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Rainforest Alliance in Guatemala

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Sustainable Forestry

guatemala map The Rainforest Alliance utilizes certification of forest management practices and forest products to foster sound economic development, maintain long-term viability of commercial forests, and protect biodiversity. Rainforest Alliance coordinates a network of nonprofit organizations to facilitate credible evaluation, monitoring, and certification in all types of forests worldwide. Read more about our forestry program.

The following articles showcase some of the amazing work we've done in Guatemala to conserve forests and provide income for local people:

Guatemala's Certified Wood Market Goes Global
www.rainforest-alliance.org/news/canopy/can-spring-03.html

The Greening of Gibson: Prestigious Guitar Manufacturer Adopts SmartWood Standards
www.rainforest-alliance.org/profiles/documents/gibson-profile.pdf [PDF - 2.92 MB]

Sustainable Harvesting of Palm Sunday Plants (Xate)
www.rainforest-alliance.org/news/2004/news88.html

Sustainable Agriculture in Guatemala

The Rainforest Alliance conserves tropical ecosystems by improving environmental and social conditions in agriculture. Agriculture uses more fresh water than any other human activity, and chemically intensive agriculture is devastating to the environment and the people who live in it. Read more about what the Rainforest Alliance is doing to improve agricultural practices.

Photo by J. Labozzetta/Rainforest Alliance

Shade coffee farm

We've had great success in steering the banana and coffee industries towards sustainability. Below is a sampling of our accomplishments sustaining agriculture in Guatemala:

Sustainable Coffee Program
www.eco-index.org/search/results.cfm?projectID=367

PROARCA/APM: Protected Areas and Environmentally Sound Products Component of the Central American Environmental Regional Project
www.rainforest-alliance.org/programs/agriculture/ag-proarca.html

An Eyewitness Account of Certification in Guatemala, From in the Air and on the Ground.
www.rainforest-alliance.org/news/2003/news64.html

Profiles in Sustainability

Nueva Granada's Green Beans
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/profiles/documents/nueva_granada.pdf

Finca Santa Isabel's Eco-Responsible Coffee
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/profiles/documents/finca-santa-isabel-horizon.pdf

First Sustainable Coffee Cupping Event Hosted by the Rainforest Alliance
www.rainforest-alliance.org/news/2004/news87.html

Listing of Coffees from Farms Certified by the Rainforest Alliance
www.rainforest-alliance.org/programs/agriculture/shop

Coffee Crisis Hits Hard in Latin America
www.rainforest-alliance.org/programs/neocomm/newsletter/2001/july01-1.html

IADB Stakeholders Meeting Addresses Coffee Crisis
www.iadb.org/regions/re2/coffeeworkshop/synopsis_eng.htm

Sustainable Banana Growing
www.rainforest-alliance.org/programs/agriculture/certified-crops/bananas.html

Impact of Banana Production on Coral Reefs (Gulf of Honduras)
www.eco-index.org/search/results.cfm?projectID=707

Integrated Pest Management Education in the Tropics: Dissemination of Best Practices
www.eco-index.org/search/results.cfm?projectID=503

Sustainable Tourism in Guatemala

Photo by L.Abboud

Guatemalan marketplace

Tourism is the number one industry for many countries in Latin America. It can be destructive to the environment, or it can be managed sustainably. We are working to develop standards for sustainable tourism that will be used by tour operators throughout the Americas, from Alaska to Patagonia. Read more about our work in sustainable tourism.

The Mayan ruins make Guatemala a top tourist destination. Below are some examples of our work to improve tourism practices to conserve resources and protect wildlife:

PROARCA/APM: Protected Areas and Environmentally Sound Products Component of the Central American Environmental Regional Project
www.rainforest-alliance.org/programs/agriculture/ag-proarca.html

Feasibility Study, Organizational Blueprint and Implementation Plan for a Global Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council (STSC): An Accreditation Body for Sustainable Tourism Certifiers
www.eco-index.org/search/results.cfm?projectID=183

Sustainable Tourism Certification Network of the Americas

www.rainforest-alliance.org/news/2003/news79.html

Community Conservation Enterprises in Guatemala

Photo by L.Abboud

Guatemalan girl

The Community Conservation Enterprises (CCE) program of the Rainforest Alliance works to improve the quality of life in the tropics by empowering local small businesses to protect their resources and stimulate a sustainable economy. Grants range from US $500-$2,000 and fall into the following categories:

Micro-enterprise grants in the Selva Maya region (Guatemala, Belize, Mexico) that alleviate poverty and demonstrate wise land-use. The grants promote innovative conservation projects in and around Rainforest Alliance-certified lands.
Pending available funding, community-based conservation projects.
Community vigilance committees in targeted communities in the Selva Maya.

When there are available funds, emergency relief/reconstruction grants help communities rebuild after floods, hurricanes, and fires, in ways that incorporate conservation into the community plan. '

CCE grants bridge the gap that exists between large environmental lending funds and small micro-enterprise lenders who lack strong environmental criteria. In addition, by making grants rather than loans, eco-entrepreneurs and conservation organizations have a chance to reinvest for future success.

Communications & Outreach

eco-index graphic The Rainforest Alliance trains journalists throughout the tropics on conservation and environmental reporting. We also publish the Eco-Exchange bilingual newsletter and various guidebooks and hold workshops to share information and lessons learned. The Eco-Index is the ultimate source of information on real conservation projects that are taking place right now.