A peep into the wild honey cultivation on the other side of the border in the Mekong Delta:

Ca Mau’s special apiculture recognised as intangible cultural heritage
The recognition of “gac keo ong” (literally meaning ‘the cultivation of honey bee in the wild’) in the Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau as intangible cultural heritage has created momentum for beekeepers to develop a sustainable business and protect forests.
VNA Tuesday, February 16, 2021 12:00
Photo VNA
Hanoi (VNA) – The recognition of “gac keo ong” (literally meaning ‘the cultivation of honey bee in the wild’) in the Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau as intangible cultural heritage has created momentum for beekeepers to develop a sustainable business and protect forests.

The recognition certification was presented to representatives of U Minh and Tran Van Thoi districts at a ceremony on June 18.

Locals said the “gac keo ong”, which is passed on between generations, has been practiced in U Minh and Tran Van Thoi districts since the latter half of the 19th century, when people began developing the areas.

Every year, when cajuput trees are in full bloom, honey bees arrive in droves to build hives on leaning branches. Locals erect leaning tree branches in the forests to lure bees to build their hives, and then wait to harvest the honey.

The branches are often cajuput, about 40 cm in perimeter and two to three metres in length. A layer of wax is applied on the branches to lure bees before being taken into the forest.

Apiculturists use their experience to consider wind direction, sunlight, and the flight paths of the honey bees when deciding the ideal location for the branches. On top of this, the branches should hang at an incline of 45 degrees to ensure sunlight reaches it. It often takes between 20 and 30 days for the bees to build hives.

Beekeepers keep a close eye on their branches to predict when bees will arrive to build hives and how long it will take for the bees to produce enough honey to be harvested.

The best time to erect the branches is between sunrise and 9 am, with the best time to harvest being between 6 and 8 am. Before collecting honey, the beekeepers place smoking kindlings next to the hives, which causes the bees to leave. When collecting the honey, it is important to leave some honey cones, so the bees will return to the hive.
https://en.vietnamplus.vn/ca-maus-speci ... 196302.vnp

UNESCO and Cambodia commemorate World Bee Day
UNESCO is working to strengthen sustainable beekeeping practices and biodiversity conservation through training and capacity development and awareness raising activities with a specific focus on women’s empowerment through the CAPFISH-Capture programme funded by the European Union, and the UNESCO x Guerlain Women for Bees programme.
19 May 2023


UNESCO launched the Rapid Assessment: Beekeeping Ecosystem at Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve in July 2021. The assessment was conducted as part of the UNESCO x Guerlain partnership to promote biodiversity conservation and foster sustainable beekeeping through training and capacity development with a focus on women's empowerment. The assessment is a first-of-its-kind study of the beekeeping ecosystem in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve (TSBR), and it outlines opportunities to explore the development of sustainable beekeeping.

Since 2022, UNESCO has provided trainings to selected women on beekeeping with native bees and tour guides on apitourism in Angkor Archeological Park, Siem Reap. The trainings aimed to build capacity, promote sustainable beekeeping practices, native bee conservation, and women’s empowerment. Trainings were also held on stingless bees in Samlout, native bee conservation and rafter beekeeping in Bak Prea and Stung Sen, Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve.
Full article: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unes ... ld-bee-day