CHITRAL: Climate change is emerging as a serious threat to Apis cerana (the Asiatic honeybee), the indigenous honeybee of Chitral, endangering mountain agriculture, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of hundreds of rural households that depend on honey production across the district.

The warning comes as a recent field survey of bee populations and bee flora, conducted under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest Department, revealed the critical importance of the species to both local ecosystems and rural economies.

The survey documented approximately 5,500 Apis cerana colonies in Chitral, including 2,800 managed hives and an estimated 2,700 wild colonies, making the district one of the most significant habitats of the native honeybee in the province.

According to the survey report, seen by Dawn, the highest concentrations of colonies were recorded in the Kalash valleys of Bumburate, Rumbur, and Birir, as well as the Arandu, Yarkhoon, Reshun, and Upper Chitral valleys, where traditional beekeeping remains an important household activity.

Notes shifts in flowering seasons, habitat degradation affecting colony survival

Experts say the native bee is vital for the pollination of apple, apricot, cherry, almond, and vegetable crops grown in the mountain valleys. It also contributes to the regeneration of wild plants that support birds, wildlife, and fragile mountain ecosystems.

“A lack of data on the population status of managed and wild colonies has been a major challenge for conservation planning,” said Ajaz Ahmed, assistant director of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP), Chitral. “We had little information regarding how many hives become empty every year due to climate change and other anthropogenic pressures. Through GIS mapping and colony inventory, we can now identify important bee habitats and plan conservation interventions more effectively.”

The survey found that changing weather patterns, shifts in flowering seasons, and habitat degradation are increasingly affecting colony survival. Local beekeepers reported declining colony numbers in several areas and expressed deep concern that the trend could continue if suitable habitats are not protected.

Among them is Wali Khan, a traditional beekeeper from Birir Valley, who said his colonies have declined sharply in recent years. “In the past, I had 62 colonies, but today only 23 remain. Every year it is becoming harder to maintain healthy colonies because flowering patterns have changed and the weather has become unpredictable,” he said.

For many families, however, beekeeping remains one of the few reliable sources of cash income in remote mountain regions. In Arandu Gol, beekeeper Jan Mohammad explained that Apis cerana plays a central role in supporting local livelihoods.

“These bees are a major source of income for many people in our village and me. I sell nearly 500 kilogrammes of local honey every year in the Chitral market at around Rs7,500 per kilogramme. The income supports my family and helps pay for education and household expenses,” Mr Mohammad said.

Not all beekeepers have been that fortunate. Gul Bidin, formerly of Arandu Valley, said the loss of his colonies forced him to leave the profession altogether. “I had a good number of beehives, but suddenly most of the colonies died or migrated. Honey was my main source of income throughout the year. After losing the bees, I had to move to Chitral town in search of work as a labourer,” he lamented.

The economic importance of the sector is reflected in the growing demand for local honey. According to bee producers and community enterprises, consumers increasingly prefer honey produced by Apis cerana due to its unique taste and perceived medicinal value.

“There is strong demand for local honey,” said Shahi Gul, general secretary of the Community-Based NTFP Enterprise established by the Directorate of NTFP in Chitral. “During the last four months alone, customers purchased around 520 kilogrammes of honey from our Community-Based Enterprise shop in Bumburate. We are also receiving online orders from different parts of the country,” she added.

Local beekeepers emphasise that the importance of Apis cerana extends beyond its economic value. “Traditional beekeeping has been practised in Chitral for generations. It is part of our culture, heritage, and identity. Conserving these bees means conserving a tradition that has been passed from one generation to the next,” said Shahzad Khan of the Hindukush Beekeepers Society.

Recognising the ecological and economic significance of indigenous pollinators, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, through the directorate of the NTFP Forest Department, is implementing a project titled “Conservation and Value Chain Development of Local Honeybees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”

The project includes colony surveys, GIS mapping, bee flora assessment, floral calendar development, beekeeper training, habitat restoration, and value chain support aimed at ensuring the long-term survival of native honeybee populations.

Survey findings indicate that Chitral’s honey sector currently produces an estimated 1.6 tonnes of indigenous Apis cerana honey annually, providing direct and indirect income opportunities to hundreds of rural households.

Officials believe that conservation efforts must now move beyond documentation and towards strict habitat protection. “Apis cerana not only provides honey but also delivers critical ecosystem services through pollination. Under the project, a bee reserve is proposed to be established in Chitral for the conservation of native honeybees and their habitats,” said Mr Ajaz Ahmed, the assistant director of NTFP, Chitral.

“The reserve will provide a safe refuge for Apis cerana and other mountain pollinators while promoting biodiversity conservation, environmental education, and eco-tourism opportunities. It could become one of the first such mountain bee conservation models in Asia,” he added.

Environmental experts warn that the decline of pollinators could have serious consequences for food security and biodiversity conservation in mountain environments.

For Chitral, where agriculture, forests, and rural livelihoods are closely linked, the future of the indigenous honeybee may ultimately determine the health of the wider ecosystem.

As climate challenges continue to grow, local communities and conservationists agree on one point: protecting Apis cerana is not simply about saving a bee. It is about safeguarding mountain livelihoods, preserving cultural heritage, and ensuring that future generations inherit the natural wealth that has sustained Chitral for centuries.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2026