Development of meliponicultre in Argentina, Ethnobiology and Melissopalynology as tools for progress

GEISA MELISA; F. F. FLORES; FERNANDO MÜLLER; HILGERT N. I.

Ethnobiology in the confluence of actors, territories and disciplines

Springer

Año: 2022; p. 1 - 15

In Argentina, some species of native stingless bees (ANSA) are of cultural importance to various ethnic groups, are valued as a source of food and medicine, and have symbolic value. The relationship between the communities and the ANSA has been long-standing and there is increasing interest and practice of meliponiculture as an alternative to the extraction of wild nests and their resources, mainly honey, from natural spaces. In this chapter we analyze the relationship between bees and human populations and the current situation of meliponiculture in Argentina. We expose the inter-institutional and legal organization that establishes medium-term goals and regulates this productive system. Then, for three species of ANSA present in different regions of the country, we analyze the relationship between the trophic resources of importance for bees and the uses assigned to these plants by the local population from melissopalynology, ecology and ethnobiology. It is evident that, in addition to the diversity of floral resources, it is necessary to preserve natural ecosystems in good condition, since those radically modified offer insufficient sources of honey. Besides, between 38% and 100% of the plant resources important for bees are used by local communities that compete with them, thus, shared use in the same territory should be planned. It is recommended to take into account the information provided in order to strengthen the production of these honeys, the maintenance of the environmental context and the local culture.