The Ilha do Mel Nativo project was born in Pontal do Sul, on the coast of Paraná, in a region where the Atlantic Forest meets the ocean and where biodiversity, protected landscapes, local communities, tourism and scientific interest exist side by side.
Created from a family connection with the region that extends for more than forty years, the initiative focuses on Brazilian native stingless bees, pollinator conservation, environmental education, responsible meliponiculture, citizen science and the development of small-scale sustainable practices.
The project seeks to connect conservation, local knowledge, scientific learning and community awareness. Native bees are not treated simply as honey-producing insects, but as essential participants in pollination processes and in the ecological relationships that help sustain native vegetation and coastal ecosystems.
Native Stingless Bees and the Atlantic Forest
Brazil has an exceptional diversity of native stingless bees belonging to the tribe Meliponini. These bees play an important role in the pollination of native and cultivated plants and form part of complex ecological networks throughout tropical and subtropical environments.
In the Atlantic Forest, pollinators contribute directly to plant reproduction, vegetation regeneration and the maintenance of biodiversity. Protecting native bees therefore also means protecting habitat, floral resources, nesting sites and the ecological relationships upon which many other species depend.
Our work with meliponine colonies is based on controlled, small-scale management, with priority given to colony health, natural cycles and non-predatory practices.
The objective is not mass production, but responsible management associated with conservation, environmental learning and respect for the biological characteristics of each species.
Pontal do Sul and Ilha do Mel
Ilha do Mel, which inspired the project's name, is one of the best-known natural landscapes on the Paraná coast. Different historical explanations have been proposed for the origin of the island's name, and it should not be reduced to a single interpretation.
For Ilha do Mel Nativo, the name also carries a contemporary environmental meaning: it connects the identity of the Paraná coast with native bees, pollination, biodiversity and the responsibility to protect the natural systems that define the region.
Today, the Paraná coastline faces pressures common to many coastal environments around the world, including urban expansion, habitat fragmentation, tourism pressure and changes in land use.
These transformations reinforce the importance of conserving pollinators and maintaining native vegetation capable of supporting their populations.
Pontal do Sul and Ilha do Mel are located within a highly sensitive coastal landscape that includes protected areas and important Atlantic Forest ecosystems. Environmental activities in this region therefore require particular attention to biodiversity protection, applicable regulations and responsible land use.
Environmental Education and Visual Identity
The logo of the Ilha do Mel Nativo project was created to spark curiosity and environmental awareness, especially among children. It highlights the importance of pollination and celebrates Brazilian native stingless bees as symbols of biodiversity, learning, ecological relationships and respect for nature.
The visual identity also connects with the Tartaruga de Pontal, a coastal symbol of environmental awareness in Pontal do Sul. The turtle represents the meeting point between ocean life, the Atlantic Forest, the local community and responsible tourism.
As a cultural and environmental landmark, it reinforces the importance of protecting marine biodiversity and preserving the natural identity of the Paraná coastline. Learn more at tartarugadepontal.com.br .
Responsible Meliponiculture and Small-Scale Production
Activities associated with the project follow principles of sustainability, traceability and respect for natural cycles. The initiative is being developed with attention to the technical, environmental and sanitary requirements applicable to native bee management and bee products.
As the project develops, any future production or commercialization will follow the environmental, sanitary, traceability and other regulatory requirements applicable to native bees and their products.
Operational details, production quantities and commercial values are disclosed only when appropriate and when the corresponding activities are formally structured.
Stingless bee honey differs significantly from conventional honey produced by Apis mellifera. Its physicochemical characteristics may vary according to bee species, botanical origin, geographic conditions, seasonality, storage and management practices.
Scientific research in Brazil and abroad continues to investigate its composition, bioactive compounds, physicochemical properties, microbiological characteristics and antimicrobial activity.
Because of this natural variability, the project does not present stingless bee honey as a medicinal product or make therapeutic claims. Instead, it follows scientific research concerning its composition and biological properties while recognizing that continued study, quality control and appropriate regulation are essential.
Origin: Pontal do Sul, Paraná – Brazil
Biome: Atlantic Forest
Bees: Native stingless bees (tribe Meliponini)
Approach: Small-scale, sustainable and traceability-oriented
Technical, Environmental and Scientific References
Ilha do Mel Nativo is an independent environmental initiative. The institutions listed below are public, scientific, educational or technical references relevant to biodiversity conservation, native bees, environmental regulation, agriculture, research and environmental education.
