Sustainable Agriculture Guatemala Project #52727

"Seeds of Resilience: An Indigenous Women-Led Tree

by Highland Support Project

"Seeds of Resilience: An Indigenous Women-Led Tree

Project Report | Nov 5, 2021
Update: Sustainability Workshops and Reforestation

By Ben Blevins | CEO

reforestation efforts

This past week, funding brought in by the efforts of our Summer Fellows was used to work with families to improve their fuel use habits as well as to raise awareness on sustainable practices. As pictured above, our local community members were able to receive training on optimizing fuel use for cooking and improve the overall efficiency of their stoves. Additionally, a workshop on sustainable firewood production provided the opportunity to learn how to harvest trees without felling trees. This is especially important as it allows the trees to remain as a part of the environment and provide needed ecosystem services, as well as maintains the relationship between the trees and the rest of the ecosystem on a metaphysical level. Ultimately, the goal of these efforts is for AMA to support the success of the Women’s Reforestation Initiative by working with families to improve their fuel use habits as well as raise awareness on sustainable practices.

This example from our reforestation efforts not only points to the great progress the project is making, but highlights the benefits of our small scale model. For instance, the goal of our small team of fellows is to provide networking services and develop support for local, Indigenous-led projects. This summer, our team focused on raising funds for the women of Las Campanas Nursery to increase their tree production and for AMA to complement reforestation efforts with sustainability initiatives. This small scale ultimately allows for the local women to have the most leadership in their community efforts, and for our organization to function as a resource of support.

While some larger, industrially modeled organizations may be able to provide a higher number of physical trees, our priority has always been, and will continue to be, increasing agency and empowerment in our partner communities. Yes, some organizations can have quite impressive statistics on their annual trees planted, but in doing so, they ultimately prioritize the sheer number of trees over the active involvement of the community. Furthermore, having this industrial approach to environmental projects compromises its long term sustainability as a key factor of a project’s longevity is its relationship with the local community.

Ultimately, at HSP our primary objective is to support the behavioral health of the Indigenous communities that have been historically disempowered by societal structures of oppression, and because of this, we will always ensure that our projects meet the material as well as spiritual needs of the communities. Our highest priority will always be to provide transformational opportunities for empowerment and agency for our partners -- a standard that is hard at work in our Women’s Reforestation Initiative.

fuel use efficiency

sustainability workshop

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Jul 13, 2021
Growing Change: Updates & T-Shirts

By Madison Sweitzer | Outreach Director

Jun 14, 2021
Growing Forests and Community: An Overview of the Women's Reforestation Project

By Madison Sweitzer | Outreach Director

Plant 1,000 Trees and Grow Community in Guatemala: Women’s Reforestation Initiative with the Highland Support Project

What are the root causes of deforestation in Guatemala?

The roots of deforestation and environmental degradation in the Western Highlands of Guatemala are deeply connected to colonial legacies and state violence. There is a history of violence and oppression against the Indigenous peoples of Guatemala in order to prioritize the most fertile lands for large scale, export oriented, agriculture that the state economy relies on. Additionally, the civil wars that took place in Guatemala in the latter half of the 20th century inflicted incredible violence on the Indigenous communities of the country, and as a result, many Indigenous people fled to the Highlands.

This migration to the Highlands is closely tied with deforestation in the region as the population density grows increasingly higher on limited, less fertile land. Consequently, as more land is needed to make space for agricultural production, that space often comes at the expense of forested areas in the community because food production is of course a more immediate need.

What challenges does deforestation present to our partner communities?

As a result of deforestation, our partner communities are faced with soil erosion and infertility, as well as decreased water availability and quality. Both of these consequences make cultivating food much more difficult. Furthermore, without trees to take root and prevent erosion, mountainous Highland communities are devastated by mudslides with heavy rains.

The consequences of natural disasters and food insecurity with few options for income contribute to migration out of Highland communities in search of economic opportunities and a home that is less at risk due to environmental factors.

As an organization that supports Indigenous people to live on their land, in their community, and with their culture, deforestation is evidently a critical topic to address. We are eager to build on the opportunities that the reforestation project presents.

What opportunities for change does a reforestation initiative bring?

A project addressing deforestation has the potential to bring positive change in aspects from food security to biodiversity and beyond.

Firstly, in order to bring sustainable, long term solutions, the reforestation project must be coupled with efforts to bring more opportunities for income as well as improved agricultural production. Seeing as the expansion of land for food production is one of the main contributors to deforestation in the area, it is essential that this need is first addressed so that forests are not in conflict with the community members' well-being. Therefore, the reforestation project will include workshops on sustainable agricultural methods as well as the construction of water catchment systems in local communities to increase the productivity and resilience of their own agricultural practices -- ultimately providing for better food security without compromising reforested land.

Additionally, one of the key aims of this project is to provide opportunities for Indigenous women of the communities through engaging with AMA (Asociación de Mujeres del Altiplano) and their Women’s Circles. Through these circles, women employed in the nursery are able to build a network of support and have the power to make decisions that benefit their communities, and create an increased sense of agency as they begin to see themselves as leaders and in their communities.

Therefore, while the reforestation project will surely address known environmental challenges such as preserving biodiversity, preventing erosion, and improving water retention and quality, this women-led initiative ultimately seeks to foster long term community growth through women’s empowerment while simultaneously building the communities’ resilience to climate change.

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