Satipo Municipality Grants World's First Legal Rights to Stingless Bees in Avireri Reserve

In a landmark move for ecological preservation, the Municipality of Satipo, situated in Peru's Junín region, formally established inalienable rights for local stingless bees within the Avireri VRAEM Biosphere Reserve on October 27, 2025. This groundbreaking decision, codified under Municipal Ordinance No. 33-2025-CM/MPS, sets a significant legal precedent by granting legal personhood to species that are absolutely vital to the regional ecosystem.

These stingless bees, commonly known as meliponines, perform an indispensable function in the Amazonian ecosystem. They are responsible for pollinating over 80 percent of the native flora, which includes crucial agricultural staples such as coffee, cocoa, and avocados. This new legislative measure is designed to proactively safeguard these pollinators against destructive pressures. These threats primarily include the uncontrolled application of pesticides and rampant deforestation, factors estimated to jeopardize one-third of their existing colonies across the tropical forests.

The creation of this legal framework was achieved through close collaboration between local Asháninka indigenous community representatives and various environmental organizations. This partnership highlights a successful integration of practical science with traditional ecological management wisdom. The recognition bestows fundamental rights upon the bees, encompassing the right to continued existence, the maintenance of healthy population levels, and guaranteed access to uncontaminated habitats. By adopting this approach, Satipo is positioning itself as a frontrunner in biodiversity conservation, effectively weaving the principles of the Rights of Nature into its local governance structure.

Meliponines, which rely on powerful mandibles rather than a stinger, produce a distinctive honey highly valued in tropical nations for its traditional medicinal properties. Historically, the Maya civilization actively cultivated these bees, referring to them reverently as Xunan Kab, meaning the 'Royal Lady,' and even incorporating them into their worship. Evidence of their early importance is striking: in 1549, indigenous peoples paid tribute to Spanish conquistadors that included three tons of honey and 277 tons of cerumen wax, underscoring the scale of early meliponiculture.

This local ordinance in Satipo is expected to catalyze broader, nationwide action, lending significant weight to the ongoing global campaign spearheaded by organizations like Avaaz and Bee:wild. Their objective is to extend legal protections to stingless bees across the entirety of Peru. An active online petition urging this nationwide protection has already garnered more than 385,000 signatures from global citizens. These supporters are pressing Peruvian lawmakers to enact a Declaration of the Rights of Nature for these pollinators before the Congress adjourns for recess next March. This pioneering local action in Satipo could very well serve as a template for other jurisdictions worldwide seeking to protect vital insect populations.