Beekeeping is used by numerous development agencies in their efforts to promote livelihood activities that reduce poverty and provide incentives for forest conservation. Besides short-term monetary focused project evaluation reports, there is little evidence on the effectiveness of beekeeping to achieve the above goals. In this thesis I set out to examine the contribution of beekeeping to household wellbeing and conservation motivations. I conducted this study in four rural communities in Central Tanzania using a mixed methods approach. First, I identified predictors of beekeeping adoption, dependence, and success. I found that beekeepers were often also livestock keepers and wild honey
hunters. The results also indicate that beekeeping uptake was mainly motivated by the prospect of cash income, but the lack of suitable land, means to acquire hives and technical knowledge were significant inhibitors. I also found that beekeeping training provided by governmental organisations did not lead to improved beekeeping success when compared to local training provided by neighbours and family members. Lastly, elite capture of project
benefits was a frequent occurrence when project participation was linked to the
requirement to form associations. I then assessed whether beekeepers were better-off in ten crucial life domains than their non-beekeeping peers and whether beekeeping was effective in filling an income gap during the agricultural year. I observed that beekeepers were more food secure, more resilient and had more farm-and non-farm assets. I found that beekeeping income contributed to additional cash income during distinct periods of the year, but did not fully bridge shortage periods. Finally, I analysed the associations between
beekeeping and conservation by assessing a range of factors contributing to forest-friendly behaviour. I found beekeeping to be linked to more intensive forest use, more positive attitudes towards the forest and a stronger appreciation of conservation benefits. These observed effects were however mitigated by beekeepers’ engagement in forest destructive behaviours and their insufficient influence within their communities to protect forest
resources. These findings are of importance, as considerable efforts are being paid to the promotion of beekeeping in developing countries, including in the context of REDD+. The methodology chosen for this research as well as the short extent of time spent in study communities preclude however definite conclusions on differences between beekeepers’ and non-beekeepers’ wellbeing and conservation impact. Given how ubiquitous xi engagement in beekeeping in Tanzania is, it is entirely conceivable that the benefits of beekeeping on wellbeing and conservation motivations are either much larger - yet not
captured in the data collected for this study – or that they offer a relative easily accessible supplement to local livelihoods where alternatives are scarce. The results of this study can still point to opportunities for better-targeted investment in beekeeping in the context of linked conservation and development interventions by improving the selection of beneficiaries and the design of project delivery mechanisms, setting in place a range of factors which can improve beekeeping benefits and identifying further measures potentially
needed to achieve enhanced livelihood and conservation goals.