Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Natural Resources Policy, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
2
Department of Arid and Mountainous Regions Reclamation, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
3
Department of Forestry and Forest Economics, Faculty of Natural resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
4
Department of Agricultural, Water and Energy Governance, Faculty of Governance, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Humans have historically relied on nature for survival and livelihood; however, with increasing societal complexity, pressures on the environment have intensified. Nature-based enterprises, particularly beekeeping, have emerged as effective approaches to balance economic growth and environmental conservation. Beekeeping not only produces honey and related products but also plays a crucial role in pollination and biodiversity preservation. This study, conducted in Taleqan County, aimed to identify sustainable development strategies for beekeeping enterprises. For this purpose, the SWOT model was employed to identify internal and external factors, and the BWM and WASPAS multi-criteria decision-making methods were used for weighting and prioritization. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 35 beekeepers and validated by expert review. Findings indicated that high honey quality (weight = 0.32) and increasing demand for organic products (0.28) were the most significant strengths and opportunities, whereas climate change and drought (0.16) constituted the primary threats and weaknesses. Demographic analysis revealed that the majority of beekeeping business owners were aged 40–50 years (48.5%), with an average annual honey production of approximately 1,900 kg. Based on the combined SWOT–WASPAS analysis, four priority strategies were identified: implementing awareness campaigns and promoting natural honey (0.0727), establishing a national brand and honey authenticity label (0.0727), conducting joint initiatives with farmers to reduce pesticide use (0.0460), and establishing quality control laboratories (0.0460). These strategies can facilitate sustainable and resilient beekeeping and strengthen its position within green economy and rural development frameworks.
Keywords