Mancomunidad de Municipios Frontera del Norte

Municipio de San Pedro Soloma, Guatemala

An Overview Of Our Solution

Mancomunidad Frontera del Norte (MFN) was created in 2005, integrating 6 municipalities in northern Guatemala to promote sustainable development. Rural and indigenous families in Guatemala depend upon forest ecosystems for their livelihoods and survival, often through subsistence agriculture. In order to reduce destructive agricultural practices, MFN is working with farmers to farm more sustainably using agroforestry. The benefits of agroforestry as an alternative to slash-and-burn are widely known, but long-term uptake remains a challenge globally. To address this, MFN is implementing interrelated strategies including: the use of demonstration plots, considering a variety of agroforestry approaches, building capacity for implementation, and linking to incentives and markets.

Who is this solution impacting?

Community Type

Rural

Organization type

Nonprofit

Ecosystem (select all that apply)

Forests

Oceans/Coasts

Population impacted

6,000

Size of agricultural area

250 hectares currently

Production quantity

Corn production is 1,000 kilos per 0.5 ha.

People employed

13 (500 families participating)

Describe your solution

Agroforestry involves planting soil-replenishing trees or shrubs alongside other crops/animals. Agroforestry systems offer several environmental benefits, including: erosion reduction, nitrogen fixation in the soil, decreased use of chemical inputs, and increased forest cover. Despite ample scientific evidence demonstrating the great potential of agroforestry systems as a sustainable alternative to the overuse of slash-and-burn agriculture, the consistent and reliable adoption of such practices remains a global challenge. Grounded the belief that for agroforestry systems to be applied effectively on farmers' lands, they must address farmers' needs and be rooted in their knowledge and belief systems, MFN in collaboration with EcoLogic Development Fund is implementing a series of interrelated strategies: 1) Pilot plots and learning exchanges: reduce adoption barrier by showing farmers how it works, ideally farmer-to-farmer; 2) Variety of systems (not "one-size-fits-all"): Based on the biophysical, cultural and practical context, a series of agroforestry strategies can be evaluated and applied. In MFN, farmers are engaging in alley-cropping and beekeeping with trees; (3) Empowering community producers and families in technical capacities for the establishment and maintenance agroforestry systems; and 4) Providing technical assistance and training to link these activities with markets and/or economic incentives.

Describe your implementation

Implementation of agroforestry has included specific activities such as: - Holding meetings to assess community interest in diversified agroforestry parcels - Establishing additional tree nurseries for agroforestry species - Conducting workshops for farmers in agroforestry and alternative practices - Creating strategic plans for agroforestry with approval of community leaders - Selecting volunteer agroforestry promoters through community assemblies, chosen by their own communities for their leadership - Working with promoters to set up and maintain seed nurseries of agroforestry species - Working with promoters to create demonstration plots - Planting 250 hectares of diversified agroforestry plots with promoters, incorporating cacao into alley-cropping system with Inga edulis - Facilitating promoter workshops to teach other community members what they have learned about agroforestry and new species - Organizing learning exchanges between farmers to share agroforestry knowledge, experiences, and best practices - Conducting technical follow-up visits with promoters and other farmers using agroforestry. Similar steps were followed in the selection and training of beekeepers. In addition, there has been significant technical support provided to farmers so they can access the Program of Incentives for Small-Scale Agricultural Producers (PINPEP). PINPEP provides financial incentives to those with less than 15 ha of land who plant trees or sustainably manage forests through methods such as agroforestry. The success of this initiative has been due to the commitment and involvement of multiple stakeholders, and community organization in coordination with government institutions. Another enabling factor has been the PINPEP program. One of the main obstacles has been the change of authorities in local governments and has been overcome thanks to the participation and empowerment of community actors and institutions.

