Yucatan Bees and Maya Beekeepers Fight for Survival

At the “Muerte masiva de abejas” forum held at the Noj Naj community center in Chacsinkín, testimony wasn’t just emotional — alarming data about Yucatán bees backed it up.

Evidence points to a growing crisis threatening biodiversity and the regional economy.

Remy Benoit Marie Vandame, a researcher in bee ecology at the Colegio de la Frontera Sur, presented disturbing statistics that paint a grim picture of the Peninsula’s beekeeping industry. The mass death of beehives due to agrochemical poisoning has become a troubling trend with far-reaching consequences.

Remy Benoit Marie Vandame addresses the crisis facing Yucatán bees. Photo: Diario de Yucatán

In 2023, the Los Chenes region of Campeche witnessed one of the most devastating incidents in recent memory: 3,300 beehives perished in a single day, resulting in estimated losses of 13 million pesos. The damage was comprehensive—4.5 million pesos in lost honey crops, 3 million pesos in lost bees, and 5 million pesos in agricultural production damage. Beyond the financial toll, 80 beekeepers and day laborers lost their livelihoods.

More recently in Tekax, another serious incident occurred where 99 hives died across five apiaries. The financial impact reached 465,083 pesos, breaking down to 93,482 pesos in lost honey harvest, 118,800 pesos in lost bees, and 252,801 pesos in agricultural production losses. Three more beekeepers joined the ranks of those without work.

“Many poisoning cases go unreported,” Vandame explained. “They’re simply accepted as normal—but these are bees dying, jobs and income vanishing. We mustn’t normalize these losses.”

The pattern repeats across the Peninsula. In Tizimín (2024), 38 apiaries and 500 hives were affected, generating losses of 4 million pesos. In Hopelchén, losses totaled nearly 13 million pesos in 2023 and an additional 2.5 million pesos in 2024.

A complex web of challenges

The crisis extends beyond direct poisoning. According to reports, some Mennonite farmers rent beehives to pollinate watermelon crops, only to later spray chemicals that kill the bees—an irresponsible practice that remains largely unpunished.

Deforestation presents another significant threat, driven largely by the expansion of genetically modified soybean plantations. These monocultures create what experts describe as “green deserts” for bees, devoid of the diverse flora they need to survive.

In the last 25 years, the Mayan rainforest has lost 9% of its coverage, with deforestation accelerating at alarming rates: 7-8% in Quintana Roo, 4% in Campeche, and a staggering 21% in Yucatán.

The vital economic role of Yucatán bees

The economic contribution of bees to the Peninsula’s agricultural economy cannot be overstated. Annually, they contribute 2.7 billion pesos, accounting for more than a quarter of the food produced on Mayan lands, with an average production exceeding 500 kilos per year.

Forum participants were united in their assertion that the current agricultural model is fundamentally unsustainable. “They make us believe that production cannot exist without pesticides, but that’s a lie,” they emphasized.

Viable alternatives exist: agroecology, crop rotation, and—perhaps most importantly—respect for traditional peasant and Mayan knowledge that has coexisted harmoniously with nature for generations.

However, implementing these alternatives requires political will, access to land, and a significant shift in government priorities. Until such changes occur, communities will continue defending their territories through dialogue, environmental education, and public advocacy.

“This isn’t just a fight for bees—it’s a fight for life,” declared one participant. With each lost hive, the Peninsula loses not only thousands of essential pollinators but also a piece of its ecological balance, the livelihood of entire families, and ancient wisdom that recognizes bees as teachers, guardians, and allies.

Defending both territory and bees demands collaborative action from beekeepers, honey producers, farmers, and other stakeholders. This includes fostering community dialogue and meticulously documenting cases of poisoning and deforestation to compel meaningful action from authorities before it’s too late for the bees of Yucatán — and for us all.