Day 14

8 m² of woods reforested and protected against wild fires in Guatemala

Protecting Forests – for People and Quetzal

Planting new trees and preventing forest fires with the Mayan communities

Guatemala means "Land of Many Trees." Its diverse forests are home not only to howler monkeys, jaguars, and caimans, but also to the legendary quetzal: a beautiful bird with shimmering green feathers. Guatemala was once the heart of the Maya civilization, one of the largest civilizations in the Western Hemisphere. To the Maya, the quetzal is divine; they associate it with freedom, wealth, and the growth of new plants. Today, the bird is the national symbol and holds great significance for Guatemala. One of the areas where quetzals and indigenous Maya communities live is the forested highlands of Sololá. Healthy forests provide protection and food for both people and animals, and these ecosystems are essential for the survival of both. They also contribute to mitigating climate change, as forests can store large amounts of CO₂, one of the most important greenhouse gases.

Samuel Secaira stellt dir das Projekt im Video vor

need

Reforestation and protection from forest fires in the forests of Sololá in Guatemala

activity

The local NGO Vivamos Mejor Guatemala plants native seedlings, creates firebreaks and trains new firefighters to prevent forest fires

Measurable performance

At least 40 hectares of lost forest will be reforested and protected from fires

Result

Forests that provide home and livelihood for the Maya and their sacred quetzal are being restored and effectively protected

Systemically relevant impact

A healthy forest ecosystem provides resources for the local population, binds CO₂, prevents natural disasters and promotes biodiversity

background

Guatemala is home to 17 million people, 40% of whom are Maya (Census, 2018). Small-scale farming and fruit cultivation are their primary sources of income. Half of the population relies on firewood as their main energy source for cooking (IDB, 2021). Therefore, the development of local communities is highly dependent on healthy forests. Guatemala is also a country with great biodiversity, with hundreds of plant and animal species found nowhere else, such as the Guatemalan spiny-tailed iguana and the orchid Trichocentrum splendidum. However, Guatemala has lost more than 30% of its tree cover in recent decades (GFW, 2022). The main cause is wildfires, which destroy thousands of hectares of rainforest each year. The loss of nature has significant impacts on biodiversity and local indigenous communities. Climate change and rising temperatures are worsening the situation: extreme weather events such as prolonged droughts and heatwaves are becoming more frequent. There is an urgent need to restore these forest ecosystems through reforestation and to effectively protect them from deforestation and fires. Only healthy ecosystems can prevent further natural disasters and support the local economy. Through reforestation and protection from wildfires, Guatemala can once again become the "Land of Many Trees."

The good deed

Your donation enables the reforestation and protection of the forests in Sololá. The region lies in the west of Guatemala and is characterized by lush, fertile mountains and one of the country's largest lakes, Lake Atitlán. The local NGO "Vivamos Mejor Guatemala" has been working here since 1989. Together with local Maya communities, they will grow seedlings of native tree species and plant them in areas affected by deforestation and wildfires. The Vivamos Mejor Guatemala team aims to reforest as much land as possible, at least 40 hectares—an area as large as 60 football fields! To protect the new trees and the existing healthy forests from wildfires, firebreaks will be created. These firebreaks are gaps in the vegetation that act as barriers and can prevent the spread of fires. Additionally, through this good deed, new firefighting personnel will be trained and equipped to facilitate and accelerate wildfire suppression.