Day 14

8 m² of forest in Guatemala reforested and protected from forest fires

Protecting Forests – for People and Quetzal Protecting Forests – for People and Quetzal

8 m² of forest in Guatemala reforested and protected from forest fires
Day 14
Planting new trees and preventing forest fires with the Mayan communities

Guatemala means "land of many trees." Its biodiverse forests are not only home to howler monkeys, jaguars and caimans, but also to the legendary quetzal: a beautiful bird with iridescent green feathers. Guatemala was once the heart of the Mayan culture, one of the greatest civilizations in the Western Hemisphere. For the Mayans, the quetzal is divine; they associate it with freedom, wealth and the growth of new plants. Today, the bird is the national animal and of great importance to Guatemala. One of the areas where quetzals and indigenous Mayan communities are at home is the forested highlands of Sololá. Healthy forests provide shelter and food for people and animals, and these ecosystems are vital for both survival. They also help mitigate climate change because forests can store large amounts of CO₂, one of the most important greenhouse gases.

Planting new trees and preventing forest fires with the Mayan communities
Planting new trees and preventing forest fires with the Mayan communities
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 agriculture and fruit growing are their main sources of income. Half of the population uses firewood as their main source of energy for cooking (IDB, 2021). Therefore, the development of local communities is highly dependent on healthy forests. Guatemala is also a country of great biodiversity. Hundreds of plant and animal species are only found here, such as the Guatemalan beaded lizard and the Trichocentrum splendidum orchid. However, Guatemala has lost over 30% of its tree cover in recent decades (GFW, 2022). The main cause is forest fires, which destroy thousands of hectares of virgin forest every year. The loss of nature has a huge impact on biodiversity and local indigenous communities. Climate change and rising temperatures are exacerbating the situation: extreme weather events such as prolonged droughts and heat waves are becoming more frequent. It is urgently necessary to restore these forest ecosystems through reforestation and to protect them effectively from deforestation and fires. Only healthy ecosystems can prevent further natural disasters and support the local economy. With the help of reforestation and protection from forest fires, Guatemala can once again become the "land of many trees".

Sololá Guatemala
Day 14 Day 14 Day 14 Day 14 Day 14
The good deed

Your donation will enable the reforestation and protection of the forests of Sololá. The region is located in western Guatemala and is characterized by green, fertile mountains and one of the largest lakes in the country, Lake Atitlán. The local NGO "Vivamos Mejor Guatemala" has been working here since 1989. Together with local Mayan communities, it will grow seedlings of native tree species and plant them in the areas affected by deforestation and forest fires. The Vivamos Mejor Guatemala team wants to reforest as much forest as possible, but at least 40 hectares: a forest the size of 60 football fields! To protect the new trees and the existing healthy forests from forest fires, firebreaks will be created. Such breaks are gaps in the vegetation that serve as barriers and can prevent fires from spreading. In addition, the good deed will train and equip new firefighters to make firefighting easier and faster.

About Guatemala
Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Capital city
17,602,431
17,602,431
population
as of 2023
5,797.5
5,797.5
Gross domestic product per capita per year in USD
as of 2023
0.629
0.629
Human Development Index (Human Development Index)
as of 2023/2024

Goldfinch: The quetzal gives its name to the Guatemalan currency – in Guatemala, people pay with “quetzales”.