Promoting alternative livelihoods enables communities to diversify income sources, providing immediate economic relief and strengthening social cohesion. By fostering self-reliance, it helps them adapt to climate-induced challenges, such as reduced water availability or declining agricultural yields, which often serve as triggers for disputes. Livelihood diversification also helps build bridges between communities that might otherwise come into conflict over shared resources, creating opportunities for collaboration and mutual support. 

In Uzbekistan, where the drying Aral Sea left many residents in the lurch, beekeeping became a beacon of hope, providing honey for domestic use as well as selling in markets. Today, it has become a cornerstone of the region’s overall development, supporting agriculture, ensuring food security and advancing biodiversity conservation. Beyond its economic benefits, the initiative has fostered cooperation among communities, reducing tensions by uniting them around shared goals of environmental restoration and economic recovery.  

Bakhtiyar Dzhubaev, a beekeeping expert in Uzbekistan, is witnessing his three-decade journey bearing fruit. From starting as a honey packer to becoming a successful entrepreneur who is now mentoring a new generation of beekeepers, he is hopeful about the future. His work is not just an environmental success but also a contributor to regional peace, as restored ecosystems offer better livelihoods and reduce the sources of conflict. “This is where I see our region’s future. The more bees and flowering plants there are, the better chances the Aral Sea region has for recovery,” he says.