Community: The Secret to Stopping Deforestation in Guatemala
The forest concessions of the Maya Biosphere Reserve have boasted a near-zero deforestation rate for 20 years.... Continue Reading
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What's at Stake
A full third of Mesoamerica is covered in lush forest, which serves as home to scores of Indigenous and local communities, iconic wildlife, archeological wonders, and abundant biodiversity. While agriculture is the backbone of the region’s economy, it also drives deforestation and climate change.
On the front lines of climate change
Prolonged droughts and frequent hurricanes are making it harder for farmers in Mesoamerica to make a living. A lack of access to international buyers and government support compounds the problem, leading some farmers to cut down forests for more cropland, while others migrate elsewhere in search of better opportunities.
Our Impact
Our community forestry work in the Selva Maya is recognized around the world as a stunning success for people and nature. We also work with certified farmers on producing crops like coffee, cocoa, and fruits sustainably.
Our reach in certification
700,000 hectares
Through our certification program, we work to improve the sustainability of 61,443 smallholder farmers, 233 farm groups, and almost 3,000 large farms across 700,000 thousand hectares. Almost half a million workers benefit from these efforts.
Data through 2023.
Protecting forests and building up communities
1 million hectares of forest managed sustainably
We worked with community forestry businesses to improve their conservation practices while achieving US$53 million in sales of forest products from 2013 to 2023. As a result, the communities conserved one million hectares of forest.
Mesoamerica
We always start by listening. We work with farmers and forest communities to develop solutions to their specific challenges—which range from a lack of investment and business skills to poor soils and droughts. Our agricultural certification program supports farmers and workers, while our forest work helps both forests and communities thrive.
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All resources for Mesoamerica
Boosting Climate Resilience and Rural Incomes in Honduras
We’re implementing climate-smart farming practices and building competitive, profitable businesses.... Continue Reading
Evaluation of UTZ Certification on Coffee Businesses in Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua
This independent evaluation study assesses the strategies and needs of coffee certificate holders (CHs), businesses that implement the UTZ standard, in Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The study aimed to understand the businesses’ experiences with UTZ implementation, the benefits they derived from UTZ, the challenges they faced to deepen engagement and how UTZ fits into the […]
Smallholder Forestry Creating Benefits at Scale: The Case of the Quiché Forestry Association, Guatemala
Guatemala is a global leader in community forestry, having devolved control over forest resources to local actors in many parts of the country. While the Maya Biosphere Reserve’s community forestry concessions are well-known, a host of smaller forest-based enterprises in other parts of the country is taking on increasing importance. These enterprises, though incipient, are […]
Youth Discover a World of Possibility in the Forest
Young people in Campeche, Mexico are looking at the rainforest with an eye toward their futures.... Continue Reading
2017-2019 Kleinhans Fellow: Megan Butler
Improving Community Forest Enterprise Governance in the Maya Biosphere Reserve This project focuses upon the social organization and governance of community forest enterprises (CFEs) in the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR) of Northern Guatemala. CFEs operating in the MBR face intense land-conversion pressure and challenges related to organizational governance. The goal is to improve the organizational […]... Continue Reading
Strengthening Our Long-Standing Commitment to Guatemala
The Rainforest Alliance is delighted to announce the appointment of Oscar Rojas as our first Guatemala country director. Rojas will head up a dynamic team to implement the Rainforest Alliance’s innovative national strategy in Guatemala. As part of his role, Rojas directs the Rainforest Alliance’s Climate, Nature and Communities in Guatemala (CNCG) initiative. After only […]