Assessing the diversity and seasonal availability of honeybee floral resources in Amhara-Sayint district, northern Ethiopia

• Twenty eight honeybee flora species identified in Amhara-Sayint • Trifolium & Eucalyptus dominate pollen counts • Peak flowering: Sep-Nov; dearth: Dec-Aug • Unifloral honeys show niche production potential • 95% pollen from Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, Asteraceae, Ericaceae Ethiopia's diverse ecological conditions support abundant honeybee colonies, yet the sector's productivity remains low despite its potential. Furthermore, the limited knowledge of honeybee flora in Amhara-Sayint hinders effective beekeeping development and sustainable honey production. The study aimed to identify the major honeybee flora resources to guide conservation strategies in Amhara-Sayint district, northern Ethiopia. Data were collected from surveying 238 beekeeping households across three agro-ecologies (highland, midland, & lowland) and microscopic pollen analyzing from 20 honey samples. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Semi-structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and microscopic pollen analysis revealed 28 honeybee forage species from 18 plant families, with shrubs (32%) and trees (25%) dominating the flora. Key honeybee forage species, including Trifolium spp. (94.9±41.9) and Eucalyptus spp. (81.4±52.9) contributed significantly to pollen counts ( p = 0.04), while four families ( Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, Asteraceae and Ericaceae ) accounted for 95% of pollen in the honey samples. Flowering peaked between September and November, with a forage dearth from December to August. Unifloral honeys, such as Erica abrorea (100%) and Trifolium spp. (95.7%) pollen contributions highlighted the potential for niche honey production. To enhance honey productivity and sustainability and bridge seasonal feed gap in the study area, the major identified honeybee floral species like Trifolium spp. should be multiplied to disseminate to beekeepers for extensive plantation through the participation of stakeholders, including government agencies and local communities.