Their inclusion on this page does not imply endorsement, sponsorship or formal institutional partnership with Ilha do Mel Nativo unless such cooperation is expressly identified.
- Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MMA) — the federal authority responsible for environmental policy, biodiversity protection, climate-related environmental policy and sustainable development initiatives in Brazil.
- Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) — the federal environmental agency responsible for environmental enforcement, licensing within its jurisdiction and activities related to the protection of natural resources, fauna and flora.
- Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) — the federal institution responsible for managing federal conservation units and supporting biodiversity conservation in Brazil.
- Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) — the federal authority responsible for agricultural policy, animal and plant health and regulatory frameworks applicable to agricultural products.
- Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) — a Brazilian public university with research and academic activities related to biodiversity, ecology, marine and coastal environments, environmental management and agricultural sciences.
- Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) — a federal research institution dedicated to agricultural science, innovation, food production, biodiversity and sustainable production systems.
- National Rural Learning Service of Paraná (SENAR-PR) — an institution dedicated to rural professional education, training and technical learning programs, including subjects related to sustainable rural activities and agricultural management.
- Water and Land Institute of Paraná (IAT) — the Paraná state environmental authority responsible for environmental management, licensing, biodiversity protection and management of state conservation units.
- Rural Development Institute of Paraná (IDR-Paraná) — the Paraná state institute integrating agricultural research, rural extension, innovation and sustainable rural development. Its activities also include agroecology research and development, including work associated with the Agroecology Research Station (CPRA).
Citizen Science and Learning Resources
The following materials and digital platforms provide open-access information, monitoring tools and educational resources related to pollinators, native bees, biodiversity and citizen science.
They support continuous learning and encourage broader public participation in environmental observation and biodiversity monitoring.
- Guardiões dos Polinizadores — a Brazilian citizen-science initiative that enables users to record plant–pollinator interactions and contribute observations to biodiversity monitoring and environmental learning.
- Guardiões App — Android — a mobile resource supporting field observations and photographic registration of pollinators and ecological interactions.
- FIT Count Brasil — a Brazilian implementation of a standardized protocol for timed observations of flower-visiting insects and pollinator activity.
- FIT Count App — an international mobile application supporting standardized flower-insect timed counts and pollinator monitoring.
- Brazilian Citizen Science Network (RBCC) — a Brazilian collaborative network promoting citizen science, scientific participation, education and public engagement.
- Citizen Science and Pollinators in South America — an open-access publication presenting approaches, experiences and case studies related to pollinators and citizen science in South America.
- Federal University of ABC (UFABC) — a Brazilian public university involved in research, education and extension activities related to science, biodiversity, environmental studies and science communication.
These materials are shared for educational and environmental purposes and support the principles of open science, observation, public participation and collective learning that guide the development of the project.
Conservation, Community and Responsible Tourism
Ilha do Mel Nativo also seeks to connect environmental education with responsible tourism.
Visitors to the Paraná coast encounter a landscape in which Atlantic Forest vegetation, coastal and marine environments, local communities, wildlife and tourism exist in close proximity.
Understanding native pollinators can help visitors see this landscape differently.
Bees provide an accessible way to discuss biodiversity, habitat protection, food systems, native vegetation and the many ecological relationships that frequently remain unnoticed.
Environmental tourism can become more meaningful when visitors understand not only what they see, but also the ecological processes that allow these environments to remain functional.
The long-term objective is to unite conservation, responsible production, environmental education, scientific learning and community awareness while respecting the ecological limits of the region.
About the Initiative
Ilha do Mel Nativo is a developing environmental initiative based in Pontal do Sul, Paraná.
Its work is centered on native stingless bees, pollinator awareness, Atlantic Forest biodiversity, responsible meliponiculture, environmental education, citizen science and community participation.
The project develops progressively as technical knowledge, environmental requirements, scientific references and potential cooperation opportunities evolve.
Transparency is therefore an important principle: institutional relationships, certifications and partnerships are identified publicly only when formally established.
For inquiries, institutional information or partnership proposals, please contact: info@ilhadomelnativo.com.br
Institutional and educational content. Information may be updated as scientific references, regulatory requirements and potential cooperation with universities, researchers, environmental organizations and public institutions evolve.
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