Avaliação do impacto ecológico da apicultura tradicional sobre a diversidade florística e estrutura da floresta de miombo no distrito de Macossa, província de MANICA

Abstract

Traditional honey production in Miombo woodlands is a pivotal activity for the livelihoods of rural communities in Mozambique, encompassing significant socio-ecological interactions. However, this practice faces sustainability challenges resulting from the selective felling and debarking of trees for traditional beehive construction, as well as the use of fire during harvesting. This study aimed to assess the ecological impacts of these practices on floristic composition, forest structure, and natural regeneration in the Macossa district, Manica province. To this end, an ecological survey was conducted in the Catique Nzaia and Mussangadze communities, establishing 84 paired circular plots to compare beekeeping areas with control (intact) areas. Data analysis encompassed phytosociology, horizontal and vertical structure, natural regeneration, and herbaceous biomass. Results identified Sclerocarya birrea (Mfula) as the preferred species for bark hives, while Pseudolachnostylis maprouneifolia and Burkea africana predominate in the construction of log hives. Diversity (Shannon and Simpson), similarity (Jaccard), and ordination (NMDS) analyses revealed that, at current exploitation levels, no significant differences exist in floristic composition and diversity between beekeeping and control areas, indicating that the forest matrix integrity remains preserved. Nevertheless, the horizontal structure exhibited signs of imbalance, specifically in the diameter distribution within beekeeping areas, where a deficit of large-diameter trees was observed. A risk of local unsustainability was identified for S. birrea in Catique Nzaia due to selective pressure on adult individuals, although the species demonstrates the capacity to recover following partial bark extraction. Natural regeneration proved to be resilient and abundant. Furthermore, canopy opening was found to be localized, yielding no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) in combustible herbaceous biomass load in the assessed areas. It is concluded that although the forest exhibits resilience, the selective removal of adult trees necessitates continuous monitoring. The implementation of a management plan for traditional beekeeping is recommended (focusing on responsible bark harvesting and the definition of minimum cutting diameters) alongside integrated fire management, aiming to reconcile the beekeeping tradition with biodiversity conservation and local economic sustainability.