Sheka forest biosphere reserve beekeeping practices and characteristics of Schefflera abyssinica honey, Ethiopia

Forests are the food and home for honeybees; and honeybees reserve the environment, increase agriculture productivity, sustain livelihoods, and provide food security. The objective of this research was to study the beekeeping practices of Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve and quantify the quality attributes of Schefflera abyssinica honey. Primary and secondary data collection methods were used to collect data from key informants. Thirty-two honey samples were collected from traditional hives. The botanical origin of honey was determined using harmonized methods of Melissopalynology. Sheka forest accommodates 191,712 honeybees (91.02% from traditional and 8.99% from transitional and frame hives). Except for honey harvesting in the forest by mounting the tall trees, the majority of beekeeping activities executed by females. The dominant honey plants were Schefflera abyssinica, Croton macrostachyus, Vernonia amygdalina, Manilkara butugi, Syzygium guineense, Coffea arabica, Aningeria altissima, Eucalyptus globulus, Olea capensis, Maesa lanceolata, Allophylus abyssinicus, Ilex mitis, Ekebergia capensis, and Albizia schimperiana. In Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve, a beekeeper accommodates 2–5 (3.27 ± 0.90) apiaries; and 105 ± 52.78, 8.78 ± 4.41, and 4.38 ± 2.83 colonies in traditional, transitional, and frame hives, respectively. Honey can be harvested three to four times a year (April–May, July–August, and January–February). Schefflera abyssinica honey had a moisture (20.24 ± 1.29 g/100 g), water activity (0.60 ± 0.02), pH (3.65 ± 0.24) and free acid (24.50 ± 1.91), ash (0.27 ± 0.04 g/100 g), electrical conductivity (0.31 ± 0.02), hydroxymethylfurfural (1.18 ± 0.11 mg/kg), specific rotation (−214.62 ± 16.83 $$[\alpha ]_{D}^{20}$$ [ α ] D 20 ), diastase activity (4.76 ± 0.54), and invertase number (3.60 ± 1.51). Fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, and total sugars were 38.49 ± 1.21, 29.54 ± 3.85, 2.09 ± 0.10, 0.53 ± 0.31, and 70.64 ± 4.75, respectively. Description of forest potential and characterization of honey help for proper handling of the forest in a standing position, which sustainably exploits the forest.