Country:

Guatemala

Date:

2021 - 2022

Implementor:

ACOFOP (Association of Forest Communities of Petén)

Funding Amount:

100,000

Details:

ACOFOP, with support from RRI and after a tough and accelerated political, administrative and legal process, achieved its goal of extending 3 Community Concession Contracts for 25 more years and the awarding of 2 new community forest management units (70,000 ha) in the Maya Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala, the largest block of continuous tropical forest in North America. During this participatory process between men and women, it was possible to demonstrate to the evaluators and the government, the good management and willingness of the communities to continue the process even in the face of the very difficult political, economic, climatic and health situation in Guatemala. The President of the Republic, Alejandro Giammettei, together with the representative of the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP), the Minister of the Environment, the Governor of Peten and ambassadors from the US, UK and Mexico were present at the protocol signing of the extension and awarding of the concession.

This case continues to demonstrate the contributions of Indigenous Peoples and local communities to conservation, sustainable use of biodiversity, and the generation of forest value chains worldwide. The Peten community concession model generates income, health, education, and other benefits to more than 50,000 people. Finally, this project advanced the processing of 4 remaining extensions, which would potentially add an additional 150,500 ha.