In Lamu, mangrove loggers have adopted apiculture, or beekeeping, as a strategy to alleviate the pressure on mangrove forests and the surrounding marine ecosystem.
Apiculture involves the cultivation and management of bee colonies, primarily using man-made hives. While honey bees from the genus Apis are the most commonly kept, stingless bees such as Melipona are also included.
Through the Pate Resources and Tourism Initiative (PRATI), a community and youth-led organization based on Pate Island in Lamu East, these loggers are engaging in beekeeping within the mangrove forests. The 34-member group has selected the Chukuchu area—a site previously degraded due to mangrove restoration efforts—as their ideal location for bee rearing.
The initiative aims to create alternative livelihoods for the Bajuni community, traditionally known for fishing and logging. Swaleh Abdalla, the group’s treasurer, emphasized that beekeeping has significantly reduced the exploitation of local forest resources while simultaneously enhancing fish populations in the Indian Ocean.
Abdalla credited Wetlands International, a global nonprofit focused on wetland conservation, for providing essential knowledge and tools for apiculture in 2022. “PRATI began beekeeping and mangrove restoration activities in early 2018 with just 10 hives. Most of our honey was sold locally for medicinal uses. Thanks to Wetlands International’s training, we have greatly benefited,” he explained.
Following the training, PRATI received 50 modern hives and necessary equipment for honey harvesting. “Now, we can profit from selling mangrove honey, reducing our dependence on fishing and logging,” Abdalla noted.
The group has also launched campaigns to encourage community involvement in mangrove conservation and apiculture as a source of income. Member Mohamed Hassan stated, “PRATI serves as a platform for knowledge on mangrove conservation and restoration, demonstrating that livelihoods don’t have to rely on cutting down mangroves.”
Their conservation efforts have led to a more than 90% reduction in destructive activities within the community. Husna Bakari highlighted the importance of mangrove forests, stating, “They provide critical breeding grounds for fish. If degraded, fish populations in the Indian Ocean will decline, which is why we focus on conservation campaigns.”
Shawlet Cherono, a project officer with Wetlands International, noted that the community’s shift toward beekeeping presents a sustainable revenue supplement. “We are pleased to see them embrace this knowledge. Our goal is effective conservation while enhancing alternative income sources for Lamu communities that have relied heavily on mangroves,” Cherono said.
Samuel Lodiro, the Lamu County Forest Conservator from the Kenya Forest Service, praised the collaborative efforts of various conservation organizations to protect Lamu’s mangrove cover, which constitutes over 60% of Kenya’s total mangrove area. He warned that over-exploitation poses significant risks to these ecosystems, threatening both their productivity and sustainable economic growth.
The National Mangrove Ecosystem Management Plan (2017-2027) indicates that Lamu has five mangrove management units, with the Pate Island Swamps—including Pate Island, Shindabwe, Kizingitini, and Chongoni—comprising 26% of Lamu’s mangroves.
