Building resilience with communities of Guerrero

Local students learn how to reforest 

In the last 4 months, 25 students from the Intercultural University of the State of Guerrero, speakers of indigenous languages such as Ñu savi and Me'phaa and coming from 12 communities in the area, designed and built an agroforestry plot for reforestation. 

At the same time, the same students as well as the students and  staff of the Ojo de Agua secondary school carried out the diagnosis for the care and self-management of water.

Both water and agroforestry are a key tool to reforest not only timber but also edible species.

Why we chose the agroforestry 

1. Because it is ecologically sustainable as it favors soil restoration, microclimate balance, nutrient recycling and productive diversification.
2. Because it recovers traditional agricultural systems and native species, which are adapted and, therefore, revalue local habits and ways of life.
3. Because it incorporates affordable, adequate and sustainable techniques and technologies derived from the exchange of traditional and technical knowledge.

What they have done 

First, students and teachers from the University carried out the participatory design of the space for the agroforestry plot, and the selection of species to be reforested.

During the implementation, the seedlings of the selected species were germinated and after one month they were transplanted.

At the same time, students and teachers were trained to carry out Successional Agroforestry Systems.

Next fruits 

From the group of students and teachers came the proposal to also take advantage of the empty spaces that have been left between the planting lines. After a joint evaluation and an exchange of knowledge between experts and students, they decided to start a second phase of implementation.