Tenth Mesoamerican Congress on Native Bees.

“The decline of native bees and challenges for their conservation�

The decline of native bees and challenges for their conservation.

PRESENTATION Bees constitute a fundamental part of Mesoamerican ecosystems, which are a wide mosaic of history, culture and natural wealth.

Since pre-Hispanic times, the management of native bees has been a very important occupation for the people of this region.

The scarcity of studies on native bee populations, their conservation status, and the threats posed to them in Mesoamerica, hamper our understanding of this problem and our ability to propose solutions at a regional level.

The complex geology and climate of Mesoamerica allow for a wide diversity of native bees. Over 2000 species are known, many of them endemic. Since 1999, the Mesoamerican Congresses and Seminaries on Native Bees have highlighted the importance and diversity of the group, addressing a variety of subjects such as pollination in natural and agricultural ecosystems, use and management of social bees, systematics, and others.

In recent years the worldwide decline of bee populations has gained relevance due to the threat it signifies for human life quality. The loss of this important biodiversity resource could bring negative repercussions to Mesoamerican people, our agriculture, and our natural ecosystems.

With this in mind, we consider the tenth anniversary of the Mesoamerican Congress on Native Bees an invaluable opportunity for discussing our role as a community in preventing and counteracting the decline of bee populations. We are therefore glad to invite stingless bee and honey bee keepers, students and researchers from all over the world to attend the X Congress on Native Bees: the

2

decline of native bees and challenges for their conservation. The event will be held at Antigua Guatemala, from November 20 to 24 (pre congress courses: November 20-22, congress: November 23 and 24).

Antigua Guatemala

20 - 24 NOVEMBER

The decline of native bees and challenges for their conservation.

CONGRESS The Congress will be on November 23 and 24.

It will include scientific works and freestyle presentations that will be organized in symposia.

The duration of each symposium will depend on the amount of talks included, and will have different locations. We will be mobilizing like busy bees, within the world-heritage colonial city of Antigua Guatemala.

Scientific work format The talks may be presented in Spanish or English.

The works should be written in the first person, with a maximum length of 5 pages (letter), justified text, Calibri 11 font, 1.5 spaces between lines, 2.5 cm margins (1 inch: top, bottom and sides). They should follow this sequence:

Symposia The symposia will be organized according to the following general subjects:

1.Meliponiculture and sustainable use of stingless bees 2.Genetics of Mesoamerican bees 3.Systematics and biogeography 4.Biodiversity, ecology and conservation 5.Pollination of cultivated and wild plants 6.Native bees: legacy, local knowledge and educative experiences* Scientific and free works can be also presented in poster format. The participants will be able to present their works during a poster session that will be scheduled as a part of the congress. *This symposium will have a special format that will allow the presentation of freestyle works. Look for more information in the “freestyle works� section.

Antigua Guatemala

20 - 24 NOVEMBER

1. Title 2. Authors (full names, each starting with the last name). The name of the author that will be presenting the work should be written in boldface.

3. Name of the institution(s) of affiliation, address, phone number and e-mail address 4. Abstract, 200 words maximum 5. Five key words (in boldface) 6. Introduction and objectives 7. Materials and methods 8. Results 9. Discussion and conclusions 10. Acknowledgements and references (or bibliography)

3

The decline of native bees and challenges for their conservation.

Header example for scientific works

Poster format

Ideal temperature range for stingless bees of Chimaltenango

To make a poster presentation during the congress, the authors should send prior to the deadline for scientific works a Microsoft Word document that includes the following information:

Domínguez Castellanos, Carlos Antonio1, Olivares López, Andrea2, Palacios-Dueñas, Marco1 1.Unidad Experimental Apícola. Carretera hacia el Occidente, Chimaltenango, Guatemala. Teléfono: +502-76542312, correo electrónico: unidadexp@gmail.com 2.Casa de Meliponas. Tenejapa, Chiapas, México. Teléfono: +9671234075, correo electrónico: cdamelipona@yahoo.com Key words: Meliponini, Chimaltenango, Guatemala, homeostasis, colmena.

1. Title 2. Name of the authors (last names first), the name of the author that . will make the presentation should be written in boldface.

