The goal of the ?Strengthening of the Beekeeping Industry in Toledo? project is to conserve biodiversity in the Toledo District through the practice of ecologically friendly apiculture (Output 2 ? Annex 2, Logical Framework for the CPS, GEF SGP). Project activities fall in line directly with 3 of GEF SGP?s lines of intervention, namely: ?a) Production, marketing, and certification of agricultural and apicultural produce in and adjacent to ecologically sensitive areas. (BD, LD), e) Promotion of community forestry initiatives targeting the sustainable exploitation of timber and non-timber forest products. (BD, LD, CC), and g) Promote viable livelihood practices in areas with high potential for land degradation and in areas where ecological functions are easily offset by unsustainable development practices (LD)?.

The objective of the project is ?To build the capacity of the established beekeepers in Toledo through the provision of hives, materials and equipment, the delivery of broader knowledge, and strengthening of their organization?. It incorporates community participation, income generation and community empowerment through activities of training and extension, exchange visits to beekeepers in Cayo and in Peten Guatemala, provision of hives and management materials and equipment, and the organization of the beekeepers. Apiaries located in the villages of Dolores, Otoxha, San Lucas, Santa Cruz and San Benito Poite are found in ecologically sensitive areas since they are located in highly forested land. Since most villages within the district of Toledo operate under the communal land system, these apiaries are found on communal lands that have been assigned specifically to the apiary owners for their agricultural cultivation. Other apiaries in the Jacintoville, San Antonio, Crique Jute and Blue Creek areas are found in secondary forest. Other apiaries are found in buffer communities or adjacent to the Aguacaliente Wildlife Sanctuary and the Rio Blanco National Park.

ACTIVITIES

1. Training ? the training being offered as part of this project will be aimed at building on knowledge and experience which beekeepers have acquired throughout the years. A total of 5 training sessions will be carried out in the areas of Pest Control, Management during the Dry Season, Management during the Rainy Season, Construction of Beekeeping Materials, and Hive Division and Hive Expansion.
2. Extension ? Extension services will be provided by Tumul K?in Center of Learning through its extension officer and the Ministry of Agriculture, through one of its extension officers. This service would be provided once a month to beekeepers and would be primarily to assist beekeepers in management of the hives and to keep abreast of what is going on at the apiaries.
3. Exchange Visit to Cayo Quality Honey Producers Cooperative.
4. Exchange Visits to San Francisco Mollejon, Peten ? These 5 one-day visits to San Francisco Mollejon in the Peten department of Guatemala will be done for beekeepers to become more familiar with how certain management practices are carried in climatic conditions similar to theirs.
5. Provide Participants with Hives ? All participants of the project would be provided with 5 nuclei hives.
6. Provide materials for management ? Materials necessary for the proper management of an apiary will be distributed to beekeepers.
7. Organization of the beekeepers - This aspect of the project entails confidence building among the participating beekeepers and their organization into a functional working group, association, congress or cooperative.