Policy Brief: Protecting Stingless Bees in the Peruvian Amazon

Native stingless bees are vital to the ecological, social, and cultural fabric of Peruvian Amazonian communities. They are essential pollinators, supporting ecosystem regeneration, forest maintenance, local economy, and the biocultural heritage of indigenous peoples. However, these species face escalating threats primarily from deforestation, climate change, and the excessive and inappropriate use of pesticides. Building upon the recently approved Law No. 32235 on January 9, 2025, which officially recognizes stingless bees as native species of Peru, this brief calls for the implementation and expansion of their protection through a national Rights of Nature framework, which seeks to recognize the intrinsic value of stingless bees by protecting them within legal and biocultural systems. Coauthored with the Ashaninka community, it highlights how indigenous ecological knowledge complements scientific approaches and informs policy innovations that protect both biodiversity and culture. The case underscores the importance of integrating traditional knowledge into legal and governance systems to safeguard pollinators, ecosystems, and livelihoods across the Amazon. By engaging with this case, readers will understand how integrating science, indigenous leadership, and Rights of Nature principles can transform global environmental commitments into actionable conservation for the long-term resilience of stingless bees and Amazonian communities.