Restore and Protect Forests in Mesoamerica

Dear GlobalGiving Supporters,

I hope you are doing well and staying healthy! A lot has happened since my last report.

I want to share with you one recent story. I was visiting our local partner organization in Totonicapán, Guatemala recently, when we had to face a very challenging and unexpected situation. The text below is adapted and translated from this article in Spanish by Indigenous journalist Leopoldo Batz:

During the early hours of Friday, March 5, 2021, the facilities of the forest nursery located in the communal forest of Totonicapán were vandalized by people who could not be identified and who cut down two trees, ripped the plastic walls of the greenhouse, and spray-painted several intimidating messages.

Given what happened, the authorities called on the Government, municipality, institutions, and the general population to join the effort to conserve and protect the area of the Totonicapán communal forest. In the weeks leading up to this incident, the forest guardians of this region had carried out monitoring transects and had detected and reported the illegal felling of trees in various sectors.

Despite the setback, the leaders of the Indigenous organization 48 Cantons also see an opportunity. “Now is the moment to see if the population is interested in their forests. We in this leadership position are willing to move forward and contribute to the protection of forests. If we do not act today, we will regret it tomorrow. We are not alone and, as representatives, we will show that 48 Cantons are strong to protect our forests, said Martín Toc, president of the 48 Cantons.

In fact, by March 8, the community had already gotten organized to clean up and repair the majority of the damage caused by the vandals. We will continue to support them in their efforts to be stewards of their forests. They greatly appreciate your support, as well! 

In solidarity,

Mario Ardany de León, Program Officer, Guatemala