Sarstun, Guatemala
Background
The Sarstún River is the international border between Guatemala and Belize and is straddled on both sides by land rich in biodiversity. In Belize, the area along the river is part of the Sarstoon-Temash National Park, while the Guatemalan side is protected by the Sarstún River Multiple Use Zone. Thus far the extent of the protection and land management of the 35,000-ha Sarstún River Multiple Use Zone has been limited. The forest faces outside pressures from oil companies, agroindustry, and large land owners, as well as internal pressures of local people, including the local Q'eqchi Maya, who cut down trees for construction, agricultural land, and fuel. Deforestation near the Sarstún River causes erosion, depletes nutrients in the soil, and damages the watershed. As a result of forest loss, there have been dramatic reductions in river flows over the last 10 years.
There are 16 communities within the Sarstún River Multiple Use Zone, half of which live in poverty and another 15% live in extreme poverty. Inland, subsistence farming and working on local plantations are the main economic activities. Along the coastal areas where the Sarstún River meets the Atlantic Ocean, local people depend on small-scale fishing. However, fisherfolk in the area are not well-organized, and sustainable fishing methods are not utilized. Fisherfolk on one side of the river, the international border with Belize, are not coordinated with those on the other side to ensure sustainable practices, such as no-fish zones or closed seasons.
In early 2009, EcoLogic joined forces with APROSARSTUN, a Guatemalan nonprofit comprised of local students from a school run by Ak' Tenamit ("New Village") who are trained in community development and sustainable tourism. Through this partnership, EcoLogic is building APROSARSTUN's ability to successfully protect forests and watersheds and contribute to better land management in the entire binational protected area.
Project Description
Community consultations conducted by EcoLogic in 2007 indicated that the communities' priorities are to restore and protect forests and surface water sources and to enhance livelihood prospects in the area, including fishing.
The project includes three components:
- Forest and Water Protection and Conservation - construction of plant nurseries, establishment of pilot agroforestry plots of almost two acres each, utilizing guama (Inga edulis), and related training to producers; construction of fuel-efficient wood-burning stoves; and construction of latrines and training in their use and maintenance.
- Institutional Strengthening of APROSARSTUN and the Barra Sarstun Fisherfolk Association - consolidation of each of the two organizations and promotion of their cooperation to support the communities of the region.
- Promotion of Bi-national Cooperation between Guatemala and Belize - promotion of a constructive dialogue between APROSARSTUN and the Barra Sarstún Fisherfolk Association in Guatemala, and SATIIM and Sustainable Harvest International in Belize, to pursue joint agreements and efforts to protect and conserve natural resources in the Sarstún River basin, on both sides of the border.
Progress
Since 2008, APROSARSTUN, with EcoLogic's support, has:
- Built a forest nursery for mahogany and cedar;
- Established five pilot (and replicable) agroforestry parcels using guama trees;
- Held seven training courses for its Management Board, including management topics such as functions of a board and decision-making, as well as other topics such as community organization and agroforestry systems;
- Engaged in learning exchanges with Belizean counterpart, Sarstoon Temash Indigenous Institute for Management (SATIIM); and
- Organized six training sessions in five communities on agroforestry and natural resource management.
Partners and Funders
APROSARSTUN (Maya Association for the Rural Wellbeing of the Sarstun Area) was established as a non-profit organization in 2008 (attaining legal status in 2009) to promote development and sustainable natural resource use in the area. Its core members are graduates of the local Ak' Tenamit school which trains students in sustainable agriculture, rural development, sustainable tourism, and Q'eqchi cultural traditions. APROSARSTUN's goals include promoting gender equality, education, and health care, building community resilience to natural disasters, and preserving culture. One distinct advantage of working with APROSARSTUN is that, as local residents of the Sarstun region, its members are invaluable leaders who will educate and mobilize their communities.
This project was made possible by the support of the Mayan Association for Rural Well-Being (APROSARSTUN), EcoLogic Development Fund, Flora Family Foundation, New England Biolabs Foundation, Prospect Hill Foundation, and Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation.