Sustainable Livelihoods for 100 Families

Dear GlobalGiving Supporters,

I’m writing to you today because I know you care about the families and communities we work with in Guatemala. My name is Antonio Montejo, EcoLogic’s Field Technician in Ixcan. I want to take this moment to THANK YOU for your generous support. It allows us to respond to the immediate needs of rural and indigenous families with nature-based solutions.

I'd like to share a few highlights of 2022 below:

Sustainable Agriculture

EcoLogic trains subsistence farmers in sustainable farming techniques to reduce slash-and-burn agriculture and improve food security. In 2022, we worked with community partners to establish 62.58 new hectares of agroforestry on 108 parcels and produced 40,451 plants for agroforestry.

Spotlight 1: In our work in Ixcán, Guatemala, we worked with farmers to help them establish 38 diversified parcels covering 18.48 new hectares. We produced 16,882 plants including Inga edulis, cardamom, cacao, and mahogany, in addition to corn and beans. The mahogany trees are a long-term investment strategy that can act as a “retirement account” and yield financial benefits over a 20-year time horizon. In addition, the pruning of the Inga edulis trees provides firewood, further reducing deforestation.

Spotlight 2: In our work in Sarstun, Guatemala we recently delivered the materials to establish 30 agroforestry parcels with families who expressed interest in diversifying their income. We provide materials and training and follow up with technical assistance visits. The species include madre cacao, ginger, and Inga edulis.

Financial Incentives to Conserve Forests and Biodiversity

EcoLogic works with local and Indigenous communities, advocating for their inclusion and participation in incentive mechanisms or Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs. Culturally appropriate marketlinked approaches, such as beekeeping and agroforestry production of cash crops like cardamom and cacao, can also incentivize conservation behaviors by shifting the cost-benefit ratio of engaging in activities that result in net conservation benefits. In 2022, US $132,601 was generated by communities through the sale of honey, small enterprises, and their participation in incentive initiatives.

Spotlight 1: In Ixcán, Guatemala, we have been working to train and equip new beekeepers. In 2022, we established 120  new beehives, trained 30 novice beekeepers, and continued to work with a total of 83. They produced 19,468 pounds of honey generating $25,308 in additional income for families. We also conducted 18 workshops for beekeepers and 56 technical assistance visits to increase the dissemination of knowledge and skills. See this interview with Moises one of our star beekeepers.

Spotlight 2: In collaboration with our partner APROSARSTUN in Guatemala, we have recently supported the establishment of a small revolving fund for the Fisherfolk Association of San Juan to be able to obtain low-interest loans on favorable terms to acquire sustainable fishing gear. Communities who make their living from fishing in this region are often susceptible to loan sharks who offer exorbitant interest rates of 35-40%. With our support, the community prepared the credit regulation which was then approved by the assembly of the community of San Juan and we delivered the seed capital of $6,000. So far, the community has made decisions to approve the first round of loans at an interest rate of 1.5%, during which 12 loans were granted to buy sustainable fishing equipment. When loan payments begin, the second cycle will initiate and the community will continue to invest in its sustainable development.

Thank you all for your support and collaboration! We look forward to keeping you updated on our next steps.

In solidarity,

Mario Ardany de Leon

Program Officer, Guatemala