3. Name of the institution(s) of affiliation, phone number and e-mail address 4. Abstract (200 words maximum) The posters should be designed considering an exhibition space of 1.2 m (3.9 ft) high and 1.0 m (3.3 ft) wide, and should be readable from a distance of 2 m (3.6 ft). The poster header should include the title of the work, names of the authors and the institution they are representing.

It should include a brief introduction, objectives, methodology, results (including tables, charts and figures), discussion and conclusions, and the cited references or bibliography. The posters can be made in Spanish or English.

Freestyle presentations Freestyle works can be presented in Spanish or English. This modality will be allowed only for the “Native bees: legacy, local knowledge and educative experiences” symposium. This event is mainly intended for keepers, but other non-scientific experiences can be included.

landscape, gender, education and sustainability. Presentations and discussions of any situations and practices surrounding socio-environmental complexities associated with the decline of native bee populations, are encouraged.

This symposium offers a space for expression, discussion, and sharing ideas and notions in relation to native bees, especially stingless bees.

Women and men committed to the legacy of stingless bee keeping, protection and conservation initiatives and educational experiences, can use this space to share their knowledge. This event will also welcome any considerations about identity, culture, territories, legacy, bio-cultural

The works should be sent in writing before the deadline, and must consider the following requirements:

4

•Arial 12 font •Text written in double space •The length of the text should be from one to three pages, including charts, graphics, tables, illustrations, bibliography, etc.

Antigua Guatemala

20 - 24 NOVEMBER

The decline of native bees and challenges for their conservation.

Header example of a freestyle presentation text My life with stingless bees González, Isabel1 1.Meliponario Estrellita. Carretera Puerto Quetzal, Escuintla, Guatemala. Teléfono: +502-52458963, correo electrónico:estrellamelip@ gmail.com

Free Work Exhibitions The freestyle presentations should take 10 to 15 minutes. Support material such as images (Power Point slideshows, posters, pictures, photographs, murals, etc.) may be used, according to the author’s preferences.

At the end of the symposium, interested participants will be allowed to join in the drafting of a work schedule for the empowerment of the “Native bees and education for sustainability” network. It is highly recommended that the symposium participants attend the “Bees and education II: from local knowledge and narrative practices” pre-congress course.

Antigua Guatemala

20 - 24 NOVEMBER

5

The decline of native bees and challenges for their conservation.

SUBMISSIONS

PRE-CONGRESS COURSES

The deadline to submit works, in any format, is August 31, 2017. All works should be sent by e-mail to abejanativagt@gmail.com.

All works will be evaluated by the scientific committee before being accepted.

The pre-congress courses will be held from November 20 to 22, in different locations within the colonial city of Antigua Guatemala. The following courses are confirmed to date: 1. Systematics and taxonomy of bees: Dr. Ricardo Ayala (México) & M.Sc. Jorge Mérida (México) (Spanish) 2. Biology and breeding of native stingless bees: Dr. Miguel Guzmán (México) & Dr. Margarita Medina (México) (Spanish) 3. Ecological networks applied to plant-pollination interactions: Dr. Wesley Dáttilo (México) (Spanish) 4. Conservation genetics for bees: Dr. Michelle Duennes (USA). (English) 5. Pollination ecology: Dr. Carlos Vergara (México) (Spanish) 6. Phylogeny and evolution of bees: Dr. Martin Husemann (Germany). (English) 7. Bees and education II: from local knowledge and narrative practices: M.Sc. Raquel Zepeda (México) and Pedagogue Thomas Gruber (México). (Spanish)

6

Antigua Guatemala

20 - 24 NOVEMBER

The decline of native bees and challenges for their conservation.

CULTURAL PROGRAM: Art, Heritage, Environmental Education and Stingless Bees was taken (country, state, province or department), description of the specimen or object portrayed, and title of the work (title is optional). The label must be All participants are invited to attend the exhibition All participants are invited to take part in the photo- 2 x 4 inches (5 x 10 cm), printed in white paper, text and sale of native bee products and goods. This event graphy contest, themed around “the decline of native in Arial 11 font. will provide a space to sell and promote different bees and challenges for their conservation”. The photographs will be evaluated by an expert jury. The kinds of products, including: three first places will receive a prize, and the best twelve works will be included in the “Native Bees of •Honey, propolis and pollen Mesoamerica” 2018 calendar. Each participant can •Bee-keeping materials and equipment submit up to three photographs.

