**5. The Quilombola case for honey as economic activity**

Between 29 and 39% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) released by deforestation is caused by international trade [44]. Forests are cut to make room for pastures and agricultural land. Based on the current demands of international investors [45] and in line with the Quilombola culture [25], clearing the rainforest for economic use and thus as a source of income is not an option. Additionally, Manoel Santiago (a Quilombola resident of "Pedras Negras") reports that some villages have lost their livelihoods

**225**

**Figure 4.** *Deforestation (km2*

*Quilombo Communities and Opportunities for Market-Driven Mechanisms for the Protection…*

due to the pandemic because they lived on tourism, selling homemade jewelry or traditional food [18]. Therefore, in the sense of the Quilombola, a sustainable basis of

Beekeeping offers an excellent alternative source of income compared to the sale of woodland to commercial enterprises or the commercialization of non-timber forest products. In connection with climate change, forest destruction can have devastating effects such as droughts or the deterioration of water supply [46, 47]. Accordingly, beekeeping is not only protecting the rainforest, but it is also an important income source, especially for small communities [48, 49]. The environmental richness emerging in Brazil, including pollen and nectar, is favorable to Honey production and positively impacts the socio-economy development of a state living in impoverished circumstances - considering the local low human development index of 639 [36]. In this context, the Honey production chain has a favorable trade balance based on the low capital input and the activity's fast financial profitability. This activity generates income for small and medium-sized farms [50, 51]. Successful beekeeping, as demonstrated by the communities of "Barro Vermelho" in northeast Brazil [19] and "Itunuvico" Mexico [37], both exporting their Honey to the EU; can provide effective economic integration of marginal communities to - even international - markets. Since previous publications do not indicate which areas are particularly suitable for Quilombola beekeeping in the rainforest, a suitable area is determined based on the Quilombo's location and the conditions there. Unlike the Indigenous people, who are widely distributed in Brazil [52], the Quilombolas are relatively centralized. The Quilombola, with official titles of their land living primarily in Maranhao and Para [7]. Silva et al. see Para as "… one of Brazil's most promising regions for the production of distinct types of Honey…" [35], p. 1135. Another argument for Para is that the population density in Para (about 8.67 million inhabitants on 1,248,000 km2

) is

) [53] the area

) of all clearings in Brazil

income should be created, where they can live independently from tourism.

lower than in Maranhao (about 7.10 million inhabitants on 331,982 km2

*) by state in the Brazil Amazon in 2019 (from [54]).*

strong support, as it accounted for around 40% (3862 km2

Belem's increasingly extreme weather conditions [42].

per inhabitant is more significant in Para and therefore offers more space for beekeeping. Para's significantly larger area is crucial concerning other farmers who may use pesticides, which may cause a significantly increased bee mortality rate [38, 39]. Furthermore, the latest figures from INPE show that Para requires especially

in 2019 (**Figure 4**) [54]. The impact of forest reduction can already be seen today in

An additional - but omnipresent - issue affecting the possibility of integration to the market of the Quilombola is racism. Since most Brazilians of African origin are still at the bottom of the social pyramid [12], it means being invisible, poorly paid,

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93976*

#### *Quilombo Communities and Opportunities for Market-Driven Mechanisms for the Protection… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93976*

due to the pandemic because they lived on tourism, selling homemade jewelry or traditional food [18]. Therefore, in the sense of the Quilombola, a sustainable basis of income should be created, where they can live independently from tourism.

Beekeeping offers an excellent alternative source of income compared to the sale of woodland to commercial enterprises or the commercialization of non-timber forest products. In connection with climate change, forest destruction can have devastating effects such as droughts or the deterioration of water supply [46, 47]. Accordingly, beekeeping is not only protecting the rainforest, but it is also an important income source, especially for small communities [48, 49]. The environmental richness emerging in Brazil, including pollen and nectar, is favorable to Honey production and positively impacts the socio-economy development of a state living in impoverished circumstances - considering the local low human development index of 639 [36]. In this context, the Honey production chain has a favorable trade balance based on the low capital input and the activity's fast financial profitability. This activity generates income for small and medium-sized farms [50, 51]. Successful beekeeping, as demonstrated by the communities of "Barro Vermelho" in northeast Brazil [19] and "Itunuvico" Mexico [37], both exporting their Honey to the EU; can provide effective economic integration of marginal communities to - even international - markets.

