Illegal mining, logging, and land use change continue to drive deforestation in the Amazon, with the primary driver being land use change. Indigenous communities often rely heavily on cacao production and small-scale farming for income, clearing land. As a main income source, they must maintain or expand production to survive. Additional threats are created by illegal coca plantations and logging. There is a need for an alternative income linked directly to forest conservation.

Bees for Development has learned that stingless beekeeping is a good way for people to earn an income. Keeping bees and selling honey requires low start-up costs, demands limited labour requirement, and provides significant income. Indigenous communities have strong culture connection and history of using stingless bee honey. Stingless beekeeping income incentives beekeepers to conserve forests and reduces the need to expand cocoa and other crop production.