In a groundbreaking move, officials in Satipo, Peru, have approved an ordinance that grants legal rights to native stingless bees. This historic decision marks the first time insects have been recognized as rights holders, emphasizing the crucial role these pollinators play in maintaining the health of the Amazon rainforest.
The ordinance is designed to protect stingless bees, which are responsible for pollinating approximately 80 percent of native Amazonian plant species. This includes forest trees and crops essential for wildlife, Indigenous food systems, and global markets. By recognizing these bees as legal subjects rather than mere biological resources, the law empowers authorities to intervene when bee colonies or their habitats are threatened.
Constanza Prieto Figelist, director of the Earth Law Center’s legal program for Latin America, stated, “This ordinance marks a turning point in how we understand and legislate our relationship with nature.” The legal framework redefines protection measures for ecological conservation, focusing on the rights of the pollinators themselves.
The Ecological Importance of Stingless Bees
Globally, wild bees contribute to the pollination of more than 90 percent of the crops that nourish the world, according to the Earth Law Center. Within the Amazon, stingless bees hold particular significance. Nearly half of the world’s 500 stingless bee species inhabit tropical forests, with many found in the Amazon. The decline of these populations poses immediate ecological risks, leading to fewer flowers producing fruits and seeds. This decline affects forest regeneration, wildlife food sources, and agricultural yields, particularly for fruit-bearing plants that rely on animal pollinators.
For the Asháninka communities residing in central Amazon, stingless bees are integral to daily life. These communities have engaged in meliponiculture—the stewardship of stingless bees—for centuries, harvesting honey and wax for food, medicine, and cultural rituals. Their deep understanding of bee behavior and nesting patterns is closely linked to the health of their forest environment. However, these bees are increasingly vulnerable to habitat loss, as many species depend on specific trees for nesting and exist in small, fragmented populations. Deforestation, pesticide use, land conversion, and climate extremes are accelerating the decline of bee colonies, thereby threatening both biodiversity and Indigenous ecological knowledge.
Legal Protections Under the New Ordinance
Traditional conservation laws often focus on protecting land or regulating resource use but frequently overlook the cumulative harm inflicted on pollinators. The ordinance in Satipo represents a shift in this approach. Rather than managing stingless bees as resources, it recognizes them—and their ecosystems—as subjects of rights.
Under this new legal framework, stingless bees are granted several rights, including:
– The right to exist and thrive
– The right to maintain healthy populations
– The right to a habitat free from pollution
– The right to ecologically stable climatic conditions
– The right to regenerate their natural cycles
– The right to legal representation in cases of threat or harm
These rights enable authorities to take action when activities such as deforestation, pesticide application, or habitat destruction jeopardize bee colonies. Harm to these pollinators is now legally recognized as an injury, allowing for more robust protection measures.
The ordinance not only sets a precedent for the protection of insects but also tests the efficacy of conservation law in safeguarding the species that sustain ecosystems. While similar frameworks have been enacted to grant rights to rivers and forests in various regions, insects have largely been excluded from legal recognition until now.
As the world grapples with the ongoing biodiversity crisis, Peru’s innovative approach could inspire other nations to reconsider how they legislate environmental protection, potentially leading to a broader recognition of the intrinsic rights of all living beings.
