Micro-Watershed Management in Xappér
Background
Situated near the border with Mexico, Xappér (also known as Tiak'tak) is a community in the northernmost part of the San Mateo Ixtatán municipality in the Department of Huehuetenango. It is home to cloud forests that contain a great diversity of plants and animals. Xappér is a particularly valuable region because of its location in the Pojóm watershed, where it recharges the water supply for downstream communities.
The community of Xappér consists of around 250 people, all of whom speak Maya Chuj. The primary activity for these people is subsistence agriculture. However, the need for more land for crops and cattle, as well as the need for firewood, leads to extensive deforestation in the region. This in turn leads to soil erosion and pollution of water resources and the loss of unique animals and plants.
EcoLogic is working with the Alliance and the community leaders of Xappér to conserve and restore forests in the area to protect water sources and the unique diversity of cloud forests.
Project Description
The main goal of EcoLogic's work in Xapper is to assess the quality of the provisions of the ecosystem services for the community within the two demarcated microwatersheds. If the watersheds and their natural resources prove to be valuable, EcoLogic hopes to communicate this to the Xapper community. By doing so, the results may inspire the community to invest in their water, trees, and soil by instigating an appreciation for the services these resources provide. This investment can be carried out through rational use of the resources or sustainable lifestyle practices. EcoLogic also hopes to relieve some pressure from the natural resources in Xapper by building 35 fuel-efficient wood-burning stoves.These new stoves will improve the health of the women and children who traditionally tend smoky open-pit fires and decrease the rapid degradation of critical tropical forests.
Progress
EcoLogic has worked with community leaders of Xappér since 2006. Within Xappér, forest guards have been selected and trained to protect the community forest by patrolling for illegal logging and human-induced forest fires. These forest guards also work with community leaders and EcoLogic to determine areas to conserve in the existing forests.
In order to reduce the demand for firewood, EcoLogic has been working with community leaders to install fuel-efficient wood-burning stoves in several homes. These stoves use up to 60% less firewood, which significantly reduces the pressure on surrounding forests.
In 2009, EcoLogic and its partners were able to demarcate one micro-watershed in Xappér as well as enhance four three-dimensional models for two micro-watersheds. Also, a plan of action has been developed and a group of community members have been organized to discuss the best use of the surrounding area.
Partner
The Northern Border Municipalities Alliance is a coalition of seven municipalities in the Departments of Huehuetenango and Quiché that was incorporated in 2005 by their mayors, with support from EcoLogic, to promote forest stewardship. The Executive Committee of the Alliance oversees project execution and the chair of the Committee is its legal representative.