Guatemala

Guatemala Water

Maps

Past Projects

Pic: Guatemala - Grevilla Seedlings.

 

Background

Guatemala is experiencing severe environmental degradation. Each year, 1600 km2 of tropical forest is destroyed. In recent years there has been a population explosion of 3.4% annual growth. Furthermore Guatemala has a history of unfair land distribution, where 2% of the population own 63% of the land. These factors, combined with a mass migration of people following the civil war have placed enormous pressures upon Guatemala’s environment. These pressures have resulted in large scale forest clearance and consequences such as soil erosion, poisoning of soils and water resources, and severe impacts on the health of local communities.

Project

SAFAD agroforestry project has evolved from a partnership with the Alliance for International Reforestation (AIRES). AIRES is an American Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) with legal representation in Guatemala. It is an environmental development organisation whose principle objective is to improve the quality of life for the poor. AIRES has been working with rural communities to initiate reforestation through agroforestry based programs for community development since 1992.

The project is funded by AIRES through various sources including the UK National Lottery Community Fund. The purpose of the project is to improve the nutritional, economic and social well-being of communities in the Chimaltenango region, in the Western Highlands of Guatemala.

The key objectives of the project are to halt the degradation of local forest resources by means of reforestation and to introduce appropriate agroforestry systems capable of fulfilling the food and fuel wood requirements of the local indigenous population. Working with local communities, AIRES field staff have identified practical programs that address community needs. This project is a direct response to the communities’ decision to manage their environment in a sustainable way.

 

 

Key achievements of the project:

• The establishment of community run tree nurseries to supply local tree species for reforestation.

• Excess stock from each nursery is then sold on the open market.

• Povide training in agroforestry management and conduct environmental education workshops with rural primary schools.

• Provide fuel efficient wood burning stoves to communities.

• Local communities play the pivotal role in decision making and implementation of the project.

Volunteer Activities

SAFAD sends up to two volunteers each year to participate in the development and extension of community based agroforestry systems and reforestation programs. SAFAD work with the AIRES ‘technicos’ to co-ordinate field surveys and design agroforestry systems. Through diagnostics and mapping the volunteers monitor established nurseries with the intention of formulating a picture of land use in the department; and to recognise appropriate agro-ecological systems. As well as agroforestry the volunteers also work with other NGO’s operating in the region through workshops to teach organics and permaculture to the communities. Other areas of work include making stoves, research and cultivation of medicinal plants.

SAFAD volunteers on this programme have usually studied agroforestry and have a masters qualification in Natural resource management. Fluency in Spanish is a necessity for the volunteer as much teaching and instruction is involved on this project.

Written by Claire Hatfield
Guatemala Agroforestry Project Appraisal Officer.