Together with strong partner organisations, OroVerde is now in its seventh year of promoting socially responsible forest reconstruction in Guatemala. In the ForestValues project, native species are planted in biodiverse forest gardens to create forest-friendly sources of income with the local population.
The project ForestValues covers three areas of tropical forest in Guatemala: Sierra del Lacandón National Park, Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve and Bocas del Polochic Wildlife Sanctuary.
Forest regeneration and protection are important pillars to protect biodiversity, climate and ultimately us humans. Within the last 40 years, Guatemala has lost almost half of its rainforest area (source: dw). It is now important to steer the development in a different direction. This is exactly what we at OroVerde are doing with our partners and the local population. This is how we create forest protection that works - in the long term and in a socially responsible way!
In the second project phase until 2023, the focus will be on strengthening the organisational structures in the communities. In addition, it is important to develop alternative sources of financing so that the project can stand on its own two feet in the medium term. The ForstValue team on site also actively engages in dialogue with political decision-makers in Guatemala. Only if communities, civil society and politics pull together Guatemala's rich forests can be saved.
