Set against a backdrop of rich biodiversity, historical significance, and proximity to the Nepal border, the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in West Champaran, Bihar, faces frequent human–wildlife conflict, including crop raids and cattle lifting.  Communities living along the forest’s edge have long depended on forest resources—particularly honey and firewood—for their livelihoods, often venturing into protected areas and risking encounters with wild animals.  These interactions have sometimes resulted in injuries and fatalities among both people and wildlife.

Recognising this challenge, WWF-India, with support from KfW and IUCN under the Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP), and in collaboration with Humblebee, has worked with the Bihar Forest Department to promote sustainable livelihood alternatives.  One such initiative is scientific beekeeping, which provides a peaceful and productive source of income while reducing dependence on forest resources.

Beekeeping in Valmiki
In the Sal and Semal (silk-cotton) forests of Valmiki, a quiet transformation is underway.  Sixty households across four villages—Harkatwa, Bajni, Dumri, and Jamhauli—are now engaged in honey production as part of a sustainable livelihood programme.  These families have received certified pinewood apiary boxes, modern equipment, and hands-on training in scientific beekeeping techniques, reducing their need to venture into the forest for honey collection.

The newly designed apiary boxes feature super chambers that allow bees to store surplus honey with minimal disturbance to their colonies, resulting in higher yields.  This innovation not only strengthens local livelihoods but also supports biodiversity, as bees play a crucial role in pollination and maintaining ecosystem health.



Two young community members are being trained as Bee Mitras (friends of the bees), learning advanced hive management and honey harvesting techniques to lead local beekeeping efforts.  For these communities, beekeeping is more than just a source of income—it is a pathway to self-reliance, sustainability, and a sense of pride.

This initiative is a powerful example of how conservation and community resilience can work hand in hand, fostering coexistence between people and wildlife in one of India’s most ecologically sensitive landscapes.

A quiet transformation
Through consultation meetings with more than 130 participants, scientific beekeeping was introduced using stories, videos, and open dialogue.  Curiosity soon turned into conviction—70 villagers stepped forward, and 60 households across four villages were selected to begin their apiculture journey.

Two dedicated young men, Ravi Kumar and Sanjit Kumar, were selected as Bee Mitras for their exceptional aptitude in mastering technical beekeeping skills and for the high regard they hold within their communities.



One villager shared, “Ravi is known to sleep in his fields at night to protect his crops from wild animals.” That same dedication now fuels a larger vision—one of coexistence, self-reliance, and harmony between people and nature.

Learning to ‘Bee’ the change
Empowerment came not just from equipment, but from knowledge.  In March 2025, 92 villagers participated in a four-day technical training held in Dumri and Jamhauli.  Practical, vernacular, and immersive, the sessions covered a wide range of topics, from the biology of Apis mellifera (the European honey bee) to hive assembly, seasonal management, and market opportunities.

“Bees feed themselves, clean themselves, and guard their home.  We have to guide them,” one farmer observed during the training.

“We didn’t just learn to handle bees—we learned to respect them, to see them as part of our forest family.”— Amrita Devi, entrepreneur from Harkatwa.



The training was followed by an exposure visit to a commercial apiary in Muzaffarpur, Bihar’s litchi heartland.  For many, it was their first time seeing a live, active bee colony.  At first, fear was evident—gloves trembled, eyes widened.  Then one participant, Anisha Devi, stepped forward and held a frame buzzing with life.  Her courage inspired the group.

Today, these new beekeepers have set up apiary boxes near the forest during the blooming season for crops such as mustard and mango.  Bees that once gathered nectar from wildflowers now thrive in these hives, producing pure, healthy honey—extracted, purified, and soon to be bottled for sale.

The first harvest: A proof of promise
In April 2025, two bee boxes per household were transported to West Bengal’s litchi orchards for the season’s final nectar flow.  By June, the hives returned heavier and richer, yielding a total of 462 kilograms of honey—an average of 7.7 kilograms per household.

Though modest, this first harvest marked a milestone.  For many, it represented the communities’ first independent income beyond daily wage labour.  For women like Amrita Devi, it meant school supplies for her children; for others, it brought dignity, confidence, and a renewed sense of self-worth.

More than just honey
Beekeeping did more than generate income—it transformed community values.  Crops such as mustard, vegetables, and mangoes showed improved pollination and productivity, while conversations shifted from “How much can I extract?” to “What should we plant for the bees?”.  People also began planting moringa and rosewood for nectar rather than timber.

Challenges along the way
The journey, however, was not without obstacles.  Youth migration reduced the pool of candidates for Bee Mitra roles, and some early volunteers returned to more familiar forms of wage labour.  Unseasonal weather—especially delayed litchi flowering—is affecting nectar flow and harvests.  Yet each challenge became a lesson, shaping a stronger and more resilient next phase of the programme.

A sustainable future in bloom
The journey is far from over—but it is moving steadily forward.  The next steps include forming cooperatives for collective sales and branding, establishing a Common Facility Centre for aggregation and packaging, and partnering with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and horticulture departments to promote bee-friendly flora.  Plans also include scaling seasonal hive migration to nearby nectar belts and expanding the model to additional villages across the Valmiki Tiger Reserve landscape.  The long-term goal is ambitious yet within reach.

“We were afraid at first… now it feels like honey is not just sweet—it’s a path to a new life.”
— Anisha Devi, apiary entrepreneur from Bajni village

Conclusion: A buzzing beginning
This is more than a project—it is a movement of forest communities taking charge of their ecological and economic future.  With continued support, thoughtful scaling, and the collective strength of the community, the forests of Valmiki will flourish in the hands of those who live beside them.

And the bees, as always, will lead the way.

With inputs from Dr Anil K Singh, Team lead, Terai Arc Landscape and Mohammand Khalid Khan, Coordinator-Communities, Terai Arc Landscape (Bihar)