Meliponicultura: definições, contexto atual, conflitos e proposta de regulamentação

Abstract

Stingless beekeeping (meliponiculture) is an activity that can generate countless benefits for both the beekeeper and the ecosystem. Although it is considered a conservation practice, according to Brazilian law, beekeeping must be licensed. Meliponiculture in Brazil is governed by the CONAMA Resolution 346/2004 and by the Normative Instruction of IBAMA nº 07/2015. The applicability of this legal framework has been highly questioned, and for the majority of scientists and beekeepers they are not suitable for this activity. As a consequence, meliponiculture now is becoming an illegal activity in Brazil. In this work I present a synthesis of the currently meliponiculture regulation in Brazil, based on the analysis of the roles played by social actors involved in the activity, their conceptions, and the relations between these actors, taking into account their knowledge, values, and practices. This synthesis is represented in a triadic model, highlighting legal and operational constraints and knowledge gaps that impede compliance with the law. The main problems identified for breeding and transportation of stingless bees were: the current legislation does not take into account the specific situation for bee keepers; control and supervision of bee keeping is limited; there are gaps in the scientific knowledge of how to improve the development and application of legal instruments; the registration process for stingless bee keepers is bureaucratic; stingless bee keepers and farmers are not sufficiently informed about the risks when introducing new colonies to areas with wild pollinator populations. Based on this general framework, I propose recommendations that will provide technical and scientific subsidies for public policies elaboration to support meliponicultura in the State of Bahia, and I present a draft of a legal instrument to regulate the activity in the State of Bahia.