Scaling Impact in Totonicapán: Altiplano Resiliente Renews Support

We're excited to share that our community-based work in Totonicapán, Guatemala, has been renewed for another phase of support! The Altiplano Resiliente initiative is part of a broader effort led by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with financial support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and implemented in collaboration with Fundación para la Conservación de los Recursos Naturales y Ambiente en Guatemala (FCG) and national partners. This renewal is a meaningful next step for a project that has already achieved so much.

Over the past two years, the project has grown through the leadership of the Junta de Bienes y Recursos Naturales de los 48 Cantones, the dedication of local community organizations, and the daily efforts of EcoLogic's field team. Together, they've protected more than 11,000 hectares of communal forest, installed hundreds of fuel-efficient stoves, trained youth leaders, and supported women entrepreneurs, all grounded in ancestral knowledge and community priorities.

Everything we’ve achieved comes from walking together as a community.

For those involved on the ground, the news of the grant renewal is very promising. "Everything we’ve achieved comes from walking together as a community," said Fernando Recancoj, field coordinator for the project in Totonicapán, reflecting on the announcement. "It grows from building relationships and sharing responsibility."

In many communities, especially among younger participants, the renewed support feels like momentum. One youth leader, Miguel Tomas, shared that "being part of this project helped me reconnect with what my grandparents taught me about the forest. Knowing the project will continue makes me feel like we're building something lasting."

With this new phase, the project will expand its impact, deepening efforts focused on establishing agroforestry systems. The goal remains the same: to support Indigenous and rural communities as they build resilience to climate change and protect ecosystems, strengthen local governance, and create opportunities rooted in culture and sustainability.

We're grateful to all the partners who made this possible—IUCN, FCG, CONAP, INAB, Stove Team International, and local women's groups—as well as to the communities of the 48 Cantones, whose leadership continues to guide this work. And to the EcoLogic team in Guatemala: thank you for your commitment, your hard work, and your belief in what's possible when communities lead.

We look forward to what comes next.