Sierra Cuchumatanes, Guatemala

Partner

  • Mancomunidad de Municipios Frontera del Norte (Northern Border Municipalities Alliance)


Thinning forest to ensure healthy growth/S.Charchalac

In 2005 with EcoLogic’s facilitation, the Northern Border Municipalities Alliance was incorporated by a coalition of local mayors from five municipalities in the departments of Huehuetenango and Quiché. The long-term goal of the Alliance is to establish the Maya Chuj Biosphere Reserve: a protected area of 500,000 acres to be managed by surrounding indigenous communities that will extend along the northern slope of the Sierra Cuchumatanes and include the municipalities that compose the northern border of Huehuetenango. This is the region of the Cuchumatanes with the greatest remaining forest cover, highest levels of native species, and some of the greatest biodiversity in the entire mountain range.

There are 409 villages in the participating municipalities. The local population of 119,000 is made up of seven Mayan linguistic groups. Eighty percent of the population inhabits rural areas and depends upon subsistence agriculture. Sixty-five percent of the population lives in poverty, with an average family income of $65 per month.

The results described below were made possible by the support EcoLogic provides in partnership.

Results

Forests

  • Established training program for 75 voluntary community forest guards
  • Developed strategy for conservation, restoration, and management of forested areas
  • Worked with municipalities to properly demarcate areas prior to petition for protected area status
  • Created an alliance with FUNDAECO, a national environmental NGO, to design a regional system of protected areas north of Huehuetenango

Sustainable Livelihoods

  • Planted 10 community parcels with agroforestry products now ready to scale up to commercialization levels
  • Installed clean burning stoves that decrease use of fuel wood by 60% and improve respiratory conditions in the home

Community Self-Determination

  • Provided support and training to leaders advocating for community participation in local and national decision-making with respect to privatization of water resources and oil and mining concessions

Looking Forward

  • Involve additional three municipalities and 400 villages in management and conservation of communal land
  • Negotiate municipal agreement to create an integrated watershed and biological corridor that improves benefits in terms of ecosystem services
  • Help the Alliance reforest 250 acres and use 40 acres for sustainable agroforestry in order to restore degraded water catchment areas and vulnerable landscapes in and around the villages
  • Ensure that each of 75 communities sets aside an average of 100 acres for conservation to add to the Maya Chuj Biosphere Reserve
  • Assist Alliance to gain official title for community-designated protected areas

back to top