Farmers Enlist Unlikely Ally to Protect Mangrove Trees: Bees

Thought Question: What creative idea do you have that could help solve an environmental problem in your community or school?

A group of clever farmers in Kenya are protecting the African country’s precious mangrove trees with the help of some tiny workers. They’re using bees. 

"We positioned (beehives) at the peak where they can't be spotted with ease," Bibiana Nanjilula told The Associated Press (AP). He's the founder of Tulinde Mikoko (Swahili for “Let’s Protect Mangroves”). "As such, when the loggers start cutting down whichever tree, the bees will attack due to the noise."

Mangroves grow in dense thickets along saltwater coasts. Their roots look like spider legs. When they tangle together, they create a rich habitat and strong barrier against erosion. Illegal logging and climate change have threatened mangroves worldwide, though. In the region where Tulinde Mikoko works, 50% of the total mangrove area has been taken. That makes saving the trees that remain vital, Nanjilula argues.  

This is where the bees come in. 

By installing beehives in the mangroves, farmers make the trees harder to cut down. Loggers don’t like getting stung, after all. The bees, in turn, thrive in their well-tended hives. They pollinate the mangrove trees. That helps the ecosystem bounce back. And the farmers get to harvest the honey, which they can sell. 

"Mangrove honey is also classified as top quality and medicinal," James Kairo told NPR. He's a scientist at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute. The honey brings as much as $6 per liter at market. 

About 134,500 acres of mangroves remain in Kenya. Experts hope methods like beekeeping will help that number grow.   

Photo of mangrove trees in Kenya from Wikimedia Commons courtesy of Jonathan Wilkins.