Teaching children in Chiapas how to grow forests

How are you, we would love to share with you a month of our work as a team and let you know how the project is progressing. Unfortunately these months we have not been able to advance as we would like since donations have been slow, but even so the work and desire to work with the communities to achieve the achievements will continue without stopping us.

The Na-Bolom nursery project(s) in the border mountain region (SELVA) always gives us reasons to continue making efforts to promote the project. In these months we have managed to propagate trees of importance in the Lacandon Mayan worldview, which is the Ceiba, in addition to propagating fruit trees.

At the beginning of the semester, the high school groups prepare to collect seeds and prepare the substrate.

August 2023.

The days of visits and work were the following :

• August 1st visit to the nursery and sowing of seeds in CECyT.
• August 2 accompaniment to the Benemérito technical secondary school.
• August 3 accompaniment to Roberto Barrios' Cobach to remove and rearrange trees.
• August 4, spaces that donate tetrapack to us were visited.
• August 5th departure to three lagoons
• August 7, during the previous visit to the technical secondary school, they were told certain activities to carry out. On this date, I arrived to review the progress, but they did not carry out the activities in addition to the fact that the mesh suffered a tear.
• On August 8, the students of Emiliano Zapata's Cobach were visited in their homes since they protected the trees on vacation.
• On August 9, the CECyT was visited, during this activity the infestation of caterpillars in the beds was detected.
• August 10, accompaniment to Roberto neighborhoods' Cobach with Tamarindo transplant activities.
• August 11, the activity on this date is to remove and expel pests from the CECyT nursery.
• August 12 departure to three lagoons.
• August 14, the rearrangement and elimination of the pest that affects the CECyT nursery continued.
• On August 15, the Tres Lagunas nursery was visited, on this occasion Don Pablo was asked to donate land with the intention of giving it to other spaces.
• August 16 continue with the reception and collection of tetrapack.
• On August 17, the CECyT nursery was visited for irrigation purposes.
• August 18 accompaniment and documentation check to the social service provider.
• August 21, in the CECyT nursery, fumigant prepared by the institution's own students was applied.
• On August 22, the Benemérito high school nursery was visited for irrigation purposes.
• On August 23, the CECyT nursery was visited for the purpose of irrigation and pest monitoring.
• August 24, departure to Cobach de Zamora Pico de Oro for a meeting with the director.
• August 25, departure to Tres Lagunas for a meeting with Don Pabló to schedule reforestation.
• From the 28th to the 31st, the three Cobach plants will be visited with the intention of reinforcing the link and continuity of the school nurseries.

The general activities carried out at each Cobach headquarters are the following:

-          Seed collection.

-          Soil collection.

-          Sort the plants.

-          Nursery maintenance.

-          Watering and weeding plants.

-          Collection trails.

-          Weeding the nursery area.

-          Assistance to service providers.

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Plant a tree, resistance, and fight .

By Roxana Gómez - Na Bolom Climate Change Program.

September 3, 2023

I'll tell you what we went through during these months in our work within the Na Bolom nursery. As you know, the rainy season in Chiapas is in the months of June, July and August, which is why we generate reforestation campaigns on these dates with the intention that the donated plants can survive and persevere until the next rains.

Various communities approached us to request donations of trees, to mention: Chamula, Zinacantán, Huixtán, Oxchuc, Ocosingo, Chanal, among other communities. In total, more than 10,000 native and biologically important trees were delivered for the restoration and conservation of forests.

trees took place in the spaces established by the beneficiaries. The communities, as is well known, are always grateful and on each outing they welcomed us with great joy, sharing what they harvest from their plots.

Many of the reforestations focused on preserving their forests for future generations, and they also recognize that logging causes changes in climate and lack of water. This excites us because the need to have green spaces in communities is beginning to spread throughout the communities. regions where we managed to reach through this project of which you are part by donating.

But it is not the time to get complacent since the change in land use and the needs of the communities continue to persist and therefore our work has to be intensified, teaching and learning about sustainable forest management and the importance of reforesting forest areas. grades.

The best way to support us is to become a monthly donor.

Let our volunteers tell you about the project

By Citlali Jaqueline Jiménez Cañada – Practitioner.

September 2, 2023

My name is Citlali Jaqueline Jiménez Cañada, and I will tell you that during the months of May to June I carried out several activities, where the result of what I learned in the area of the Climate Change Program (PCC) was demonstrated, in which Many people, but only three are responsible for this area, do everything possible to ensure that the objectives of (PCC) are met, since the objective has to promote environmental education, awareness through reforestation projects, creation of community nurseries. and school nurseries, rescue of endemic species, training, recovery of traditional techniques, recycling, all with a sustainability focus.

