Endemic and extinction plants are devastating the cultural and ecologic environment in the Lacandona jungle. This seeds bank will serve as a nursery base within the Lacandona Forest, promoting the protection of plants in danger of extinction. The collaboration between the recollection of seeds by women and girls will generate a synergy of local trade throughout a collaborative scheme for knowledge and economic empowerment for girls and women.
The endemic, native, medicinal plants and trees commonly used in communities for daily life, fire, construction, clothing, natural dyes and food are now in danger due to over population, changes of the way of living and deforestation. The indigenous communities of the Lacandon Jungle, especially women and girls, do not have the possibility of building economic independence. Their original way of living and traditional knowledge is disappearing with the jungle.
Our project enables the possibility of building a seeds bank of identified plants in danger of extinction which are the main sources of biodiversity in the jungle. The conservation, production and commercialization of these seeds, together, with the work of women and girls will be able to rescue plant production and commercialization of seeds within the communities. The project is based on collaborative scheme of recollecting and selling on fair trade for community nurseries in the jungle.
This project will lead not only to the formal creation of a seed bank but it will also lead to long-term production of plants for reforestation, fauna reconstruction and biodiversity and habitat recovery, at the same time educating women and providing a means of income. This project unifies the local economy and the empowerment of women and girls who belong geographically to the zone looking for a long term impact in terms of ecology, economy and culture recovering traditional ways of living.
