Partnering for conserving the Miombo forest and enhancing beekeeping production
Tanzania offers a favourable environment to produce honey, beeswax, and other bee products, with an estimated potential production of 138 000 tons of honey and 9 200 tons of beeswax per year. However, actual production remains low, with current yields of just 31 608.30 tons of honey and 1 901.60 tons of beeswax produced annually.
Beekeeping plays a significant role in the socio-economic development of Tanzania. Honeybee products are used as raw materials for industries ranging from pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, textiles, beverages, paper, and confectioneries. The sector generates revenue of about USD 1.7 million annually through the export of honey and beeswax. It is estimated that the beekeeping sector employs approximately 2 million people across the entire value chain (URT, 2023).
Recognizing Tanzania’s growing prominence in the global beekeeping community, the country has been selected to host the 50th Api Mondia World Congress of Beekeepers, which will take place in Arusha from 20 to 25 September 2027.
The beekeeping sector, and the forests it depends on, are undergoing threats. The Dry Miombo Woodlands of western Tanzania are facing increasing pressure from agricultural expansion, overharvesting of forest products, illegal logging, and the impact of climate change, including recurrent droughts. These stresses are severely affecting the region’s biodiversity, water sources, and the livelihoods of communities who depend on the forest for food, fuel and income.
Forest loss is a global crisis, with over 7.3 million hectares lost each year. In Tanzania alone, more than 469 420 hectares are lost annually, driven largely by uncontrolled land conversion and the illegal timber and charcoal trade, especially in forest-rich regions like Tabora and Katavi.
Integrated Landscape Management for Conservation and Livelihoods
To tackle these issues, FAO, in collaboration with the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS), is currently implementing the project Integrated Landscape Management in the Dry Miombo Woodlands of Tanzania. The project seeks to halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss in the Miombo woodlands of south-western Tanzania through an integrated landscape management approach.
It focuses on three key areas: strengthening the enabling environment for sustainable woodland management by reactivating national and local technical working groups and reviewing relevant policies; promoting and scaling up sustainable land and forest management practices, including participatory planning, extension services, and community seed banks; and enhancing knowledge, monitoring, and collaboration to support national Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets and facilitate regional and global knowledge exchange.
Recognizing that sustainable beekeeping practices promote biodiversity, protect forests, and foster resilient livelihoods while safeguarding natural resources, Dr. Tipo Nyabenyi, FAO Representative in Tanzania, and Prof. Dos Santos Silayo, Conservation Commissioner for the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS), commit to supporting Forest and Farm Producer Organizations (FFPOs) to accelerate the conservation of the Miombo Woodlands for sustainable beekeeping production. This commitment was made during a field visit to the project sites, where stakeholders, including FFPOs, convened.
Partnering for conserving the Miombo forest and enhancing beekeeping production
Tanzania offers a favorable environment to produce honey, beeswax, and other bee products, with an estimated potential production of 138 000 tons of honey and 9 200 tons of beeswax per year. However, actual production remains low, with current yieldsofjust 31 608.30 tons of honey and 1 901.60 tons of beeswax produced annually.
Beekeeping plays a significant role in the socio-economic development of Tanzania. Honeybee products are used as raw materials for industries ranging from pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, textiles, beverages, paper, and confectioneries. The sector generates revenue of about USD 1.7 million annually through the export of honey and beeswax. It is estimated that the beekeeping sector employs approximately 2 million peopleacross the entire value chain (URT, 2023).
Recognizing Tanzania’s growing prominence in the global beekeeping community, the country has been selected to host the 50th Api Mondia World Congress of Beekeepers, which will take place in Arusha from 20 to 25 September 2027.
The beekeeping sector, and the forests it depends on, are undergoing threats. The Dry Miombo Woodlands of western Tanzania are facing increasing pressure from agricultural expansion, overharvesting of forest products, illegal logging, and the impact of climate change, including recurrent droughts. These stresses are severely affecting the region’s biodiversity, water sources, and the livelihoods of communities who depend on the forest for food, fuel and income.
Forest loss is a global crisis, with over 7.3 million hectares lost each year.In Tanzania alone,more than 469 420 hectares are lost annually, drivenlargely by uncontrolled land conversion and the illegal timber and charcoal trade, especially in forest-rich regions like Tabora and Katavi.
Integrated Landscape Management for Conservation and Livelihoods
To tackle these issues, FAO, in collaboration with the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS), is currently implementing the project Integrated Landscape Management in the Dry Miombo Woodlands of Tanzania.The project seeks to halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss in the Miombo woodlands of south-western Tanzania through an integrated landscape management approach.
It focuses on three key areas: strengthening the enabling environment for sustainable woodland management by reactivating national and local technical working groups and reviewing relevant policies; promoting and scaling up sustainable land and forest management practices, including participatory planning, extension services, and community seed banks; and enhancing knowledge, monitoring, and collaboration to support national Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets and facilitate regional and global knowledge exchange.
Recognizing that sustainable beekeeping practices promote biodiversity, protect forests, and foster resilient livelihoods while safeguarding natural resources, Dr. Tipo Nyabenyi, FAO Representative in Tanzania, and Prof. Dos Santos Silayo, Conservation Commissioner for the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS), commit to supporting Forest and Farm Producer Organizations (FFPOs) to accelerate the conservation of the Miombo Woodlands for sustainable beekeeping production. This commitment was made during a field visit to the project sites, where stakeholders, including FFPOs, convened.
Working with grassroot organizations for sustainable beekeeping and improved livelihoods
To ensure sustainable beekeeping and development of related economic activities, assessments were conducted to identify FFPOs and their capacity needs. A total of 16 FFPOs groups comprising, 377 females and 852 males have been selected to benefit from capacity development program on sustainable beekeeping and value chain development for bee products and services (including pollination services) from the Beekeeping Training Institute (BTI). Additional support includes essential equipment and connections to market opportunities.
As key partners in restoration efforts, these FFPOs groups are central to conserving the Miombo woodlands and unlocking the full potential of Tanzania’s beekeeping sector.