A group of indigenous ‘forest guardians’ in northern Guatemala have been hailed as an example to the world in how to look after forests.
The community in the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR) have battled deforestation and the threat of wildfires in an effort to conserve the area, while making a living through sustainable farming.
They have managed to increase forest cover in the area into a net gain of around 740 football pitches and kept forest fires at nearly zero in Central America’s largest protected area, according to Rainforest Alliance.
Community monitoring systems, fire brigades, and commitments to preventing deforestation and fires are all in place after 12 ‘concessions’ areas were granted rights to manage and make a sustainable living from the forest by the Guatemalan government in the 1990s.
The move was considered a gamble at the time, with the Unesco-recognised forest seen as a key biodiversity and wildlife hotspot and a vital ‘carbon sink’.
The success comes amid global concern about the climate crisis and forest decline, notably in the Amazon, which is facing another record-breaking fire season – with experts warning it could ‘collapse’.
But in Guatemala, despite pressure from cattle ranching, development and drug trafficking, the MBR has now seen a near-zero deforestation rate for more than 15 years, compared with rates up to 12 times higher outside the community-managed zones.
Meanwhile, locals say nearly 9,000 jobs have been generated and businesses selling products like the ramon nut, honey and all spice are doing well – with poverty rates significantly lower than in other parts of the country.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk, Bayron Hernández, who represents the indigenous community in the MBR, said: ‘We live by our commitment to give back to the forest what it has given us.
‘Forest protection is the spirit of conservation.’
Mr Hernandez, President of the Carmelita Concession — a village in the MBR — went on: ‘In Carmelita, we knew and carried out conservation activities without knowing the word “conservation”. We learned the word when NGOs came to the region, but we had been practicing it since the foundations of Carmelita.
‘When Carmelita was established, 115 years ago, our people lived from collection of xate fronds, extraction of the latex, and allspice. With the concession granted by the government in 1997, our people were empowered to manage sustainably the resources of the forest.’
He added that the implementation of forest fire prevention and having a control plan was key to the conservation success.
A spokesperson for the British Embassy in Guatemala told Metro.co.uk: ‘The Guatemalan “Forestry Concession Areas”, which are located in the MBR, are a good example of a scheme that generates environmental benefits and socioeconomic gains for local communities in return for rights to use and manage resources.
‘These are closely monitored by the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP). We have worked and continue working with CONAP, other Guatemalan authorities and conservation organizations to reduce deforestation, tackle illegal wildlife trade and create sustainable livelihoods in these areas.’
But there are fears that the area could be facing other threats – as well as deforestation and fires.
Mayan ruins in the MBR could be converted into a tourist attraction, while supply chains for sustainable timber have also been badly hit by the coronavirus crisis, according to Rainforest Alliance.
The charity’s Latin America Director, Mark Moroge, said: ‘This critical forest area must be protected as it comes under continuous threat for its abundant biodiversity and resources.
‘Known as the “Guardians of the Forest” these local people have proven methods to sustain the land, support their families and protect it for future generations’.
‘We must ensure the data and evidence-based successes of indigenous communities creating thriving, sustainable forest businesses are recognised as beacons of best practice and environmental stewardship.
‘The alternative is often deforestation and others stepping in to exploit them for short-term gain’.
Before the MBR was established in the 1990s, José Román Carrera, also from Rainforest Alliance, says he received countless death threats and attempts on his life because of his efforts to establish the reserve.
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