Peru’s Historic Move to Protect Stingless Bees
Some revolutions arrive loudly, with speeches and banners. Others arrive on wings so small you barely hear them. In parts of Peru, a quiet but powerful shift is underway. Stingless bees, some of the most important and overlooked pollinators on Earth, have been granted legal rights.
Yes, legal rights. The kind usually reserved for humans, corporations, and occasionally rivers.
In October, the province of Satipo in central Peru passed an ordinance recognizing stingless bees as legal beings within the Avireri Vraem Biosphere Reserve. Then, just weeks later, the town of Nauta in northeastern Peru followed suit. For the first time in history, insects are being recognized as rights-bearing members of an ecosystem.
This is not symbolism. This is law.
What Legal Rights for Bees Actually Mean
Under the new ordinances, stingless bees have the fundamental right to exist, thrive, and live in a healthy environment. That means protection from pollution, deforestation, climate disruption, and harmful human activity. It also means humans can now file lawsuits on behalf of the bees if their habitats or survival are threatened.
In legal terms, these bees are no longer invisible.
According to Constanza Prieto of the Earth Law Center, which helped advocate for these protections, this marks a turning point in humanity’s relationship with nature. The law recognizes stingless bees as essential participants in ecosystems rather than expendable background characters.
This move is part of the growing global “rights of nature” movement, which aims to address the biodiversity crisis by strengthening legal protections for animals and ecosystems. While some animals have received legal recognition before, including sea turtles in Panama and all wild animals in Ecuador, experts say this is the first time insects have been granted such rights.
Why Stingless Bees Matter More Than You Think
Stingless bees live throughout tropical and subtropical regions. More than 600 species are known worldwide, and at least 175 live in Peru alone. Despite their name, they do have stingers, but they are small and ineffective. When threatened, these bees rely mostly on biting. They are gentle, social, and extraordinarily efficient.
And they are vital.
“These bees are key to life in the Amazon,” says Rosa Vásquez Espinoza, a chemical biologist and founder of Amazon Research Internacional. Stingless bees are among the most effective pollinators of important crops in the region. By supporting plant reproduction, they also help forests regenerate and indirectly contribute to carbon capture.
Healthy forests mean healthier climate systems. That connects these bees to the air you breathe and the stability of global ecosystems.
Indigenous Communities Have Always Known This
For Indigenous peoples in Peru, including the Asháninka and Kukama-Kukamiria, stingless bees have never been considered insignificant. These communities have cultivated and protected them for generations.
They use the bees’ honey and pollen for food and medicine. Their propolis, often called bee glue, is used for candles and traditional tools. But beyond practical uses, the bees hold cultural and spiritual significance.
“Bees are part of the family,” says César Ramos, president of Eco Asháninka, an organization representing 25 Indigenous communities in Peru.
This legal recognition reflects Indigenous knowledge systems that understand nature as a network of relationships rather than a collection of resources.
The Threats Facing Stingless Bees
Despite their importance, stingless bees are under increasing pressure. Habitat loss from deforestation, pesticide exposure, climate change, and competition from invasive European and African honey bees are all contributing to population declines. Indigenous communities report seeing fewer bees in areas where they once thrived.
Legal recognition is not a cure on its own, but it provides a powerful tool. When bees have rights, damaging their habitat becomes a legal issue, not just an environmental concern.
In 2024, advocacy efforts led to Peru formally recognizing stingless bees as a species of national interest. The new local ordinances in Satipo and Nauta build on that momentum. A national version of these protections is now being pursued, supported by a petition with more than 388,000 signatures.
A Model for the World
A gentle revolution is buzzing in Peru. Indigenous communities are leading the charge, supported by scientists, conservationists, and legal experts. Their work suggests a new way forward, one where protecting ecosystems does not rely solely on goodwill but is enforced through law.
In a time of accelerating extinction rates, this approach reframes how societies value the smallest contributors to life on Earth. It also raises a larger question. If insects that pollinate forests and food systems can have legal rights, what else in nature deserves the same protection?
TLDR: Why This Matters to You
• Stingless bees in parts of Peru now have legal rights to exist and thrive
• This allows humans to legally defend bees and their habitats
• These bees are critical pollinators that support forests, food systems, and climate stability
• Indigenous knowledge helped lead this movement
• Protecting pollinators protects ecosystems that humans depend on
• This legal model could influence environmental laws worldwide
What happens to bees does not stay with bees. It echoes through food, climate, and the future we all share.