At Rex Forestry, sustainability extends beyond responsible forest management. It is about creating nature-positive livelihoods that strengthen communities while protecting the ecosystems we operate in. One such initiative is our Community Honey Project, a livelihood programme designed to support local income generation, promote biodiversity, and reinforce ecosystem services within and around our concession areas.
A Nature-Positive Livelihood Initiative
The Community Honey Project was introduced as part of Rex Forestry’s broader Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy, with a focus on aligning community development with environmental stewardship. Beekeeping was identified as a suitable activity because it:
- Enhances pollination and ecosystem health
- Requires minimal land disturbance
- Encourages communities to actively protect surrounding forests and provides them a sustainable alternative income source
By integrating beekeeping into forest landscapes, the project reinforces the idea that healthy ecosystems and thriving communities go hand in hand.
Pilot Implementation and Community Participation
The honey project was launched as a pilot CSR initiative in 2024, with strong community involvement from the outset. Selection of participants followed Rex Forestry’s established Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) approach, ensuring transparency, inclusion, and community ownership. Key highlights of the pilot phase include:
- 50 community beneficiaries, with strong participation from women and youth
- Beneficiaries drawn from Kajola and Makinde communities
- Deployment of 50 beehives across selected sites within the operational landscape
Participants received training and practical guidance on hive management, harvesting, and basic processing techniques, enabling them to manage the activity sustainably.
First Harvest: Tangible Results
In 2025, the Community Honey Project recorded its first successful harvest, marking an important milestone for the initiative.
- 14 litres of honey were harvested, collected, and processed during the first cycle
- The harvest validated the suitability of local conditions for beekeeping
- Early results demonstrated the project’s potential to scale sustainably over time
While modest in volume, the first harvest represents a proof of concept showing that environmentally sensitive livelihood activities can generate real income while strengthening conservation outcomes.
Environmental and Social Impact
The honey project delivers impact across multiple ESG dimensions:
Environmental Benefits
- Supports pollination, contributing to forest health and biodiversity
- Encourages protection of natural vegetation around hive sites
- Promotes awareness of ecosystem services among local communities
Social and Economic Benefits
- Diversifies household income sources beyond traditional labour roles
- Empowers women and youth through skills development and participation
By linking income generation directly to ecosystem health, the project creates strong incentives for long-term environmental care.
Building on the success of the pilot phase, we intend to refine and scale the Community Honey Project as part of our ongoing CSR and livelihood portfolio. Future steps will focus on:
- Improving productivity through better hive management practices
- Strengthening market access and value realisation for honey products
- Expanding participation where environmentally appropriate
- Integrating learnings into wider community livelihood programmes
The honey project reflects Rex Forestry’s belief that responsible forestry must deliver shared value for forests, communities, and future generations.
