Nanacamilpa, Tlax. Beekeeping is a tourist activity that is being developed in Mexico more frequently with a rural tourism approach in order to contribute to the sustainable economic development from rural areas.
The activities are developed by living the experience in small productive beekeeping projects as complements in farms dedicated to rural tourism, where colonies of native bees can be observed in boxes or on natural substrates.
“The tourist can walk the paths of the haciendas, ranches or farms entering wooded areas or in natural regeneration, to observe bees in their work of collecting food on the multiple species of plants that constitute their source of resources (food, substrates to establish their colonies and materials to build their nests”, according to the definition found in a document of the International Network of Researchers in Tourism , Cooperation and Development (COODTUR).
In our country, the beekeeping activitiestourist activities with potential, since Mexico is the ninth producer of honey worldwide and the thirteenth exporter, with a value of 67.9 million dollars, figures at the end of 2021, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
In 2021, the National Strategy for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Pollinators (ENCUSP), which aims to guide the policies and work of the productive and environmental sectors towards sustainable development and food security in the country.
Experience
The experience was developed in Rancho de la Soledad, located in Nanacamilpa, in the state of Tlaxcala, from the town center are 10 minutes. The Apiturismo guide, Iván Cortéz, who throughout the tour insisted that the objective of the visits to the apiaries is to preserve bees and that people know the essential role that bees have in forest ecosystems. And it is that food production worldwide and terrestrial biodiversity depend largely on its main task, pollination, a natural process that allows flowers to fertilize and bear fruit and seeds.
“Bees are 80% responsible for this process and yet their populations are declining by leaps and bounds. There are several factors that threaten bees: habitat loss, industrialized agricultural practices such as monocultures (less availability and diversity of food for these insects), the use of pesticides, the depopulation of hives, parasites and diseases. , invasive plant and animal species and the impacts of climate change”, according to a document from the National Forestry Commission (Conafor), where he mentions that in Mexico around 2,000 to 2,500 species of wild bees.
The visit to apiary It is done with special suits to be able to approach the bees safely. It is a beauty to know the construction of the beehives where they produce: honey, wax, propolis and royal jelly.
The bees They provide us with several environmental services such as soil retention, climate regulation, damping of meteorological phenomena, oxygen production and carbon sequestration, therefore, it is important to conserve them.
loneliness ranch
Ranch of Solitude It has been open for more than 50 years, it was mainly dedicated to agriculture and started hiking in 2014 offering different activities.
“Nine years ago the beekeeping activity began, it started with 5 boxes and currently we already have 55 boxes. The beekeeping begins with the objective of publicizing the importance of bees on our planet, since they pollinate 75% of flowers worldwide and it all begins with the moment of relaxation, spreading the important role that bees play”, he mentioned in interview with El Economista, Víctor Antonio Zamora Ramos, director of operations at Rancho de la Soledad.
He commented that they have received advice from the Secretary of Tourism to promote beekeeping since beekeeping is an alternative to generate income, not only with the sale of honey and derived products, but also with the tourist activity extra income can be generated.
“Beekeeping is for everyone, except for those who are allergic, but it is for those who like to be in contact with nature, the people who regularly visit us are from Mexico City, who bring the idea of distracting themselves from the noise of the big city, from work is an ideal place to achieve a moment of recreation and rest”, said Zamora Ramos.
Beekeeping is one of the activities carried out in Rancho de la Soledad, since they also have a camping area, the Magueyero Tourhiking and the sighting of fireflies.
“In this season of 2022, the lodging area is being undertaken with 4 glamping that are ideal for 2 people, maximum 3 people, it is a long-term project that began with the requests of tourists”, concluded the director of operations in Rancho de la Soledad.
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