Geospatial tools applied to the generation of an aptitude map for the development of beekeeping activity in San Javier, Córdoba, Argentina

Throughout the world, bees fulfill a vital ecosystem function, as well as other insects that ensure the delicate balance of natural ecosystems. In fact, biodiversity and production of food depend largely on pollination carried out by bees. At present, there is a widespread concern due to the decrease in the number of hives, a strange phenomenon that occurs worldwide and until today little is known about its causes. Hence the importance to design beekeeping environmental policies to strengthen the activity and preserve bees. San Javier, Cordoba, Argentina presents an important beekeeping activity being leader as honey exporter in the region due to its favorable environmental conditions, constituting itself as a source rich in biodiversity. In order to carry out an optimal territorial order, it is necessary to consider environmental and legal aspects to lineout good apicultural practices. In this work we implement for the first time in Argentina geographic information systems (GIS) as a management tool for data collection, analysis and modelling in order to generate an aptitude map to carry out this activity. Based on georeferenced information collected by satellite sensors, field surveys and official institutions, new spatial data were generated through the elaboration of thematic maps that show the current situation of apicultural territorial order in the study zone. Particularly, distance of apiary sites to water bodies, to native forest, to urban areas, to cultivated areas and to roads are taken into account to make a decision tree model which generates an aptitude map to carry out beekeeping activity. Finally, it is contrasted against apiaries distribution in the study zone in order to provide support to the sector by showing number apiaries that should be relocated and best zones to settle new ones.