Rosa Vásquez Espinoza: A Legacy of Learning from Nature
Rosa Vásquez Espinoza, a distinguished Peruvian scientist, reflects on the profound influence her grandmother had on her life and career. Her grandmother, a woman who cherished nature, would tenderly kiss flowers and treat the soil with respect. Such gestures instilled in Rosa a deep appreciation for the environment, shaping her understanding of nature and guiding her scientific journey. Years later, her dedicated work towards the conservation of stingless bees in the Amazon earned her recognition with one of the prestigious Rolex Awards for Enterprise in 2026, a global accolade that will enable her to expand her conservation efforts.
The award ceremony took place at the Scenic Garden in Chapultepec, Mexico City, where Francesco Raeli, the manager of Rolex’s Perpetual Planet Initiative, presented the honour to the biochemist and conservationist. Rosa was one of five women awarded in 2026, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the awards, which aim to support projects that enhance community well-being and protect the planet.
During her acceptance speech, Rosa expressed gratitude not only to those who have supported her research but also to the territory she has devoted years to studying. This appreciation reflects a bond with nature that formed long before her formal investigations, originating in her childhood, where she found joy and learning in the landscapes of Peru.
A Childhood Rooted in Nature and Ancestral Wisdom
Rosa’s upbringing was marked by her experiences in the mountains, jungles, and urban settings. Surrounded by nature and guided by her grandmother, who was well-versed in medicinal plants despite lacking formal education, Rosa gained a unique perspective on the world that continues to inform her scientific work today. “I remember my childhood in nature as a game. It was truly a space of freedom and expression,” she shares in an interview. Her family encouraged her to explore, to get her hands dirty, and to immerse herself in the scents of blooming flowers, experiences that she considers fundamental to her relationship with the environment.
As her career progressed, this relationship with nature took on new significance. During the award ceremony, Rosa recalled her grandmother’s teachings that every plant, big or small, could offer medicine. This understanding soon led her to contemplate how traditional knowledge could enrich scientific research.
After pursuing studies in the United States, Rosa began to grapple with the destruction she witnessed in the Amazon. A professor once suggested she spend twenty years working in a large corporation, saving money before returning to support her country. However, she felt she could not wait that long and resolved to apply her scientific expertise towards conservation efforts and engaging with the communities inhabiting the land. Little did she know that a small bee would eventually transform the scope of her project.
Exploring the Significance of Stingless Bees
In 2020, Rosa initiated research into the honey produced by stingless bees, known as meliponas, which have been utilised by various indigenous communities in the Amazon for generations. Her research uncovered bioactive compounds in the honey and documented the scientific link between deforestation and the decline of these vital pollinators, essential for the reproduction of numerous plant species.
What began as a scientific inquiry evolved when Rosa witnessed the profound bond between indigenous communities and bees. During a photographic session in the Peruvian Amazon, she spent approximately four hours observing these insects, describing the experience as meditative. She noted how indigenous leaders sang to the bees while preparing hives, revealing a relationship with nature that she had not fully comprehended until then.
That day, she listened to community members express concern over the disappearance of bees and the consequences for their lives. The decline of these pollinators signified the loss of fruits, medicinal plants, and invaluable knowledge passed down through generations. Rosa reflected on her grandmother and pondered the implications of growing up without the wisdom she had received.
Transforming Research into Community Action
This experience shifted the focus of her research. Protecting bees became synonymous with conserving the ecosystems they inhabit and collaborating with communities that have fostered a connection with these creatures for generations. Thus, the project began to unite scientists, indigenous communities, and specialists from diverse fields to formulate conservation strategies grounded in local territories.
The path was fraught with financial challenges. Rosa recounted the initial year of her project, filled with rejection. They submitted over 120 funding applications without success and had to rely on their savings to continue their efforts. After twelve months of uncertainty, they finally secured initial funding to broaden their activities.
