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Ancient Bees Get Legal Rights in Peru
9 Jan
Summary
- Stingless bees pollinate 80% of Amazon flora for 80 million years.
- Satipo, Peru granted legal rights to stingless bees in Oct 2025.
- Humans can file lawsuits on behalf of bees in Peru.
Ancient stingless bees, who have pollinated the Amazon for 80 million years, have been granted legal rights in Peru. This landmark protection began in October 2025 when Satipo municipality passed an ordinance, with Nauta following in December 2025. These laws ensure the bees' right to exist in a healthy ecosystem, free from pollution.
These vital pollinators, part of the Tribe Meliponini with over 600 species globally, face threats from climate change, pesticides, and deforestation. Indigenous communities have long revered them for food and medicine, recognizing their deep cultural and ecological importance.
Conservationists hope this legal recognition will boost funding for research and raise awareness. This movement, a collaboration between activists, scientists, and Indigenous leaders, marks a significant shift in humanity's relationship with nature, akin to legal rights granted to sea turtles in Panama and wild animals in Ecuador.
