Since 2019, Wellkind has worked closely with indigenous communities in reforestation and conservation of natural resources. Together we have already planted over 100k trees, and have created innovative programming, involving seed saving and distribution of native trees. Our approach mixes indigenous knowledge of tree planting with modern ArcGIS technology, allowing us to track reforestation sites and survival rates using satellite mapping, resulting in a data driven and community guided program.
Deforestation is a very serious problem in Lake Atitlan, as population growth puts a strain on natural resources. In 2022 alone, "the Solola region lost 83 ha of tree cover, equivalent to 41.5 kt of CO emissions". The continued deforestation causes erosion, and it threatens to dry up the fresh water springs that communities depend on. Deforestation disrupts the hydrological cycle, leading to further destabilization of an already at-risk area.
Wellkind Guatemala planted over 50,000 trees in 2023 and carries out environmental education talks with over 360 families in the area. Through our reforestation program we partner with local farmers to plant native fruit and wood trees, as well as reforest the fresh water springs of ten different communities. As a result of this, we will be protecting the potable water sources for over 5,000 indigenous people and protecting them from the erosion that is taking place above their towns.
Local people will have more resources available to them as a direct result of this program and will have more knowledge about resource management through our environmental education. Families are receiving trees that in 5 years time will have plentiful native fruits to sell at the market and they will have more sustainable wood available for cooking fuel. We are also increasing the biodiversity and restoring the ecology of the area which provides innumerable benefits to the communities here.
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