Trees for the Bees

Marcelo Rodríguez is deeply connected to nature, having spent his entire life immersed in the biodiverse native forests of Chile’s Arauco Province.

Here, the lush temperate rainforest teems with life. Many of the forest’s trees are endemic species, found nowhere else on Earth – like the evergreen Tineo tree (Weinmannia trichosperma). Its prized nectar and pollen sustain local honeybees, which are drawn to its delicate white flowers. The resulting Tineo honey is a rare, region-specific product made only in this part of Chile.

Marcelo’s maternal grandmother inspired him to value the bees and native trees that supported their family’s livelihood. But the rise of industrial logging in the 1980s began to fragment the forests he loved.

The land he inherited from his father had become overrun with non-native eucalyptus plantations. But Marcelo held onto a dream: “One day I’m going to restore this forest,” he promised himself.

After earning a degree in forestry engineering, Marcelo returned to his family’s land with his partner and their son, Manuel, who was born with severe cerebral palsy.

He took the first step by planting a garden rich in native, nectar-producing plants and pollinator-friendly tree species to attract bees and other beneficial insects. In 2022, Marcelo expanded his efforts by planting more native species on one of his three hectares.

Marcelo is one of the beneficiaries of the +Bosques Project – an ambitious initiative led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Chilean National Forestry Corporation (CONAF), with support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Funding for this REDD+ Results Based Payment project was awarded based on the Government of Chile's successful efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and enhance forest stocks and conservation in 2014, 2015 and 2016. 

Protecting native tree saplings

“Sustainable beekeeping became a way for me to stay at home, earn an income, and help preserve the forest,” Marcelo explains.

“We placed the hives in November, and by the end of December, we had our first harvest. That’s when we discovered the bees were producing a unique honey: Tineo honey,” he recalls with excitement.

But that wasn’t all. Between February and March, the hives yielded a second harvest: Ulmo honey, derived from the native Ulmo tree (Eucryphia cordifolia). Known for its antibacterial and medicinal properties, Ulmo honey has been used for centuries by the Mapuche Indigenous Peoples for traditional healing and therapeutic purposes.

Bee on a flower of the Ulmo tree. CC BY 2.0

Through melissopalynological analysis – a method that identifies the floral sources of honey – Marcelo confirmed the purity and botanical origin of his honeys. This allows him to sell his authentic, locally produced honey at a fair price.

Today, Marcelo manages around 75 beehives, producing propolis, pollen, and royal jelly; his mission is to restore native tree species for a better environment and a better life.

Marcelo’s story underscores the vital role that bees and pollinators play in sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem health. Leading by example, he shows us how we can all “bee inspired by nature to nourish the planet.”