{"id":2677,"date":"2016-05-15T14:06:01","date_gmt":"2016-05-15T22:06:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/?p=2677&lang=en"},"modified":"2016-05-15T14:08:15","modified_gmt":"2016-05-15T22:08:15","slug":"mayan-bees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/economy\/alternative-economy\/mayan-bees\/?lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Mayan bees"},"content":{"rendered":"

The indispensable role that bees play in the upkeep of ecosystems is a subject that has been researched and studied a lot in Guatemala in the past ten years, drawing the attention of biologists as well as scholars of other subjects. Bees, primarily known for producing honey and other products such as beeswax and propolis, also make an incredible contribution to humanity. Without them, it would be impossible to pollinize many kinds of plants and crops, a process that preserves distinct vegetable species and consequently animals as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the Directorate General of Research (DIGI in Spanish) of the San Carlos University of Guatemala, in our country there exists a wide variety of native bees that carry out an important function as pollinators. 33 different species are recognized, among them the genus Melipona, commonly known as stingless bees. These bees are found exclusively in the tropical and subtropical regions of America and, like honey bees (Apis melliferas), are unique in that they display social behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"DSC00273\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Studies conducted by El Colegio de la Frontera Sur and the Autonomous University of Yucat\u00e1n show that meliponiculture (the breeding and management of stingless bees) is an activity that<\/span><\/p>\n

Mesoamerican indigenous peoples have been doing since pre-hispanic times. Other studies indicate that the main native bee in these regions was Melipona beecheii, which produces white honey. Today, this species is still kept, principally in the departments of Santa Rosa and Chiquimula, and is attributed with medicinal properties that combat different illnesses.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although meliponiculture is currently a little-developed activity in Guatemala, there are a few initiatives, such as the Alternative Maya Marketing Civil Association (COMAL in Spanish) in the municipality of Huehuetenango, that seek to revive this practice. According to Armando Hern\u00e1ndez, beekeeping expert for COMAL, the association began its small honey-producing project with Apis melliferas in 2012. Later, the project grew to include 76 members, who are residents of the municipalities of La Democracia, San Pedro Necta, La Libertad, Colotenango, San Antonio Huista, and Santiago Chimaltenango.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"DSC00278\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In 2015, COMAL began a project to rescue native bees, initially offering producers information about the importance of recovering this species. At the beginning of 2016, COMAL presented its proposal for the \u201cRescue of native bees\u201d to the EntreMundos small grants program. This project was approved and is currently pushing forward with the installation of 36 boxes of meliponas (stingless) bees in six different municipalities in Huehuetenango. According to COMAL\u2019s experts, the management of meliponas is much easier than that of melliferas (honey) bees, and they hope to commercialize their honey soon, as it is valued highly for its therapeutic properties.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2009, Guatemala hosted the IV Mesoamerican Congress on Native Bees, which emphasized the importance of meliponas bees in Mayan rituals, as well as the sacred perspective that even today continues representing strength and wellbeing. For the members of COMAL, honey has a regenerative power, which is capable of restoring not only physical aspects but even the spiritual harmony of human beings. With this in mind, we say, \u201cKeep going, COMAL, continue sweetening the palate and spirit of Guatemala!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The indispensable role that bees play in the upkeep of ecosystems is a subject that has been researched and studied a lot in Guatemala in the past ten years, drawing the attention of biologists as well as scholars of other subjects. Bees, primarily known for producing honey and other products such as beeswax and propolis, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5505,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[411,415,413,453],"tags":[584,560,585],"class_list":["post-2677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alternative-economy","category-environment","category-food-security","category-frontpage-en","tag-bees","tag-guatemala-en","tag-native-bees"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/bee_species_cutout_antennae_m_mexico_face_2014-08-08-11.50.35_zs_pmax_15436756240.jpg?fit=5397%2C3744&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7ljt7-Hb","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6634,"url":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/environment\/organic-artisanal-and-sweet\/?lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":2677,"position":0},"title":"Organic, Artisanal \u2026 and Sweet!","author":"Majo Recinos","date":"19 mayo, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"By: Yessica Pastor Since ancient times, honey has been considered a special product due to its extraordinary flavor and its many medicinal properties.\u00a0 Although in Guatemala, the production of artisanal honey with native stingless bees dates from pre-Columbian times, currently there are very few producers and farmers that work with\u2026","rel":"","context":"En \u00abEnvironment\u00bb","block_context":{"text":"Environment","link":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/category\/environment\/?lang=en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/abejita-1-2-e1589931860864.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/abejita-1-2-e1589931860864.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/abejita-1-2-e1589931860864.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/abejita-1-2-e1589931860864.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/abejita-1-2-e1589931860864.