Peru grants legal rights to Amazon stingless bees

Stingless bees in the Peruvian Amazon have become the first insects anywhere granted legal rights, after two regional ordinances passed in late 2025. The rulings cover large areas of the Amazon in Satipo, Junin region, and Nauta in Loreto, giving native bees the legal right to exist, thrive and be represented in court. Unlike European honeybees introduced in the 1500s, these native bees have no sting and are responsible for pollinating more than 80% of Amazonian plant species, including cacao and coffee. The campaign was led by chemical biologist Rosa Vásquez Espinoza, founder of Amazon Research Internacional, who began studying the bees in 2020 after analyzing their medicinal honey. “I was seeing hundreds of medicinal molecules,” Espinoza said, describing compounds with antiinflammatory, antiviral and antioxidant properties found in stingless bee honey. Supporters say the legal recognition forces local governments to curb pesticides, restore habitat and address climate impacts, marking a rare moment when insects gained rights usually reserved for humans.