Rosa also faced obstacles as a young female scientist from Latin America. She recalls starting out with trepidation and often finding it difficult to share her ideas. “We were told, ‘No, it’s too ambitious or too unfocused; you’re exploring too many angles.’ That truly troubled me,” she admits. Despite grappling with self-doubt and impostor syndrome, she persisted because the conversations with the communities affirmed the project’s significance.
Legal Recognition and Future Prospects
Her work eventually led her to an area that initially seemed outside her scientific training: law. In 2025, the Peruvian municipalities of Satipo and Nauta passed ordinances granting legal rights to native stingless bees, including the right to exist and thrive in a healthy environment. This marked the first legal recognition of its kind for an insect, resulting from a collaborative process involving indigenous communities, researchers, and nature conservation organisations.
For Rosa, this legal recognition represents a sustainable opportunity for the protection of bees. During her speech, she explained that her team aimed to establish these measures collaboratively with communities and local authorities, ensuring that people understood their significance and could actively participate in their implementation.
She believes this precedent could pave the way for protecting other species and ecosystems that have historically received less attention. During the interview, she mentioned that discussions have already emerged regarding the rights of medicinal plants, rivers, and mountains. For her, the next challenge lies in sharing the tools developed during this process so they can be tailored to meet the needs of other regions.
Expanding Conservation Efforts Beyond Peru
The Rolex recognition arrives at a pivotal moment for Rosa’s research. Her organisation, Amazon Research International, has studied 40,000 hectares of rainforest, identified over 300 wild beehives, and trained more than 350 indigenous individuals in sustainable beekeeping, ecological research, and entrepreneurship. Notably, 70% of those trained are women.
The Rolex Award, part of the Perpetual Planet Initiative, will allow for the expansion of conservation efforts through the establishment of ten stingless bee sanctuaries managed by indigenous communities, mapping of 200,000 hectares, and the development of a conservation corridor connecting various territories in the Amazon, potentially extending into Bolivia and the border areas of Peru, Colombia, and Brazil.
During her visit to Mexico, Rosa revealed that her team is already collaborating with Bolivia and is in discussions with Ecuador and Colombia. Furthermore, organisations and individuals from 11 countries across six continents have expressed interest in replicating the Peruvian experience of recognising bee rights.
Preserving Ancestral Knowledge for Future Generations
The possibility of conducting research in other territories signifies a significant shift for a project that initially struggled to secure funding and maintain its team. “I think we never even dreamed we would be here one day,” she stated. For Rosa, this recognition offers a new chance to continue her work and demonstrate that initiatives developed within communities can enact changes that transcend borders.
However, international visibility also brings new challenges. Rosa is acutely aware of the responsibility to expand her project while preserving the depth of her collaborative work with communities. One of her concerns is ensuring that future generations can pursue their own research and take the lead in conservation initiatives.
While Rosa has dedicated years to studying the effects of deforestation on bees and Amazonian ecosystems, she harbours another significant concern: the loss of ancestral knowledge. Through her work with indigenous communities, she has identified that one of their greatest fears is that younger generations will cease to pass on the knowledge preserved for centuries. She explains that access to the internet and social media is also reshaping the aspirations of young people.
Building an Intercultural Encyclopedia of Traditional Knowledge
In response, her team is developing an intercultural encyclopedia of traditional knowledge, created with the input of various communities. This project aims to document some of this wisdom and explore new ways to engage youth with it. Rosa acknowledges that this work also holds personal significance for her. Her journey has afforded her access to research and international recognition that earlier generations could not attain. Now, she hopes that more young indigenous individuals will find opportunities to develop their knowledge, engage in science, and contribute to the protection of their territories.
When asked during the ceremony what her grandmother would think of the recognition she was receiving, Rosa replied that while her grandmother would feel happy as long as her granddaughter was, she also highlighted something that brings her joy: knowing that young indigenous people are now finding opportunities that she never had.
One of the most important changes Rosa hopes her project will achieve is for Amazonian communities to have healthy forests, thriving bees, and new generations with the freedom to pursue their dreams in twenty years. She envisions a future where more young indigenous individuals lead scientific endeavours, and their presence