The lack of trees adversely influences the environment and subsequently human health. Trees are a vital part of the natural environment as they provide fresh air and are sources of food for humans and other life species such as the Honeybee. This specie of bees is important because it is endemic to Jamaica. The Jamaican Honeybee came from cross breeding of the German Black Bee, the Italian Bee and a native type of Bee found in Jamaica at the time. It is endangered because environmental problems threaten its natural habitat. ?The Beekeeping Industry in Jamaica is the fastest growing of the subsectors in agriculture at this time?.

In the community of Content District and neighbouring communities, deforestation is caused by the cutting down of trees to build houses, apartment complexes and shopping centres. Bauxite mining has created severe issues of food shortage for the Honeybee in Manchester and other parishes in Jamaica. This situation has steadily escalated in the last six years and the impact on the Jamaican Honeybee population, in certain areas in the region has been grave. The results of which are fewer bees, less pollination and therefore less fruit and food production. However, the main reason for the proposal to replant trees include: rectification of degraded land, promote reforestation and minimise soil erosion. Some plant species improve the nitrate content in the soil which enhances the production of other food crops.

Certain kinds of trees and flowering plants are critical to the survival of the Beekeeping Industry and the communities in which Beekeepers operate in Jamaica. Particular types of trees provide food (pollen and nectar) for the Honeybee. Pollination plays a vital role in the production of other food crops of the traditional farmers and adds value to the natural environment. Honey is used locally in homes to supplement and enhance the family diet. People in rural communities consume pollen as a stimulant to boost brain activities and other bodily functions. Wax is utilized in the making of cosmetics, among other things. Propolis and Bee Venom are used in the Health Sector for antibiotic and other medicinal purposes. All items produced in the hive are crucial to community life, lifestyles and livelihoods. It is therefore safe to say that the problem impacts negatively, the natural environment and human population, vulnerable groups including the poor, the youth, the elderly and the disabled. Inadequate number of trees 1. Affects the health of the natural environment, 2. Affects the Honeybee ability to pollinate plants, forage/collect food to feed its brood, make honey and other by-products of the Apiary, 3. Poses high risk of major losses in the Honeybee population, 4. Impacts negatively on Community Bee Farmers? economic status, 5. Some Bee Farmers may end up losing their farms, 6. Is of concern to the Manchester Bee Farmers? Association, 7.Negatively impacts pollination affecting the agriculture Industry, 8. Is undesirable for the health sector ? Lack of fresh air plus myriad of uses and no substitute for hive products and 9.Adversely affects export potential that earns vital foreign exchange for the country.

The problem is worsened by our changing climate. Activities such as gases in the earth?s atmosphere (including greenhouse gases) cause Global Climate Change. The existing trees blossom later each year; as a result, pollination begins later, affecting the production period. ?Plants and pollinators move out of sync, plants won?t get pollinated at a particular time and the bees go hungry?. These factors affect the bees? ability to harvest and store pollen and nectar to feed the brood and produce honey. The influence of climate change is also evident in early rainfall, as happened in Jamaica, in January of 2014. In the last six years, early and excessive rainfall, affect certain plants and fruit trees that bloom at particular times of the year, and cause the blossoms of Logwood and other plants to be ruined, affecting the honey crop. These are direct and indirect results of deforestation. The fact is, lack of bee food minimizes hive activities resulting in smaller colony population and eventually fewer Honeybees to pollinate fruit trees and other crops vital to farming activities, which impacts healthy production of staple foods. Consequently, not only the bees go hungry but humans too.

The MBFA, in an attempt to address this critical issue, plans to conduct a Tree Planting Project in Content District to create reforestation, minimize soil erosion and improve the health of the natural environment. Specifically, the goal is to establish particular types of fruit trees and other flowering plants that facilitate pollination. Also, to improve the community?s economic status and influence the empowerment of various income-generating, small and micro businesses, in the parish, that depends on products and by-products of the Apiary to survive. ?There are at least five clear components to the economic value of the beekeeping industry. These are the dollar value of beekeepers? investments, value of products, contribution to employment, tax paid by producers and pollination ? a value greater to the environment and the economy, which is not reaped directly by beekeepers?. (Murray 2014)?.