Restore and Protect Forests in Mesoamerica

"We are reforesting here because there has been a lot of deforestation and there are no longer trees in our area."
—Miguel Francisco

Miguel is a forest guard in Xequel, a small town in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. 

Recently, Guatemala has enacted a program, known as PINPEP (Program of Incentives for Small-Scale Agricultural Producers) that provides financial incentives to farmers who implement sustainable farming practices, such as agroforestry.

EcoLogic is currently registering farmers, like Miguel, and helping monitor their land in order to ensure that their farming is sustainable and that they are receiving payment. Through enrollment in PINPEP, families in Xequel receive an additional $166 a year when practicing sustainable farming. The town of Xequel is plagued by drought and deforestation. The average family income is less than $1,000 a year. EcoLogic is actively ramping up our support of the PINPEP program in order to conserve and rehabilitate the environment, but also to provide a reliable source of income and food for families. 

Your support not only supports the conservation of precious and threatened forests in Huehuetenango, Guatemala, but also provides families with additional income necessary to meet their basic needs.

Read more about the program and hear from Miguel here: http://www.ecologic.org/en/projectsguatemala

Links:

• Meet Miguel and Support Reforestation in Guatemala

In the county of San Mateo Ixtatán, Guatemala, Forest Guardians continue to raise awareness about proper and sustainable management of natural resources. Recent activities have included advisory visits to local and country level nurseries to encourage and promote new, native tree production.

Recently, support was provided to a group of 60 women from 14 communities to assist in the management of 69 hectares of forest. The hectares they monitor have been designated a protected area of natural regeneration by the city of Ixtatan. This important designation was due, in large part, to the commitment of these 60 female Guards to monitor and care for the area.

EcoLogic has noticed a dramatic increase in participation from women since we began a concerted effort to encourage the involvement of women in Forest Guardians trainings over 2 years ago. Thanks to the support of people like you, we will continue to expand the impact of Forest Guardians within at-risk forests of Guatemala. 

Links:

• Training forest guards