As the dry season approaches and wild honey harvesting is set to begin, environment officials and conservation groups have called for sustainable honey collection practices to preserve forest habitats, which are crucial for bees and other wildlife. Particular emphasis has been placed on safeguarding flowering plants that attract bees, such as orchids and other native blossoms.

Prum Vibol Ratanak, director of the Phnom Prech-Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary in Mondulkiri Province, observed that during the dry season, nearly every household in local communities engages in wild honey harvesting to supplement their incomes.

He noted that honey collected early in the dry season, from February to May, is thicker and of higher quality, fetching at least 50,000 riel ($12.50) per litre. However, as the rainy season begins around June, honey prices drop to between 35,000 and 40,000 riel per litre.

“Honey quality varies by areas in Mondulkiri,” Ratanak explained. “In Memang, where the forest abounds with diverse wildflowers, the honey is darker and fragrant. Meanwhile, in Pu Chrey, dominated by resin trees, the honey is yellowish and sweeter.”

“In Dak Dam, with its cliffs and abundant blooms, bees mainly feed on nectar from flowers of all kinds, producing highly aromatic honey. Older people only want to use honey that sucks from all kinds of flower balm,” he said.

Mondulkiri’s protected natural resources span over one million hectares, encompassing wildlife sanctuaries such as Keo Seima, Srepok, Phnom Prech, Phnom Nam Lyr and Lumphat.

To maintain the ecosystem supporting bees and other wildlife, Ratanak urged forest protection efforts, particularly preventing forest fires during the dry season. He also stressed the importance of refraining from removing flowers and plants that attract bees, such as orchids and other wild blossoms.

“Preserving the ecosystem, including the flowers, is essential,” he said.

“Orchids, for example, attract many bees, contributing to greater honey production. Natural forest flowers are vital for sustaining bee populations,” he added.

The Non-Timber Forest Products-Exchange Programme Cambodia (NTFP-EP Cambodia) echoed these calls for sustainable honey collection. It advocates harvesting honey seasonally and responsibly, limiting extraction to 70 per cent while leaving 30 per cent to sustain bee colonies. This approach allows for two to three harvests while ensuring the bees’ survival.

NTFP-EP Cambodia highlighted the significant benefits of bees and honey for humans, animals, plants and biodiversity. In agriculture, bees play a critical role in pollination, enhancing fruit and vegetable production. Economically, wild honey supports community livelihoods through its sale while contributing to natural resource conservation. Honey also serves as a natural remedy for health and beauty care.

The organisation also encouraged the public to protect wild bees by conserving and restoring forests, which provide essential shelter, food and water for bee populations. Additionally, it urged reducing pesticide use and promoting mixed farming to increase wild bee populations.

WWF-Cambodia estimates that over 90,000 hectares of forest within two wildlife sanctuaries in Mondulkiri could yield up to 150 tonnes of wild honey annually, generating approximately $3.6 million for local communities each year.

WWF-Cambodia and its partners are assisting the Mondulkiri Wild Bee Conservation Association in promoting sustainable honey harvesting through the “Mondulkiri Wild Honey” geographic indication brand. This initiative aims to improve local livelihoods while safeguarding forests for future generations.