Honey Production and Climate Change: Beekeepers' Perceptions, Farm Adaptation Strategies, and Information Needs

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Agricultural Science
• Ecology

Background:

• Climate change negatively impacts global bee populations by reducing habitats and food availability.
• Beekeepers require adaptive management practices to mitigate climate change effects.
• El Salvadoran beekeepers lack sufficient information on climate change adaptation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of beekeepers in El Salvador adapting to climate change.
• To identify challenges faced by beekeepers due to climate change.
• To document adaptation strategies employed by Salvadoran beekeepers.

Main Methods:

• Phenomenological case study approach.
• Semi-structured interviews with nine beekeepers from The Cooperative Association for Marketing, Production, Savings, and Credit of Beekeepers of Chalatenango (ACCOPIDECHA).

Main Results:

• Beekeepers identified water and food scarcity, and extreme weather events as primary climate change challenges.
• These challenges led to increased bee water needs, restricted movement, reduced apiary safety, and higher pest/disease incidence, resulting in bee mortality.
• Adaptation strategies included box modification, apiary relocation, and food supplementation.
• While internet access was common, information was best understood and applied when received from trusted ACCOPIDECHA personnel.

Conclusions:

• Salvadoran beekeepers face significant climate change-induced challenges impacting honey bee populations.
• Effective adaptation requires accessible, understandable information and practical demonstrations tailored to local needs.
• Strengthening information dissemination through trusted local organizations like ACCOPIDECHA is crucial for improving beekeeper adaptation strategies.