By Diana Mai | Development Officer-Volunteer
A lot has been accomplished under the Community Reforestation in Southern Belize campaign from July 1 to December 30, 2020, which has allowed us to start 2021 with much energy and excitement. During the second half of 2020, the nursery team set a goal to propagate Ya’axché’s on-site nursery with 10,000 seedlings of high-yielding and disease-resistant tree species. According to Ya’axché’s nursery technician, Mr. Miguel Coc, this goal was met with overwhelming success; over the six (6) month period in 2020, 10,823 saplings were grown, reaching 108% of the overall output. Once the saplings were transplanted to soil bags for easy transport, they achieved a 98% growth rate and an overall 95% success rate. Thirty-four(34) species of sapling were introduced in the nursery through this exercise to support the preservation and continued propagation of selected native species - see below for the full list of species currently being grown. This effort has been monumental for the nursery and its productivity, as this six (6) month period saw total seedling production double in outputs, allowing Ya’axché to increase its customers and the farmers it works with on agroforestry and reforestation activities across the Maya Golden Landscape (MGL).
List of Species Successfully Growing in Ya’axché’s Nursery
Key: F=Fruit; C=Citrus; F-C=Fruit Citrus; T=Timber; S=Spice; O=Other Forest Species
Local farmer education and awareness was done in conjunction with the improvements to the nursery productivity. Five (5) MGL farmers were selected to receive 20 varieties of fruit, timber, citrus, and forest species saplings propagated at Ya’axché’s nursery. In addition to the saplings being delivered, farmers received a presentation from nursery technician Mr. Coc on selecting quality mature seeds, preparing seeds for germination, monitoring the germination process, and evaluating and managing plant care. The farmers were able to learn and follow the recommendations from Mr. Coc, allowing this project to be a success!
Early in 2021, sixteen (16) farmers from the MGL were invited to participate in two agroecology-based tree planting exercises, which provided an excellent opportunity for these men, women, and children to expand their knowledge and skills. The first session focused on interspersing Inga trees with fruit tree saplings, so that shade and nutrients could be provided for the fruit trees. The second session prepared the farmers to plant locally-sourced vegetable seeds within established Inga rows so that again, shade and nutrients could be provided to the vegetables. Ya’axché’s extension officers designed these agroecological plans so that proper spacing between rows was established, which is essential for the strong productivity of the fruit trees and vegetable crops. For both sessions, farmers were provided with saplings and seeds, as well as fencing wire to protect their plots from wildlife predators. This initiative, as stated by Mr. Coc, “supports farmers by providing access to saplings so that they can continue adapting the climate-smart practice and sustainable farming which leads to adequate protected management.” Through this continued training and support, MGL farmers can continue implementing productive agroforestry farms, thereby playing an integral role in sustainable landscape management which Ya’axché promotes.
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