Through them I was able to understand that they have a very important value when planting each tree, since it takes a lot of effort, time, patience, perseverance and above all love for the trees, since it is considered that they also feel and perceive who touches them or They look in a good or bad way, care is not very different from one species of tree to another, the growth of each tree is different since it is observed that the pine takes a long time during its development stage; The aile is one of the most successful trees since its germination, a rapid development process and the ones that are most in demand when donated.

My arrival was achieved through the Universidad Tecnológica de la Selva, where they carried out several reforestation activities. It was also possible to observe that they collect the seeds either inside or outside the city and it is a task that requires a lot of time to find seeds. that they are ready for germination, not only do you choose seeds, you also choose stems to be cut into cuttings and can be introduced into the substrate. Regarding the preparation of the substrate, everything that is added must be of quality; such as the food waste that was added, that is, they are not malignant so as not to affect their growth, also adding worms so that what stimulates the activity of the microorganisms and the plants are successful in their growth. The activities carried out were fundamental for life on our planet, in addition to comforting our eyes with beautiful landscapes, they produce oxygen and clean the air, capture water, and help combat climate change.

Challenges of a goal for a better future

By Victor Sánchez–director of the Na Bolom Climate Change Program.

September 3, 2023

Unfortunately, in this season that we are telling you about, the donations were not so frequent and this reflects that the established financing goal has not yet been achieved, but this has not stopped the continuity of the project.

On this occasion our arrival in Naha focused on recovering seeds from the copal tree, this tree is biologically and culturally important, with this we are diversifying the seed bank, in addition to generating bird watching transects, which is why your support is necessary to achieve greater results in the Naha seed bank.

Despite everything, the seed bank project continues to advance, unfortunately the needs are changing as the project progresses, in addition to the social situation of the environment affecting the desired goal, therefore with everyone's support we will be able to surpass these challenges.

Meanwhile, the Na Bolom nursery and seed bank and those in the jungle region continue to grow. And this is thanks to those responsible for the project; This is why we can move forward. And they always develop activities to strengthen the space. In addition, the nursery generates a space for sharing local and external knowledge for the benefit of the environment.

As in the previous quarter we worked in the communities of Zinacantán, El Carrizalito and this time Ocosingo and Chanal joined with different groups in each community. The participation of each work group motivates us to move forward in addition to emphasizing the difficulty of working with different ages of the population, it is not that easy; since each community need generates different ways of working and that one methodology is not the same as the one applied to another. For this reason, the project is changing and even more so when new spaces and new ideas come together.

Whats Next?

• Continue collecting seeds to proceed with germination and expand the types of seeds collected, generating greater preservation of local seeds.
• Build the new nurseries that the spaces are requesting from us
• Visit the communities of the Lacandon jungle to install an additional seed bank with warm climate plants and follow up on the one that already exists in the Lacandon Community of Naha. And generate new spaces surrounding these to generate more impacts in the region.
• Claim the local knowledge of the participants of the jungle seed banks held in the jungle schools.

Para hacer esto, debemos garantizar los salarios de los empleados y recaudar fondos para gastos de viaje y transferencia. Necesitamos lograr nuestro objetivo de $ 5,000 USD, de lo contrario, el proyecto sufrirá y el progreso será más lento y corremos el riesgo de estropear las semillas que ya se han recolectado, así como desalentar los procesos con los grupos de trabajo y lo sabemos con podemos contar con usted para lograr este nuevo objetivo. Gracias a ti podemos lograrlo. ¡Contamos contigo!

Unidos por la misma causa.

• Informe (DOCX)

Hello again, we love to share with you in the life of our team and the projects of the jungle. As you already know, in order to call our community process out, we have different issues to attend to that are specific to the autonomy processes of each space.

The Na-Bolom nursery project(s) in the Sierra Frontera region (SELVA) have generated sustainable results for growth during these months, especially the month of April. Since in this period the students have generated an opportunity for the project, with different individuals in each location. In addition, the studies have been generated with the intention of exposing the project in different spaces, for example, in the participation in the Bojo environment carried out in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, this has an impact on the participation of more young people. As another activity relevant to the work of each space, is having achieved reforestation distinctions. Each time the project has more areas, of which are among interests in having participation in the project.

The days of visits and work were the following :

- April 03 and 04 planning of monthly activities.

- April 5 accompanied to the Cobach by Roberto Barrios (Maintenance)

- April 6 accompanied by Emiliano Zapata's Cobach

- April 7 accompanied to Cobach de Zamora pico de oro

- April 08 to 11, accompanied by Tres Lagunas with activities to recover necessary seeds for the rest of the living, as well as workshops for volunteers for the river

- April 17 accompanied to the Cobach of Roberto Barrios

- April 18, delivery of shade mesh to the management of the Technological University of the jungle Benemérito headquarters.

