Forest Bortnichestvo is a unique excursion object that introduces the ancient tradition of beekeeping, included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

This is a traditional way of extracting honey, in which bees live in tree hollows – natural or specially cut down («bortyah»). In the Pripyat Polesie, bortnichestvo has preserved a living connection with the past: the population of the native Polesie bee, which is characterized by its endurance and adaptability to the local climate, is carefully maintained here.

The tour reveals the significance of this tradition not only as a cultural phenomenon, but also as a practice that contributes to the conservation of biodiversity.

Wild bees are key pollinators of forest and meadow plants, on which the sustainability of ecosystems depends. However, their existence is under threat: the use of pesticides, the reduction of natural habitats, diseases and competition with commercial bee breeds put local populations at risk.

Visiting allows you to see how the age-old knowledge of bortnikov helps to preserve the gene pool of the Polessky bee and maintain the ecological balance. This is a clear example of how traditional culture and environmental activities merge into a single whole, reminding us of the importance of protecting bees — the irreplaceable «guardians» of natural balance.

*«bortyah» – a hollow tree, a hollow stump, a hollow log where bees live. Borty were specially hollowed-out, living trees, in the root; they were in the forests, separately.

*«bortniki» – an old name for people who were engaged in beekeeping.