Bear-friendly honey certified with Chester Zoo support
Honey producers supported by Chester Zoo have been recognised for their role in protecting the rare Andean bear.
The zoo announced this week that honey made by farmers in Tarija, southern Bolivia, has received official Andean Bear Friendly™ certification from the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network.
Since 2017, Chester Zoo’s Andean Carnivore Conservation Programme has worked with families in the inter-Andean dry forests, an area under pressure from cattle ranching.
The project, run in partnership with the Bolivian NGO Fundacion Fautapo and Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, has helped farmers set up apiaries and harvest honey as a sustainable income.
Paul Bamford, Chester Zoo’s Regional Field Programme Senior Manager for Latin America, said: “The Andean Carnivore Conservation Programme has been producing honey for years. Now, that honey is officially certified as Andean Bear Friendly™.
This means it is not harmful to bears, and it encourages conservation of the inter-Andean dry forest, which is a threatened habitat for many species.”
He added that beekeeping offers farmers “an important line of income that also fosters peaceful coexistence between people and bears by reducing economic reliance on cattle.”
Andean bears, the only bear species native to South America, are listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Their habitats, including the inter-Andean dry forests, are also classed as Critically Endangered.
Dr Ximena Velez-Liendo, who leads the programme, said: “Just eight years ago, the Andean bear was seen as a menace—nearly driven to extinction. How did we turn things around? By demonstrating the value of biodiversity and the power of coexistence. Beekeeping became the perfect example: a sweet success, bottled in every jar of honey.”
The honey is sold under the Valle de Osos (Valley of the Bears) label. Producers undergo an auditing process to show they are farming in ways that support biodiversity and conservation while sustaining local livelihoods.
Christine Lippai, Executive Director at WFEN, said: “The Andean Bear Friendly™ certification celebrates the resilience and ingenuity of communities in Tarija, who are transforming challenges into opportunities by shifting from practices that harm wildlife to ones that protect it, and we are delighted to welcome these dedicated producers into our global network.”
Further details are available at www.wildlifefriendly.com
.
Check live fuel prices near you before you set off.
Spotted something? Got a story? Email news (@) deeside.com
NEW: Add Deeside.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Latest News