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11085,"url":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/environment\/no-bees-no-life\/?lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":2677,"position":1},"title":"No bees, no life","author":"EntreMundos","date":"20 julio, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Ma\u00edz de Vida Did you know that there are more than 20,000 species of bees around the globe? Their survival is fundamental to ecosystems and food production. Did you know that a bee lives less than 40 days, visits fewer than 1000 flowers, and produces less than a teaspoon of\u2026","rel":"","context":"En \u00abCommunity Action\u00bb","block_context":{"text":"Community Action","link":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/category\/politics\/community-action-en-2\/?lang=en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/a6d4e38f-ec55-4772-bcd2-36fc346e048c-1.jpg?fit=901%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/a6d4e38f-ec55-4772-bcd2-36fc346e048c-1.jpg?fit=901%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/a6d4e38f-ec55-4772-bcd2-36fc346e048c-1.jpg?fit=901%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/a6d4e38f-ec55-4772-bcd2-36fc346e048c-1.jpg?fit=901%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10040,"url":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/world\/the-country-that-loves-bees\/?lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":2677,"position":2},"title":"The Country That Loves Bees","author":"EntreMundos","date":"17 julio, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"by Diana Pastor \u00a0 On the other side of the Atlantic along the coastal areas of the Baltic Sea one encounters a country about the size of Guatemala but with a population eight times smaller.\u00a0 Lithuania, a country not well-known in Latin America but which features, among other distinctions, being\u2026","rel":"","context":"En \u00abFrontPage\u00bb","block_context":{"text":"FrontPage","link":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/category\/frontpage-en\/?lang=en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/fotos-articulo-2.png?fit=495%2C500&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7588,"url":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/environment\/brutality-against-animals-persists-in-guatemala-they-beat-a-parlama-turtle-to-remove-its-eggs\/?lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":2677,"position":3},"title":"Brutality against animals persists in Guatemala: they beat a parlama turtle to remove its eggs","author":"EntreMundos","date":"26 septiembre, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"By EntreMundos Authorities of the National Council of Protected Areas reported that an adult sea turtle of the Parlama species was brutally beaten by unknown persons on Tecojate Beach, Nueva Concepci\u00f3n, Escuintla, who tried to steal its eggs. Despite being an endangered species, this turtle continues to be harassed by\u2026","rel":"","context":"En \u00abEnvironment\u00bb","block_context":{"text":"Environment","link":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/category\/environment\/?lang=en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/120195994_3297330823648689_7562092584676596289_n.jpg?fit=960%2C540&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/120195994_3297330823648689_7562092584676596289_n.jpg?fit=960%2C540&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/120195994_3297330823648689_7562092584676596289_n.jpg?fit=960%2C540&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/120195994_3297330823648689_7562092584676596289_n.jpg?fit=960%2C540&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2743,"url":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/environment\/forest-fires-set-by-drug-traffickers-threaten-guatemalas-virgin-forest-and-archaeological-wonders\/?lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":2677,"position":4},"title":"Forest fires set by drug traffickers threaten Guatemala\u2019s virgin forest and archaeological wonders","author":"EntreMundos","date":"20 junio, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Forest fires devastated at least 80 square kilometers of preserved forest in Pet\u00e9n before the rains of June 4th and 5th put most of them out. The Guatemalan government declared a state of emergency to battle the fires. Guatemala\u2019s Minister of Environment and Natural Resources said, \u201cthe hand of man\u2026","rel":"","context":"En \u00abCorruption\u00bb","block_context":{"text":"Corruption","link":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/category\/politics\/corruption\/?lang=en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/incendio.jpg?fit=777%2C472&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/incendio.jpg?fit=777%2C472&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/incendio.jpg?fit=777%2C472&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/incendio.jpg?fit=777%2C472&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1798,"url":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/environment\/the-effects-of-plastic-waste-in-rivers-lakes-and-seas-of-guatemala\/?lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":2677,"position":5},"title":"The effects of plastic waste in rivers, lakes and seas of Guatemala","author":"EntreMundos","date":"10 noviembre, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"By Raquel D\u00edaz - Communications student at the university Mesoamericana\u00a0 The Salam\u00e1 River is the most important in the department of Quetzaltenango. From its origin in Totonicap\u00e1n, it traverses the municipalities of Cantel, El Palmar, San Juan Ostuncalco, Quetzaltenango, Zunil, and San Carlos Sija, to finally penetrate the department of\u2026","rel":"","context":"En \u00abEnvironment\u00bb","block_context":{"text":"Environment","link":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/category\/environment\/?lang=en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/tortugas-marinas-bolsas-plastico-oceano_1308-35107.jpg?fit=616%2C469&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/tortugas-marinas-bolsas-plastico-oceano_1308-35107.jpg?fit=616%2C469&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/tortugas-marinas-bolsas-plastico-oceano_1308-35107.jpg?fit=616%2C469&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2677"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2680,"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2677\/revisions\/2680"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}