Cesar Delgado

César Delgado is an entomologist at the Peruvian Amazon Research Institute who has worked alongside Heriberto Vela, an Indigenous resident of Loreto, Peru, to refine beekeeping practices, specifically focusing on stingless bees native to the Amazon. Delgado's efforts aim to widen the appeal of beekeeping as a means for both forest conservation and community livelihoods, especially in the face of deforestation, climate change, and the threats posed by invasive honey bee species. He collaborates with experts like Rosa Vásquez Espinoza to ensure that conservation efforts are sustainable, culturally sensitive, and economically beneficial for Indigenous communities, who rely on the rainforest's biodiversity for their way of life. Delgado's work highlights the importance of integrating local knowledge and practices into conservation strategies while also emphasizing the tangible benefits, such as economic opportunities and alternative treatments like stingless-bee honey during the Covid-19 pandemic. He published studies on the chemical properties of stingless-bee honey and are mapping bee populations in the rainforest. He also emphasizes the importance of incorporating Indigenous knowledge into academic research and conservation efforts.