Since previous publications do not indicate which areas are particularly suitable for Quilombola beekeeping in the rainforest, a suitable area is determined based on the Quilombo's location and the conditions there. Unlike the Indigenous people, who are widely distributed in Brazil [52], the Quilombolas are relatively centralized. The Quilombola, with official titles of their land living primarily in Maranhao and Para [7]. Silva et al. see Para as "… one of Brazil's most promising regions for the production of distinct types of Honey…" [35], p. 1135. Another argument for Para is that the population density in Para (about 8.67 million inhabitants on 1,248,000 km2 ) is lower than in Maranhao (about 7.10 million inhabitants on 331,982 km2 ) [53] the area per inhabitant is more significant in Para and therefore offers more space for beekeeping. Para's significantly larger area is crucial concerning other farmers who may use pesticides, which may cause a significantly increased bee mortality rate [38, 39].

Furthermore, the latest figures from INPE show that Para requires especially strong support, as it accounted for around 40% (3862 km2 ) of all clearings in Brazil in 2019 (**Figure 4**) [54]. The impact of forest reduction can already be seen today in Belem's increasingly extreme weather conditions [42].

An additional - but omnipresent - issue affecting the possibility of integration to the market of the Quilombola is racism. Since most Brazilians of African origin are still at the bottom of the social pyramid [12], it means being invisible, poorly paid,

**Figure 4.** *Deforestation (km2 ) by state in the Brazil Amazon in 2019 (from [54]).*

*Ecosystem and Biodiversity of Amazonia*

**Figure 3.**

production. Considering the production context, we can assume that the Honey from the "Aldeia-Das-Abelhas" would satisfy the certification criteria for fair trade,

However, there is a danger that Honey production is unsteady, and even the bees are endangered. From December 2018 to February 2019, high bee mortality (about 500 million) became known, especially in the south and adjacent regions of the southeast and central west of Brazil [38, 39]. Fast-tracked approval of almost 300 pesticides, together with the acceleration of the green frontier's expansion, might cause high bee mortality [39]. Particularly when known, these pesticides were already banned in other countries for their toxic effect on bees - among other effects on other species. In contrast, the counter-case of "Itunuvico" demonstrates that they do not have any problems with bee mortality due to strict organic certification regulations. This normative control restricts the boundaries and growth of the expansion of commercial crops, based on the trade-off that Honey production brings to the planning of the local rural economic development [37]. Adding to the threats to Honey production in the region, dos Santos and de Oliveira have found that temperatures in Para have risen in recent years and see the change in the natural landscape as the cause for the increased temperatures [40]. Clearing of the rainforests will increase the dry seasons [41], which harms the flora and, therefore,

Looking at the vast wildfires at the end of August 2019, although Para was severely affected, the "Aldeia-Das-Abelhas" area was not under risk (**Figure 3**). An early assessment of the impact of these recent changes in the region determined that weather conditions have become more extreme, which leads to the assumption that this trend has further increased in recent years [42]. Consequently, the wildfires do not directly threaten the "Aldeia-Das-Abelhas," but that they are already slightly affected by the extent of the rising temperatures and the resulting prolongation of the drought periods. In turn, they are being at risk of not being able to increase or

Between 29 and 39% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) released by deforestation is caused by international trade [44]. Forests are cut to make room for pastures and agricultural land. Based on the current demands of international investors [45] and in line with the Quilombola culture [25], clearing the rainforest for economic use and thus as a source of income is not an option. Additionally, Manoel Santiago (a Quilombola resident of "Pedras Negras") reports that some villages have lost their livelihoods

rainforest friendly, and organic, but such certifications do not exist.

*Wildfire in Para, August 2019. Each red dot represents a fire (modified from [43]).*

impacts the Honey production negatively [19].

**5. The Quilombola case for honey as economic activity**

maintain their Honey production.

**224**

and deprived of the most basic civil rights. To counter the racism of the Quilombola, the Brazilian government must create instruments that focus on both class and racial inequalities [55]. Brandao et al. describe that "There is a high degree of institutional distance between state and local governments and the Quilombola communities." [56], p. 10. Due to the prevailing structural racism, i.e., the social system, with its legal concepts, and its political and economic structures, causes minorities [57]. Due to the segregation often associated with this, i.e., in the context of the Quilombola, a separation of the different living spaces and the resulting social status and stigmas, e.g., black and rural poor, there are unequal life chances [34, 58]. This idea leads to the fact that it is difficult for Quilombola to sell their products on the Brazilian market. Because the population living in cities considers the people living in the Amazon (forest) as inferior [59], which can lead to a lower willingness to buy or fairly pay for their products. To bypass this barrier to access the market, one option could be to export Quilombola Honey - or any of the other traditional products such as Acai, Brazil Nuts, or fruits as Cupuassu, with similar benefits for protecting the rainforest. However, there are no reports or technical studies on assessing its viability, despite its enormous potential to provide economic inclusion and the positive consequences in protecting the rainforest and its biodiversity.
