The meliponiculture in communities of the Tapajós- Arapiuns Extractive Reserve, Santarém, Pará

Abstract

Meliponiculture is an activity found throughout the Brazilian territory, presenting itself as a strategy
for the sustainable use of natural resources, promoting the conservation of the diversity of
wild bees and forests, through the interaction between society and nature. The objective of this
study was to characterize the native bees’ breeding in communities of the Tapajós Arapiuns
Extractive Reserve in the municipality of Santarém, Pará, Brazil. Twelve beekeepers from four
communities along the Tapajós and Arapiuns rivers, using a questionnaire with subjective
questions, participated in the study. It was found that the activity generates income in a sustainable
way and contributes to the maintenance of biological diversity.