Beekeeping/Bio-fencing — Nsefu Wildlife Conservation Foundation

Nsefu Wildlife BEEKEEPING PROGRAM

In keeping with Nsefu Wildlife's strategy of a multi-pronged approach to conservation and the preservation of endangered and vulnerable species...we have identified that attaining economic stability in the region is a critical piece to the puzzle. Creating training, job, and income opportunities for the community helps support families but also, beehives provide a natural "fence" to protect crops and gardens. Elephants are deathly afraid of bees, so beehives distributed throughout vulnerable human/animal conflict areas of the Nsefu sector benefits both human and animal!

And now Nsefu Wildlife is proud to announce our beekeeping and biofencing program is growing! This program will truly be one of the jewels in our crown of conservation. Our program is overseen by Team Nsefu USA member Andre Gascoigne and is headed by our Team Nsefu Zambia Standard Projects Director Ephraim Mbewe and includes the village headman Mr. Chomi, a very experienced beekeeper. Our program has seen our beekeeping/biofencing program outperform in every way in that we have the highest swarm occupancy in the sector with 60% occupancy, the honey produced provides much-needed income, AND the beehive/biofencing has proven to be 100% effective in human/elephant conflict (HEC) mitigation where it’s been installed. When animals invade crops, the animals usually lose and the villagers lose their food source and income source. It is a very real problem in Africa and we are the pioneers of the program in Zambia. We have hired more part-time beekeepers and scouts to identify high-conflict areas to address and will start installing biofencing across the sector.

Nsefu Wildlife is also planning to develop its own beekeeping “farm” on the land generously donated to Nsefu Wildlife by Senior Chief Nsefu. This will be a critical source of income for our foundation and will serve as a site for the Beekeeping/Biofencing office and on-site training for those villagers interested in beekeeping and biofencing. It will provide much-needed employment in the region and a teach valuable trade for life. COMACO has graciously offered to provide us with free tree saplings to use as poles when mature in order to reduce the deforestation crisis happening in the country. It is our intention to start planting the saplings and plotting fence lines in 2022 and in full production within a 2-year period. People and animals win with the Nsefu Wildlife Beekeeping/biofencing program.

Nsefu Wildlife and the community are extremely excited by the beekeeping and biofencing programs and furthermore, many conservation programs we have planned can be financially supported by the beekeeping revenue generated by honey production and honey byproduct sales. Villagers can earn a real income to support themselves and their families and Nsefu Wildlife can generate income to keep our foundation moving forward. It’s a WIN-WIN!