Lantoto National Game Park Empowers Communities Through Beekeeping Training

(YEI RIVER COUNTY)-Communities surrounding Lan’toto National Game Park are gaining new opportunities for sustainable livelihoods following a beekeeping training program aimed at promoting conservation and economic empowerment.

Among the trainees is Cicilia Mungasa, a mother of four from a nearby village, who described how the program has transformed traditional honey harvesting practices.

“In the past, we went into the forest with torches to get wild honey,” she said. “We risked our lives and often damaged the trees. Here, the park officials taught us that bees are essential to the environment. Now, I know how to manage my own hives, keep my bees safe, and harvest honey without harming the forest.”

The training, organized by conservation teams at Lan’toto National Game Park, is part of broader efforts to protect biodiversity while creating safe and sustainable income sources for local communities.

On the final day of the training, participants were promised starter kits, including smokers, bee suits, and guidance on how to naturally attract bee swarms without clearing protected parkland. The initiative is equipping young men and women with practical skills while encouraging them to become active stewards of the environment.

Officials say the beekeeping program is helping reduce harmful traditional practices such as bush burning and destructive harvesting, which have previously contributed to declining bee populations and environmental degradation.

By promoting an artisanal honey industry, the park is demonstrating that conservation and community development can go hand in hand. Bees play a crucial role in pollinating local vegetation, helping to sustain the ecosystem, while farmers benefit from producing organic honey for sale in local markets in Yei.

Local leaders say the initiative is already showing promise in improving household incomes and strengthening environmental awareness among residents.