Integrating Improved Beekeeping as Economic Incentive to Community Watershed Management: The Case of Sasiga and Sagure Districts in Oromiya Region, Ethiopia

Beekeeping gives local people economic incentive for the retention of natural habitats, and is an ideal activity in watershed conservation program. A project was carried out in sagure watershed in Arsi Zone and Sasiga watershed in East Wollega Zone. The objective is to introduce improved beekeeping as the incentive for watersheds conservation. Data were collected through interviews, observation, bee forage assessment, improved beekeeping implementation and honey production. After training, beekeepers highly acquainted in improved beekeeping management and this resulted in increased honey production simultaneously increased local initiative in watershed rehabilitation and protection. Beekeepers maintained diverse honeybee floral resources designed to achieve maximum honey production and watershed rehabilitation. The study identified that watershed integrated improved beekeeping is important as a strong economic incentives that integrate watershed conservation with economic development from honey and beeswax production. Efforts of the government are highly required to organize landless and marginalized peoples by providing them with the necessary beekeeping technologies and inputs to ensure maximum honey production while promoting watershed rehabilitation and conservation.