what EcoLogic is doing
EcoLogic is building on its success with agroforestry in Honduras and assisting rural farmers in other areas to adopt this environmental mode of agriculture.
With EcoLogic's help, farmers are planting a native tree species known locally as "guama" (Inga edulis) on their plots of land. Grown in rows four meters apart, the guama will provide several benefits to the land and to the crops. A leguminous plant, the roots of the guama will not only hold soil in place but also take nitrogen from the atmosphere and return it to the soil for crops to use. Its leaves will shade the soil, keeping it cooler and helping it to retain moisture, and when the leaves fall, they will serve as an organic fertilizer and mulch, returning nutrients to the soil while adding a protective layer to reduce erosion. As an added bonus, the branches of the guama may be trimmed and used for firewood in the home, reducing the pressure on remaining forests.
The combined benefits create an environmentally-friendly agricultural system that restores forest cover and increases crop yields by up to 50 percent. By using the natural fertilizer and mulch provided by guama, farmers can also save time and money.
EcoLogic has just begun this work in the Sarstún region of eastern Guatemala, where plots have been established to demonstrate the potential benefits of agroforestry systems, or agricultural methods that integrate trees and shrubs to restore the benefits of the natural environment. Tree nurseries are also being constructed to grow guama seedlings that others may plant on their agricultural lands.
Without your support, these farmers would continue to struggle to provide for their families and to deteriorate their lands in an effort to grow food. Your commitment helps real people with difficult situations to find meaningful solutions that improve their daily lives and also conserve and restore the natural environment around them.