Socioeconomic aspects of meliponiculturists in the Amazon: challenges for the effective creation of stingless bees aiming at the maintenance of environmental and ecosystem services

Abstract

There is an intense debate in society regarding the implementation of actions, programs and projects aimed at maintaining environmental and ecosystem services. In this debate, different metrics, dimensions and objectives are presented. Among these environmental and ecosystem services is the creation of stingless bees, which is a way of including small farmers in concrete actions, enabling them to obtain additional income in the production unit. The productive inclusion of this activity includes women, young people and the elderly, increasing food production and directly contributing to the well-being and community development. It is in this perspective that the present research identified farmers, profiles, perceptions and social dynamics related to beekeeping. For this, we used the exploratory methodology and the snowball technique. As a result of the research, we created a map of the location of beekeepers in the Amazon and a profile in which the motivation for the activity is found. We conclude that the creation of stingless bees can be an activity that contributes to the production of food, income generation and maintenance of environmental and ecosystem services.