Discover the Global Stingless Bee Conservation Network (GSBCN), uniting global experts and communities to conserve stingless bees—key tropical pollinators vital to ecosystems, agriculture, and cultural heritage.
Why the Global Stingless Bee Conservation Network Matters More Than Ever
As pollinator populations decline worldwide, stingless bees stand out as crucial, yet underappreciated, native pollinators across tropical and subtropical regions. The Global Stingless Bee Conservation Network (GSBCN) mobilizes a worldwide coalition dedicated to preserving these indispensable insects, ensuring food security, biodiversity, and sustainable livelihoods.
Explore how the GSBCN’s mission and projects are shaping a sustainable future for these vital pollinators.
Understanding Stingless Bees: Nature’s Unsung Pollinators
Unlike the widely known honeybee, stingless bees (tribe Meliponini):
- Are stingless, making them safe for urban and community beekeeping.
- Thrive naturally in tropical ecosystems in Africa, Asia, Australia, and Latin America.
- Are primary pollinators for important crops like cocoa and coffee.
- Produce unique, medicinal honey prized for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties — learn more in our Stingless Bee Honey Benefits Guide.
GSBCN’s Strategic Pillars for Effective Conservation
GSBCN’s work rests on five interconnected pillars, driving conservation success worldwide:
1. Global Collaboration & Networking
Linking scientists, Indigenous knowledge holders, farmers, and policymakers through the GSBCN Partners Portal and hosting the Annual International Stingless Bee Symposium to share knowledge and innovations.
2. Cutting-Edge Research & Open Data
Advancing stingless bee ecology, taxonomy, and genomics with the Stingless Bee Species Database and latest research at the GSBCN Research Library.
3. Education, Outreach & Citizen Science
Empowering communities with educational toolkits and engaging citizens globally via the Stingless Bee Tracker App.
4. Policy Advocacy & Legal Protection
Influencing sustainable agriculture policies through initiatives like Bee-Friendly Farming Guidelines and supporting campaigns for enhanced legal protection of native pollinators at GSBCN Campaigns.
5. Sustainable Meliponiculture Practices
Promoting ethical stingless beekeeping with resources such as the Meliponiculture Starter Guide and training modules on sustainable honey harvesting to safeguard colonies and ecosystems.
Regional Highlights: Impacting Local Communities Globally
- Africa: Integrating stingless bees into agroforestry systems in Kenya and Nigeria to boost crop yields and restore habitats.
- Asia-Pacific: Conserving biodiversity hotspots in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia through community-led meliponiculture.
- Latin America: Strengthening Indigenous meliponiculture traditions in Brazil, Mexico, and Peru to protect forest ecosystems.
- Oceania & Caribbean: Promoting native pollinator resilience in island ecosystems via localized conservation efforts — see projects in Papua New Guinea and Fiji.
Global Partnerships Powering GSBCN
GSBCN’s success stems from robust alliances with:
- UNEP’s Pollinator Initiative — advancing global sustainability
- FAO — integrating stingless bees into food security frameworks
- Indigenous and local communities — preserving cultural knowledge
- Leading universities and research institutes — innovating bee science
- NGOs and sustainable agriculture corporations — supporting pollinator-friendly practices
Discover our full Partners & Collaborators list.
How You Can Join the Stingless Bee Conservation Movement
- Become a Member: Join thousands of global advocates via our membership application.
- Support Through Donations: Participate in our Adopt a Hive program to fund habitat restoration.
- Volunteer Locally or Virtually: Explore opportunities on the Volunteer Opportunities page.
- Attend Events: Register for upcoming webinars, workshops, and summits.
- Spread Awareness: Use our Social Media Toolkit to amplify the cause.
Valuable Resources for Conservationists and Beekeepers
- Stingless Bee Identification Guide (Download)
- Interactive Global Species Map
- Conservation Toolkit for Farmers
- Comprehensive Meliponiculture Handbook
Success Stories: Real-World Impact
Brazil: Reviving Melipona Beecheii in the Amazon
Collaborations between GSBCN and Indigenous communities have successfully restored over 1,200 hectares of critical stingless bee habitat. Read the full case study here.
Australia: Urban Meliponiculture Transforming Brisbane
Rooftop hives featuring Tetragonula carbonaria are increasing urban pollination and community engagement — details in our urban beekeeping case study.
The Future of Stingless Bee Conservation: GSBCN Roadmap 2025+
GSBCN is scaling up with ambitious plans including:
- Launching a Global Stingless Bee Genomics Project to unlock conservation genetics.
- Establishing 10 new regional conservation hubs — details in our Global Expansion Plan.
- Expanding multilingual education programs to reach underserved communities via language access initiatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore common queries on stingless bees, meliponiculture, and conservation in our detailed FAQ section.
Conclusion
The Global Stingless Bee Conservation Network is a beacon of hope for pollinator conservation worldwide. By uniting science, tradition, and community action, GSBCN ensures that stingless bees continue to thrive—sustaining ecosystems, supporting agriculture, and enriching cultural heritage. Join the movement today to be part of this vital global effort.