- April 19 accompanied to Cobach de Zamora Pico de Oro

- April 20 accompanied by Roberto Barrios' Cobach

- April 21 accompaniment to the Cobach of Emiliano Zapata

- April 24 accompaniment to the CECyT

- April 25 accompaniment to the technical secondary of Benemérito

- April 26 accompaniment to the CECyT

- April 27 accompaniment to the Cobach of Roberto Barrios

- 28 to 30 Attendance at the fair actions for good living in San Cristóbal with the accompaniment of personnel from Tres Lagunas.

The general activities carried out at each Cobach headquarters are the following:

- Reforestation.

- Collection of seeds.

- Collection of land.

- Planting poles.

- Sort the plants

- Irrigation and weeding of plants

- Collection trails

- Weeding of the nursery area.

- Attached Google folder for full documentation from April 2023.

As you can see, the project is having an impact on a personal level, leaving traces of this project in the lives of young people who, when they leave their study centers, will take their learning and experiences with them.

Viki invites us to save the ancient mountains.

By Josefa Victoria González Hernández - teacher in Zinacantán

February 18, 2023

My experience with the continuation of the project in planting plants for reforestation has generated my new points of view. I have constantly wanted to raise awareness in my town to preserve the mountains that are part of our traditions. I still see my family and my people cut down the mountain, either for business and this generates many feelings in me, especially sadness, so this year we motivated ourselves within the group to go out and donate trees in the center of our beautiful community. The intention will be to generate empathy in our town for the production process that takes place in the nursery, in addition to making them aware of the work of the children and for their families to become involved in the participation of the nursery, as well as inviting them to plant trees to care for them. and protect them. With the accompaniment of Na Bolom's colleagues, I have begun to propose new things at home and I carry out what I have learned in my personal spaces, in addition to the fact that a part of it is paid to continue my training through the results of the process.

In the process I have learned and shared my knowledge with the Na Bolom team. At Yo'onik we apply what we have learned to expand our tree production with the support of the children. They already recognize seed collection dates and ways to protect, cultivate and transplant them. They have recovered their knowledge by naming them with the language of our the tzotzil people

The children have committed to adopting trees that each one of them has taken a tree to their homes with the intention that they have a memory of their effort.

In this walk with the project we have learned that not all of us are for everyone, we do this for the love of the environment, but this does not stop us or discourage us from continuing in our efforts to see our town green and with the intention of safeguarding our environment by preserving the traditions of respect for the environment as grandparents did.

Viki is currently studying her bachelor's degree in which she focuses on participation and development in the rural context. Despite continuing her studies, she continues to collaborate in the non-profit organization in her community, Zinacantán, where they help children complete their education by teaching them the things they don't learn in school. Yo'onik partnered with Na Bolom before the pandemic to start the tree nursery project. Since it was closed and the children started collecting seeds before the closure, Viki made her own project to take care of the seeds while the children were away. Today Yo'onik has a tree nursery and seed bank. The children are collecting seeds from the surrounding area and producing trees to reforest their community.

Help Viki continue her dream of seeing her community full of trees.

You can continue to donate to the project through GlobalGiving and become a monthly donor.

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Just follow the instructions on the GlobalGiving website.

towards community participation

By Roxana Gómez - Na Bolom Climate Change Program.

March 29, 2023

Currently, the project has achieved quite a significant impact within our social environment, since without the need to generate bureaucratic links, whether in different educational, governmental and community process spaces, they have approached our method of participatory action.

And it is not only focused on a specific region, since in both work areas these results of the impacts of the project have been observed and noted in the social context of the state in which this proposal is developed, thanks to you (donors ) is expanding.

In the highlands of Chiapas, we have increased the level of nurseries with the action of primary schools, which were interested in the development and implementation of the seed bank generation process and their germination, with the intention of motivating children in the participation in climate actions.

In this same region, the group of women belonging to the town of El Carrizalito, being these from the group of Toxtixim women, have asked us to accompany and build a forest nursery with the intention of preserving the seeds of their community as well as reforesting for use. of project.

In the same way in the jungle region, this same result has been seen since different educational spaces from different strata (middle schools, high schools and universities) have been added, with the intention of training youth in environmental education and preservation issues.

But as we are growing in this way, your support is more necessary to achieve greater results, since the installation of these spaces requires certain parameters that we are still achieving little by little thanks to everyone's donations.

