Restore and Protect Forests in Mesoamerica

Rural and indigenous families in Guatemala depend upon forest ecosystems for their livelihoods and survival, often through subsistence agriculture. Farmers living in persistent poverty often have no choice but to adopt an immediate-term perspective resulting in the unsustainable use of natural resources, evidenced by the longstanding tradition of slash-and-burn agriculture. Using this approach, land can only be used for 2-3 years before the soil’s nutrients are depleted, requiring farmers to move to new land and cut down additional forest.

In response to farmer priorities and demand, EcoLogic field technicians have been successful in increasing interest in and uptake of agroforestry, which is a sustainable practice of growing food crops alongside trees and under the shade of trees. This approach facilitates improved community wellbeing—by enhancing food security and providing an alternative source of income—while advancing conservation objectives. The availability of alternative livelihood options that are offered through agroforestry and beekeeping programs can help incentivize the adoption of sustainable practices.

In 2017 we:

• Produced 213,175 trees in community-managed nurseries
• Reforested and assisted in the natural regeneration of 284 additional acres of previously degraded land
• Established 78 acres of agroforestry parcels with 64 new farmers switching from slash-and-burn to more sustainable and climate-friendly agriculture
• Trained over 1,000 community members in topics such as effective forest management, watershed management, sustainable agriculture, and reforestation
• Worked with farmers to develop 37 new land management plans, one of the official documents required to register land under Guatemala’s Program of Incentives for Small-Scale Agricultural Producers (PINPEP) and qualify for incentives payments. Participating farmers received a shared total of $266,000.
• Worked with beekeepers to manage 291 beehives that produced 21,000 lbs of honey allowing them to generate $17,000 in income

With your help, we are working to replicate and expand these efforts in 2018!

Links:

• Angelica's agroforestry parcel
• Honey harvest and extraction