Lebialem Hunters Beekeeping Initiative (LHBI)
1. Overview
Embracing a philosophy of involving local communities in the protection of forest resources has for the past years been the strategy of ERuDeF, in an effort to achieve its organizational goal of environmental protection. The Lebialem-Mone forest is under threat as it is home to most of the endangered species whose continuous illegal exploitation seriously mitigates sustainable development efforts in these impoverished communities. Their long-term survival therefore will depend on protecting the various forest remnants from further destruction through their daily activities. Sensitising and refraining the hunters from reducing wildlife populations without proposing and providing an alternative method of income derivation, has often led to failures in conservation policies (as seen in other projects). Currently there is a great rampage among conservationists looking for useful approaches that can be used to bring efficiency towards conservation of endangered species. It is quite inevitable and imperative to provide an alternative that would sustainably provide income to the hunters as a way of reducing their reliance on bush meat harvesting. ERuDeF has spotted the opportunity of developing a profitable idea of training hunters as beekeepers. This initiative has been dubbed ''The Lebialem Hunters Beekeeping Initiative'' (LHBI)
2. Mission
The mission of this initiative is to provide hunters and trappers with training on beekeeping in a bit to curb down bush meat harvesting rates as it will subsequently be an alternative income source that will lead to a relative decrease in dependence on forest resources.
Bee hives donated to hunter groups
3. Objectives
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To conserve endangered species by providing hunters and trappers an alternative source of raising income through bee farming.
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To introduce and explain the rationale of Lebialem Hunters Beekeeping Initiative (LHBI) in all the communities concerned as well as educate and train the hunters on basic beekeeping techniques.
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To support and provide to them hive construction and harvesting equipments.
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To form and legalize CIGs in the respective hunting communities thereby ensuring that, a memorandum of understanding stating their reduction in hunting activities is signed.
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To provide each CIG with modern hives, beekeeping posters and a manual on basic beekeeping.
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To evaluate and assess hunters /trappers standard of living, the training, hunting revenues and expenses vis a vis beekeeping and provide them with hunting and beekeeping financial records.
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To project Great Apes as a means of educating and transmitting conservation message about human's social relationship with apes.
Hunter siting a prey
Activities
Training workshops on beekeeping are organized periodically to train hunters on beekeeping techniques, given that they are very involved in harvesting forest base resources especially wildlife. The workshops are organized in each community because the hunters are organized into small village units usually called Hunter Common Initiative Group
Sieving of honey
Bee farm
Results so far achieved
Since 2007 when the project on Beekeeping was initiated via partnership with British Juliette Wright and British based non-profit Bees Abroad, the program has so far benefited seven communities in the Lebialem-Mone Forest Landscape namely; Besali, Bechati, Andu, Atongeh, Bangang, Fossimondi and Menji.
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