Words of a teacher from the primary school participating in the nurseries in San Cristóbal; Chiapas:

“In this year 2023, we have the support of the climate change project of the Na Bolom association; Lic. Víctor Hugo Sánchez Sántiz and Ing. Roxana Gómez Hernández. There is a direct approach with the students and the support of some inputs to reactivate the school garden with the support of parents.

In a second moment, the Na Bolom project ventures into the area of the hole for the placement of greenhouse mesh and plastic, likewise with the students and parents, the tillage of the land and its improvement begin.

Currently, progress is being made within what is scheduled with the support of Na Bolom:

• Knows the names and the development of the plant species existing in the orchard and in the school garden.
• Identifies garden tools, and makes proper use of them. • Knows the techniques of organic farming. • Sows, plants, cares for, and collects plants and vegetables.

Thanks in particular for the involvement of Víctor and Roxana in the reactivation of the garden by guiding the students on its use and care, today we can speak of 80% of their achievement.” RODRIGO PATISHTAN

The best way to support us is by becoming a monthly donor.

Let our volunteers tell you about the project

By Yair del Carmen Blanco Gómez – Intern.

April 10, 2023

My name is Yairi Blanco, recently graduated from a university degree, I had the opportunity to do my professional internship at the Na Bolom cultural association, in which to be working and being part of the work team of one of the 5 projects managed by the association, was an enriching experience.

Working with the most privileged project in the area of climate change in which this project has lasted for a long time with the sole purpose of continuing to carry out social work of reforestation towards the state of Chiapas, as well as achieving its objectives, in this area it that they primarily carry out is the germination of endemic seeds of the Chiapas region.

Within the area there are multiple work roles, one of them is the process of exporting the trees for the reforestation activity, it is a fairly long task since it involves a period in which it is based on 5 steps starting with the collection of the seeds, germination process, care time, maturity process and finally the reforestation period, during the performance of this activity it is required to be under constant supervision of which for the seeds to achieve the maturity objective it is important to have them low constant care of pests that may appear, in the same way having to use fertilizers made naturally.

Being part of the team was a unique experience, many think that the work done in this area is easy, but this is not always the case, it always has certain degrees of difficulty and complexity, it is an experience that I would like to repeat without a doubt, not only for the kind and professional treatment that the manager of the area gave me together with his collaborators, but rather it is a unique experience to be constantly in contact with nature, without a doubt, nature is always unique and impressive in the eyes of those who do know how to appreciate and love it just as I was taught to do it in the area of climate change, love it, respect it and above all learn to take care of it responsibly
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The future is in the hands of the teacher who takes steps towards a better future

By Victor Sánchez – director of the Na Bolom Climate Change Program.

April 18, 2023

Unfortunately, you will have noticed that the established funding goal has not yet been reached, but this has not limited the continuity of the work in the seed bank within Na Bolom as well as in the communities participating in the project. We are currently raising funds to strengthen the mechanisms of the project to better implement the project in the Lacandon jungle and thereby strengthen the seed bank in Naha, since collection transects are currently identified, but your support is necessary to achieve greater results in the seed bank of Naha. In spite of everything, the seed bank project continues to advance steadily, but with this the needs are felt to be more constant. The economic situation in the country as a result of the pandemic and economic recessions has changed the pace of work. However, we have focused our energies on supporting the Na Bolom team without whom we could not continue.

Meanwhile, the Na Bolom nursery and seed bank and those in the jungle region continue to grow. And this is thanks to those responsible for the project; Víctor, Roxana, Marco and Pepe that we can move on.

This quarter we worked in the communities of Zinacantán, El Carrizalito and Mitontic with different groups in each community (boys, girls, women, men and the elderly). Accompaniment was given through workshops with different axes, for example: solidarity economy, self-management.

We have realized that working with different sectors of the population is not so easy; since each context gives us different ways of working and that a methodology is not the same that you can apply in other contexts. Also, in each community the situations are different, so we must adjust the project according to the needs of each place.

Whats Next?

• Continue collecting seeds to proceed to germination and expand the types of seeds collected, generating greater preservation of local seeds.
• Visit the communities of the Lacandon jungle to install an additional seed bank with warm climate plants and follow up on the one that already exists in the Lacandon Community of Naha. And generate new spaces close to these to generate more impacts in the region.
• Reclaim the local knowledge of the participants of the jungle seed banks that are held in the jungle schools.

To do this, we must guarantee the salaries of employees and raise funds for travel and transportation expenses. We need to achieve our goal of $5,000 USD, otherwise the project will suffer and progress will be slower and we risk spoiling the seeds that have already been collected as well as discouraging processes with the working groups and we know with you we can count on to achieve this new goal. Thanks to you we can do it. We count on you!

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• INFORME_GLOBALGIVING_MAYO.docx (DOCX)