Saving bees and empowering communities in Tonga

“If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then [humans] would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.” – Albert Einstein 

​In celebration of World Bee Day, we spoke with Climate Reality Leaders Uili Lousi and Debra Allan about the OHAI Tonga Honeybee Food Security Project, highlighting its vital role in promoting sustainability for food production and agriculture resilient to climate change.  

We also explored the urgent climate crisis faced by island nations like Tonga, where rising sea levels threaten their existence, and discussed the challenges Uili and Debra encounter in their work, emphasising the interconnected impact of climate change on Pacific landscapes, economies, and cultures. ​

Protecting food production and agriculture in Tonga 
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Born from a deep concern about climate change and a passion for their Pacific home, Debra and Uili established the OHAI beekeeping project in 2018.  
The project addresses the limited numbers of bees to pollinate export crops as well as root crops that serve as staples.  

With Tonga's bee population facing myriad threats, including habitat loss and disease, this mission to revive beekeeping traditions and educate the community about their importance is vital for combating the impact of climate on food security. ​

Tongan honeybees

Debra explained that they started the OHAI beekeeping project after Cyclone Gita, which according to the World Bank impacted 85% of agricultural households nationwide to some extent, and caused an estimated US$20.9 million in damage to this sector; including crops lost, and damage to shallow reef fisheries. 

"We realised that food security was a huge issue after the cyclone, because all the crops were destroyed, and we decided that as an organisation we wanted to be involved in a project that would help with this crisis. 

“We also wanted to show people that they could keep bees, and this led us to the concept of community beekeepers, of which we are fortunate to have trained 40 over the years.”  

With a priority purpose around safeguarding and bringing awareness, the project also focuses on educating young people on the importance of bees.  

“We've worked with schools where we bring children in, show them our bees and what they do, as well as educating them about keeping the bees and themselves safe in a domestic environment,” Debra explained. 

David Cramp and ten Tongan beekeeper trainees

And, aside from beekeeping and community education initiatives, Debra and Uili also work closely with the Tongan government to ensure biosecurity measures are in place that protect the local bee colonies from imported diseases and threats, as well as advocating for further research in this area.  
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“The honeybees here in Tonga, which originally arrived with Captain Cook and other explorers, seem to have built up a resistance to Varroa infections and other diseases, without receiving any form of treatment, but there hasn’t been enough time or money put into researching our hives,” Debra said.  ​​

The courage to persevere in the face of adversity  

Along with its successes, the OHAI beekeeping project has faced its share of challenges, some of them financial and others due to natural disasters. 

Uili explained that the biggest hurdles are often of financial nature and pointed to systemic issues when it comes to the flow of funds from donor partners to the government and beyond.  
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"We have the time and energy, but making the project sustainable is difficult. We do what we can, but it's not growing as quickly as we'd like. 

“We are at the grassroots doing all the work, but we don't receive the support we need. It's not just a problem here in Tonga; it's everywhere. The funding doesn’t come to the people who do the work," he said. 
“We don't have the materials to build the boxes or the equipment such as beekeeper suits here in Tonga for example - so, everything must be imported, which is expensive. 

“Then, there’s also a lot of weeding, planting and taking care of the specific plants that create the food for the bees, which we don’t have the physical manpower for, nor the finances,” Uili added.  

Aside from financial challenges, the impact of the volcanic eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai in 2022, as well as a subsequent severe drought and major rain events, highlight the devastating impact natural disasters can have on initiatives such as the beekeeping project.  
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The volcanic ash caused most of the OHAI project hives to be abandoned, while the drought in 2023 had devastating effects on the food supply for local bee populations.  

Tongan beehives before and after the volcano eruption

“After the volcano, unfortunately, we lost all our hives. Some bees passed, but most just left the hive. What we've subsequently come to understand is that they couldn’t regulate the heat sufficiently with all of the volcanic ash that fell on top. They became uncomfortable and so they swarmed - they left the hives,” Debra recalled.  
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“That then meant we had to start again, and we're back up to about twelve hives at the moment, after losing all 21 after the volcano eruption. It's been a long, heartbreaking journey,” she said.  

The ripple effect of climate change on communities  

When discussing the broader impact of climate change on landscapes, people, economies, and cultures, Uili and Debra emphasised the interconnectedness of environmental issues.  

"Respect for the land, the ocean, and each other has been lost,” Uili explained. 

“I think we have lost value, simply because we are living now with the constant question of how to survive - we are in survivor mode.” 

Climate change, Debra emphasised, disrupts not only ecosystems but also cultural traditions. The displacement of communities due to rising sea levels and extreme weather events poses a significant threat to cultural identity and traditional knowledge in Tonga and beyond. 

“There was a community living on an island that was mainly a fishing community and they were displaced and resettled inland. Now that they don't fish, their traditional skills and knowledge are at risk of being lost and as they adapt to new ways of life, they also lose identification of who they are,” she explained.  

Debra also points out the dramatic toll extreme weather events have had on the children of Tonga.  “We had a thunderstorm last weekend, which is a trigger event and the mental anguish that the children go through when this happens is a lot. They hear the noise, which resembles the volcano as it started to explode, it gets so loud you can't even hear. 

“There are these underlying scars and things that these people will carry - we will all carry around forever.” 

Uili concluded that despite the numerous challenges they have faced, they remain undeterred in their efforts.  “For me, the solution is about unifying everyone - we need a simple, precise action plan with an intelligent and unifying approach. 

“My wish is for everyone to just keep going and not to give up. Be vocal about what you do and reach out to people who have the ability to support you,” he concluded.  ​

How you can get involved 

If you feel inspired by Debra and Uili’s work, here are some ways you can get involved in protecting bees and combating climate change in your own community:
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• Support local beekeeping initiatives. 
• Plant bee-friendly flowers in your garden. 
• Reduce your reliance on pesticides. 
• Advocate for climate-friendly policies. 
• Educate yourself and others about the importance of bee conservation.