Biocultural Diversity Loss: the Decline of Native Stingless Bees (Apidae: Meliponini) and Local Ecological Knowledge in Michoacán, Western México

Local ecological knowledge (LEK) is of utmost importance for biodiversity conservation; however, a number of studies document the loss of LEK regarding native bees. Stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) are important pollinators that have been managed by humans in all tropical areas of the world. Our...

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Published inHuman ecology : an interdisciplinary journal Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 411 - 422
Main Authors Reyes-González, Alejandro, Camou-Guerrero, Andrés, del-Val, Ek, Ramírez, M. Isabel, Porter-Bolland, Luciana
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Springer US 01.08.2020
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Anthropology
Apidae
Bees
Biodiversity
Conservation
Ecology
Environmental Management
Geography
Honey
Local knowledge
Meliponini
Multiculturalism & pluralism
Nests
Pollinators
Social Sciences
Sociology
Species extinction
Sustainable use
Wildlife conservation
Mexico
Pot-honey hunters
Stingless bee (Meliponini) decline
Mexico
Erosion of local ecological knowledge
Qualitative data collection
Michoacán
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Summary:Local ecological knowledge (LEK) is of utmost importance for biodiversity conservation; however, a number of studies document the loss of LEK regarding native bees. Stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) are important pollinators that have been managed by humans in all tropical areas of the world. Our work documents the decline of Meliponini and associated LEK in the state of Michoacán, western Mexico, as well as local historical management and perceptions of the diversity and abundance of bees. Through ecological sampling, semi-structured interviews, and participant observation, we established the presence of 13 species of Meliponini and recognition of 23 local names. Although stingless bees’ pot-honey is harvested directly through extraction of wild nests, local knowledge about bee diversity, behavior, and use can contribute to their conservation. Because of recent access to manufactured products and the scarcity of wild nests, LEK and pot-honey harvest are being abandoned and forgotten in some areas. Maintaining LEK is important in designing sustainable use strategies to prevent the extinction of wild nests and allow conservation of bees as well as the cultural legacy associated with them, essential in the context of a global decline of pollinators.
ISSN:0300-7839
1572-9915
DOI:10.1007/s10745-020-00167-z