The Guatemala Highlands Restoration Projects are focused on restoring the heavily degraded cloud forests in Guatemala's central mountains. The project provides jobs for communities to restore their native forest, create nature parks that can be enjoyed by communities, and provide jobs for those who need it most. This model provides immediate and long-term solutions that benefit both communities and environment.
Project Goals
plant millions of trees
restore
hundreds of hectares
provide employment to communities
ecotourism opportunities
creating nature parks
A Story of Transformation
people leaving home in search of income
loss of important cultural forest for the indigenous community
land left idle
loss of natural spring water
erosion into rivers that millions depend on
jobs and opportunity at home with family
a protected forest for the community to enjoy for years to come
sustainable and profitable agriculture
reforestation leading to water retention
clean water in the rivers for millions
From Deteriorating to Regenerating
Creating a Small Business
This team of four prepares the area for planting. The compact conditions of this area need to be broken up for the new trees to thrive. This team has become close friends through the project and together they have invested their earnings in purchasing a high quality loom.
After work they go and support their family members who are weaving traditional fabrics with the new loom and selling these fabrics to the nearby market.
This group has done this all on their own accord. The income from restoration has allowed them to create their own small business that helps the rest of their families earn an income.
A Community Coming Together to Restore their Land
Over 1,400 people have volunteered to restore this area. These are people from all walks of life, rich and poor, young and old, men and women, indigenous and latina. They have all come together to restore this area with the desire to turn this mountain into a nature park that can be enjoyed by generations to come.
This region has been hit with record high temperatures and a record amount of fires last dry season. The community sees the day to day effects of climate change in their region and is coming together to change the script.
The environmental department of Guatemala has noted the interest and is making moves to designate this area as a national nature reserve.
About Your Donation
You are donating to Restoration Era, partner of The New Horizons Foundation Inc. Your donation is fully tax deductible in the USA and is applied directly to Restoration Era's work. Thank you for partnering to create a brighter future.