The Sustainable Forest Livelihoods (SFL) programme, funded by the European Union, is making significant strides to enhance livelihoods in the Rupununi region by supporting capacity building and boosting honey production among existing beekeepers. Initiatives are expected to promote sustainable livelihoods and, in so doing, contribute to maintaining intact healthy ecosystems.
In 2025, WWF entered into a cooperative agreement with the Rupununi Livestock Producers Association (RLPA) to assess existing beekeeping operations and identify a core group of beekeepers in the North and Central Rupununi communities. This collaboration has paved the way for comprehensive assessments of current honey production and market analysis, whose findings will soon contribute to existing initiatives led by the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) and various NGOs working too to promote beekeeping as an economically viable livelihood in the region.
As part of a new phase of support for honey production, WWF has announced three grants totalling GYD 56 million. One key grant, valued at GYD 40 million, empowers RLPA to implement training and capacity-building initiatives, provide essential equipment, and develop quality assurance processes. Additionally, a mobile honey house will be designed and operationalised to support the efficient collection and processing of honey from beekeepers, and, even more, to support local branding and market linkages.
The Bina Hill Institute (BHI) of the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB) has been entrusted with a GYD 8 million grant to develop a comprehensive short course focused on beekeeping. This course will also be incorporated into their existing agriculture programme. The course aims to equip students and community members with the practical and theoretical knowledge needed to venture into the honey production sector.
Furthermore, the Kanuku Mountains Community Representative Group (KMCRG) will leverage another GYD 8 million grant to elevate the profile of beekeeping as a sustainable livelihood. Their initiatives will include awareness sessions in local communities and schools, emphasising the vital role of bees in conservation and ecological health, as well as the steps we can take to protect them.
Recently, the WWF-SFL team convened its inaugural technical coordination meeting in Nappi Village. The occasion marked the formal handover of contracts to the implementing partners, namely the RLPA, KMCRG, and NRDDB.
These contracts aim to align with the strategic partnership between WWF and GLDA to promote honey production across the nation. Ultimately, WWF is supporting the production of educational and training resources to support GLDA’s nationwide beekeeping program, positioning honey production as a sustainable avenue for community livelihoods and forest conservation.
