Partnership strengthens bee conservation in the Atlantic Forest

The Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve (RBMA), in partnership with ADM through the ADM Cares program, has launched the project “Environmental Education and Native Bees of the Atlantic Forest”. The initiative seeks to preserve stingless bees, which are essential for pollination and ecological balance, and to promote sustainable practices in six Brazilian states: Bahia, Ceará, Goiás, Rio Grande do Norte, Santa Catarina and São Paulo.

With training activities, the creation of educational meliponaries and awareness campaigns, the project aims to mobilize communities, farmers and public managers to understand the importance of pollinators. Activities include in-person and virtual courses, focusing on sustainable management and entrepreneurship, in addition to the installation of interactive learning centers at RBMA outposts.

According to experts, the decline in the native bee population – caused by deforestation, pesticide use and climate change – poses a risk to biodiversity and agricultural production. Data from BPBES shows that animal pollination accounts for around R$43 billion of Brazilian agricultural production.

For Caroline Hoth (pictured, left), ADM’s Sustainability Specialist for Latin America, the initiative reinforces the company’s commitment to sustainability and food security. “Protecting pollinators is essential for ecosystems and our future,” she emphasizes.

"Melipona bees are the silent soul of the Atlantic Forest, weaving, with each flight, the invisible threads that sustain life. By protecting them, we are not only taking care of the forest, but also of the stories, knowledge and communities that depend on it. Defending bees is a commitment to the future, to abundance and to the harmony of nature", concludes Mary Sorage (pictured, on the right), president of the National Council of the RBMA.