Where do we stand? Frontiers in Marine Science. 5:376. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2018.00376
MarFund. (2021). Caribbean communities in Guatemala participate in mangrove conservation and restoration. https://marfund.org/es/comunidades-caribe-guatemala-conservacion-restauracion-manglares/
Pysanczyn, J. (2021). Mangrove Mania – The Ecosystem that Keeps on Giving. The Marine Diaries. https://www.themarinediaries.com/tmd-blog/mangrove-mania-the-ecosystem-that-keeps-on-giving