The Tiwai Honey Initiative addresses the declining bee population and the impact of the decline in bee populations around communities surrounding the Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Sierra Leone. Bee habitats are threatened due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and climate change, leading to decreased pollination services and honey production. To address these challenges The Tiwai Honey Initiative trains over 1000 community members on sustainable beekeeping practices and the management of beehives; they have established 30 beehives to address the decline in the bee population and foster environmental conservation while empowering 3 local communities.
The Tiwai Honey Initiative proposes a multifaceted solution to address the decline in bee populations and its associated challenges. Firstly, it has established and supported sustainable beekeeping practices among local communities surrounding Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary. This involves providing beekeepers with training, resources, and technical assistance to enhance their skills and knowledge in beekeeping techniques, hive management, and honey production. Secondly, the project has focused on preserving and restoring natural habitats around the sanctuary and its buffer zones. By implementing reforestation and conservation initiatives, the project has created and maintained suitable environments for bees to thrive, enhancing their populations to over a million bees and ensuring the continuity of pollination services. The Tiwai Honey Initiative promotes community engagement and empowerment with local stakeholders and establishing beekeeping cooperatives comprising women and Youths.
Aruna was a Seed Prize Runner-up in 2023. Since then, his project has grown from an idea into an impactful and established project and this year, he’s won the Stem Prize. He is also a CoalitionWILD EXCELerator alumni, A Mava Conservation Scholar and a graduate of the African Leadership University with a focus on climate change adaptation through nature-based solutions. Aruna aims to integrate science, policy, and practice to advance sustainable development goals by combining environmental research and community-led innovative solutions.
The Tiwai Honey Initiative is building on its achievements as a Seed Prize Runner-up by expanding its efforts to all eight communities surrounding Tiwai Island. This expansion includes constructing 140 additional beehives and establishing a honey processing centre to meet market demands and support community outreach programs. Through this work, the initiative will not only increase the project’s visibility but also contribute to the protection and restoration of nature, raising awareness about the critical decline in bee populations.