Case study · Southern Mau, Kericho County, Kenya · 2025
Restoring wetlands with community beekeeping
The Mau is East Africa’s largest montane forest and the source of rivers that feed Lake Victoria, Lake Nakuru and the Maasai Mara. With Larosa Farm, the Kipkelion Community Forest Association and the Kenya Forest Service, we set up community apiaries along the Southern Mau wetland buffer so that recovery and local income grow together.
The challenge
Wetlands on the forest edge store water through the dry season and filter it before it reaches the rivers. Along the Southern Mau buffer and riparian wetlands in Kericho County, papyrus clearing, charcoal burning and grazing had left large patches bare and put the wetlands under pressure.
Replanting alone was not enough. Many native species used in restoration rely on insect pollination to set seed and spread, and neighbouring households had little reason to keep livestock and fire away from the replanted areas.
Partners
What we did
- January 2025
Ecological site assessment and stakeholder mapping along 12 km of protected wetland buffer. Three apiary sites chosen with the community. - February – March 2025
Built 60 hives locally, a mix of hybrid Kenya top-bar and standard Langstroth hives, and prepared the sites. - April – May 2025
Installed the hives, baited colonies and ran foundation training for 62 Kipkelion CFA members and women and youth cooperative members. - November 2025
First major harvest, with training in sustainable harvesting and processing. Honey sold regionally under the Petal & Hive community conservation brand.
Results
| Measure | Baseline | Latest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colonies occupied | 0 | 52 | 86% of 60 hives colonised |
| Honey harvested | 0 kg | 1,240 kg | Year 1, with 2 harvest cycles a year |
| Household income from bee products | KES 0 | KES 35,000–45,000 | Average net increase per participating household per season |
| Wetland clearing and charcoal burning | Ongoing | Reduced | Measurable decrease along the 12 km buffer strip |
“Beekeeping along the wetland buffer has given our families a steady income without cutting down the forest trees we swore to protect. It turned our community from forest protectors into forest stewards.”Beatrice Cheruiyot, CFA Chairperson and community beekeeper
Full report
The detailed report covers the site assessment, hive and colony records, training curriculum, harvest and sales data, monitoring method and lessons learned.
Mau Forest wetland beekeeping report, Phase 1 (2025)
Available on request from info@barnview.org. Phase 2 expansion is under way.