In Egyptian mythology, bees were said to be the tears of the sun god Ra, messengers sent from the gods to share secret messages with humanity. From ancient times, bees have inspired reverence and awe, seen as sacred beings connected to life’s mysteries.
Despite this reverence, bees today face unprecedented challenges in many parts of the world. In the United States, managed honey bee colonies declined by nearly 48% between 2022 and 2023. In Europe, wild bee species have declined in both abundance and diversity, with some species now classified as threatened or endangered.
But this story varies globally. In some Asian and African countries, bee populations are showing resilience or even growth. Another great reminder that with the right conditions and efforts, restoration is possible.
Join us on World Bee Day, as we travel throughout the Restor community to understand what bees mean to them, and how, with Restor, they are helping bee populations, communities, and land to thrive.
Bees are partners in prosperity
Bees promote coexistence, bridging the gap between humans and wildlife, and allow ecosystems to thrive. We are looking at projects like Wild Survivors and Save the Elephants that use beehive fences to peacefully deter elephants from crops, reducing crop damage by up to 91%! This nature-based solution not only protects farms but also fosters harmony between communities and the animals they share their land with. And connecting with bee populations has helped to inspire the employees of Instituto Anjos do Sertão to collaborate and organize, just as the bees do.
On Restor, organizations share knowledge and data, map ecological impact, and strengthen partnerships. The platform can help connect local, national, and international goals, such as Wild Survivors’ use, in aligning with Tanzania’s national wildlife corridor management plan. These collaborations are proving that working with nature, and indeed with each other, can yield powerful results.
Charity working inside the beehive fence farm. Photo courtesy of Save the Elephants in Kenya.
Bees are transforming lives at the grassroots level
Through Wild Survivors in Tanzania, the NARI Women’s Beekeeping Group has empowered 288 women across eight villages, creating a movement rooted in local stewardship. Save the Elephants’ Mwamwaka Community-Based Organization is linking over 50 farmers in their long-term efforts to regenerate the land. These projects are engines of community purpose, pride, and cohesion. They are using Restor to show their stories and collective impact and value to funders, supporters, and networks.
Now, beyond coexistence, we see that bees are also transforming lives, especially for women and marginalized communities…
Advanced beekeeping inspection training, photo courtesy of Wild Survivors in Tanzania
Beekeeping sparks women's leadership
Women and marginalized groups are emerging as leaders in conservation and stewardship through beekeeping, which offers a low-barrier opportunity and provides autonomy and dignity for overlooked individuals. Narropil Honey Enterprises has empowered over 3,000 young people, women, and those with disabilities, to manage nearly 450 beehives. Fellowships and microgrants offered to Indigenous and local communities, such as those through Meli Bees Network, equip them with training, knowledge, and support to amplify their impact. Meanwhile, funding opportunities on Restor help unlock access to resources to allow these groups to thrive.
Beekeeping tradition fuses with science
“It strengthens decision-making with scientific insights for our project’s sustainability,” Bangs Circular
The projects on Restor are blending traditional wisdom with scientific innovation, sharing knowledge and best practice with and offering support within their communities and wider networks through the Restor platform. Meli Bees Network trains Indigenous youth in meliponiculture (the practice of keeping stingless bees, connecting them to ancestral knowledge and climate-smart techniques), connecting them to ancestral knowledge and climate-smart practices. Narropil Honey Enterprises revives Maasai traditions of Indigenous medicine through beekeeping, reinforcing their identity and culture.
Buzzworthy Ventures in India uses AI and locally accessible communication methods to educate rural farmers. These efforts ensure that ecological regeneration is grounded in both modern tools and cultural heritage.
Beekeeping is a path out of poverty
In Brazil, Instituto Anjos do Sertão's 5,000 beehives are lifting families out of poverty. The honey harvested supports education, healthcare, and nutrition. Across projects, beekeeping and its direct and indirect impacts are helping families diversify income and reduce dependence on unsustainable practices like bush burning and deforestation. As farmers see the benefits of sustainable beekeeping, they are investing further, creating a positive cycle of improved management and higher yields. Fair forward buyback agreements like those offered by Buzzworthy Ventures derisk beekeepers and allow them to rely on a guaranteed income for their products.
Beekeeping is a revival in motion
“Guardians of life and teachers of regeneration,” Meli Bees Network
As these initiatives educate and empower local communities, they are reviving and restoring bee populations and native vegetation through traditional knowledge and modern innovations. By increasing their awareness of bees’ vital roles and knowledge of helpful and harmful practices, groups like Bangs Circular in Sierra Leone allow the community to lead in conservation and biodiversity enrichment.
From local to global: Restor is linking data, storytelling, and scientific tools in one open-access space
Restor allows restoration and conservation projects to map their ecological impact, track biodiversity recovery, plan ecological restoration efforts, and share transparent data with funders and allies. Whether identifying elephant corridors in Tanzania or showcasing forest growth in Brazil, Restor is a digital bridge connecting local action to global change.
Photo courtesy of Bangs Circular
Just as bees were once seen as the sacred tears of Ra, carrying messages from the gods, today they continue to carry vital messages. We invite you to learn about their impact and support the featured local efforts.
Bangs Circular
Meli Bees Network
Buzzworthy Ventures | Shop honey
Instituto Anjos do Sertão | Shop honey
Narropil Honey Enterprises | Shop honey
Wild Survivors
Save the Elephants
Written by Restor Communications
Published in
Community stories
on
May 20, 2025
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