•Educational material •Technified wood boxes for stingless bee nests If interested, send an email to •Various good manufactured from stingless bee melipoguate@gmail.com before August 31, products 2017 indicating that you are submitting a work to •Text books and manuals the photography contest. Attach the photographs in TIFF format. On November 23, 2017, participants •Other related products must deliver the printed photographs, inside a manila envelope, at the registration table. Also, a separate Anyone interested in setting up a stand to sell and/or sheet with the author’s complete name, nationality and email address must be included inside the exhibit products should send an email to melipoguate@gmail.com before August 31, envelope.

2017, explaining the product’s details, such as cha- The printed photographs must be prepared according racteristics, origin, name of the person in charge, and to the following specifications: contact information.

•Printed in photography paper, letter-size (8.5 x11 inches or 21.59 x 27.94 cm) •Mounted on black cardboard, allowing a one-inch frame •Must include a label with the following data: name and nationality of the author, place where the picture

Exhibitions and sales

Antigua Guatemala

20 - 24 NOVEMBER

Photography contest and exhibition

7

The decline of native bees and challenges for their conservation.

Video contest and exhibition All participants are invited to take part in the video contest, which will be themed around “the decline of native bees and challenges for their conservation”. The videos may have a maximum length of five minutes. They must be artistic and creative, and related to cultural aspects, conservation, biodiversity and management of native bees. The best videos will Visual arts exhibition be broadcasted during the X Mesoamerican Congress All participants and interested artists are invited to on Native Bees. promote their artwork at the visual arts exhibition event, which will be themed around “the decline of If interested, send an email with your contact in- native bees and challenges for their conservation”. formation to melipoguate@gmail.com before This will be a space to exhibit and/or sell artistic August 31, 2017, attaching the video in compact photography, paintings, drawings, sculpture, and format. Selected videos should be presented in HD other kinds of artwork, provided that it is inspired by DVD format at the registration table on November cultural aspects, conservation, biodiversity or mana23, 2017. gement of native bees.

Ludic learning space

A space for playing and learning will be carried out during the congress, with the goal of raising the awareness on children and young people about the importance of native bees, as well as the importance of their conservation. If interested in taking part in the organization of this event, send an email with your If interested, send an email with your contact in- contact information to melipoguate@gmail.com formation to melipoguate@gmail.com before before August 31, 2017, describing the details of the August 31, 2017, indicating the specifications of the activity. pieces that will be exhibited, including the name of the author, nationality, the work’s title, use technique, To date, the following workshops are confirmed: and dimensions of the piece.

•Solitary bee house crafting

•Pollination and food security

•Ten-line stanza workshop

•Body, movement and bees

8

Antigua Guatemala

20 - 24 NOVEMBER

The decline of native bees and challenges for their conservation.

REGISTRATION AND FEES Congress Before September 15, 2017: After September 15, 2017:

The fees must be paid before the registration by making a deposit to the following bank accounts:

US$ 55.00 US$ 75.00

Bank Deposits in Guatemala:

US$ 50.00 US$ 75.00

International bank transfers:

Pre-congress courses Before September 15, 2017: After September 15, 2017:

Registration

BANCO AGROMERCANTIL DE GUATEMALA, S.A Account Name: Por Una Vida Digna Account Number: 30 4017587 0 Bank Name: BANCO AGROMERCANTIL DE GUATEMALA, S.A Bank Address: 7av. 7-30 zona 9, Guatemala, C.A. Account Name: Por Una Vida Digna Account Number: 30 4017587 0 Routing Number: Swift Code: AGROGTGC IBAN: GT48AGRO01010000003040197500 Contact Name: Loida Priscila Méndez Ramos Telephone Number: 502-23600738 To complete the registration process, send an email with the deposit number to melipoguate@gmail.com, attaching a scanned copy of the voucher.

For more information visit the AbejasnativasGT Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/abejasnativasgt/

Antigua Guatemala

20 - 24 NOVEMBER

9