External connections

MFN works to encourage the protection and sustainable management of natural resources in the region. Its general assembly is made up of the members of the 6 municipal councils, a board composed of 6 mayors, who are the legal representatives of each municipality. Each municipality in turn has a Municipal Development Council (known as COMUDE) integrated by municipal authorities and representatives of each community through the Community Development Councils (known as COCODES). http://bit.ly/2lT5aBN Other key partners include the National Forest Institute of Guatemala (INAB) which helps provide training and guidance on the national incentives programs. The Beekeepers’ Cooperative of Southwest Guatemala (COPIASURO) produces and distributes certified fair trade Guatemalan honey to international markets. They provide training on honey production, marketing, and record-keeping. EcoLogic Development Fund, a non-profit organization headquartered in the US with a regional office in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, whose mission is to empower rural and indigenous peoples to conserve and restore tropical ecosystems. They have provided technical and financial assistance--in addition to bringing learnings from and connections to organizations such as Heifer, Fundacion Inga, and Semilla Nueva over the years.

What is the environmental or ecological challenge you are targeting with your solution?

Although Guatemala has one of the largest and most diverse forest systems in Central America, between 2006 and 2010, over 100,000 hectares/yr of Guatemala’s forest was lost (one of the highest rate of deforestation in Latin America). Rural and indigenous families in Guatemala depend upon forest ecosystems for their livelihoods and survival, often through subsistence agriculture. Persistent poverty leaves many farmers with little choice but to use their land unsustainably and with an immediate-term perspective, primarily via the use of slash-and-burn agriculture. This technique of cutting a portion of the forest and burning debris to release nitrogen into the soil has dramatic negative impacts on the environment. Using this approach, land can only be used for 2-3 years before the soil’s nutrients are depleted, requiring farmers to move to new land and cut down additional forest. It also requires extensive labor and, often, the purchase of agrochemicals to improve the soil.

Describe the context in which you are operating

MFN territory is within the Mesoamerican pine-oak forest ecoregion of Central America, which is recognized as one of the 20 biodiverse regions globally since it contains 7% of the species in only 1% of the world's area. It is located within one of the six terrestrial ecoregions of the Mesoamerican forest corridor, Central American Montane Forest and is home to one of the world's richest coniferous areas. It is characterized by its distribution in patches of isolated mosaics in the highlands of Central America. MFN territory (6 municipalities in 2 departments) covers a total of 4,280 Km2 and has a population of 233,294 inhabitants. 83% reside in rural areas and 89% are of Mayan ethnicities. It also presents some of the highest rates of poverty and malnutrition in the region. Rural poverty rates are particularly high in northern Guatemala, 67.6% in Huehuetenango and 76.9% in the department of Quiche. The local economy is based on agriculture. Monthly family income is around US$173.

How did you impact natural resource use and greenhouse gas emissions?

Because agroforestry strategies build rather than deplete forest ecosystems, they have remarkable ecological advantages. Alley-cropping with leguminous trees, has increased staple crop yields with fewer chemical inputs, and limited pressure on standing forests, thus promoting ecosystem health and biodiversity. It has also provided a source of sustainable fuelwood for farming families through the tree pruning process. MFN’s work has resulted in the direct implementation of 400 hectares of natural forest protection, 120 hectares of reforestation with native species, 40.23 hectares of natural regeneration, 250 hectares of agroforestry systems, and the identification of 10 hectares of abies guatemalensis, a fir tree endemic to the region. Local forests are home to the quetzal, pavo de cacho, howler monkeys, and several migratory birds, among other biodiversity.

Language(s)

Spanish, Maya Chuj, Q’eqchí

Water

MFN's work has included developing community-led watershed management plans. Through improved land use within the watersheds, there has been a reduction in the use of agricultural chemicals, improving water quality, as well as reduced runoff and sedimentation of water sources.In addition, water committees have been trained on the monitoring of water quality and quantity, as well as the training of community fontaneros (plumbers) on the maintenance of drinking water systems.

Food Security/Nutrition

With the incorporation of agroforestry for the production of basic grains, in addition to improved practices of the milpa system (management of pre- and post-harvest, stratified selection of native seeds) farmers are achieving better yields. Home gardens with vegetables native to each region such as sweet potato, cassava, and tree tomato, are also diversifying and improving nutrition. The production of honey has been important for 200 families, who use it for their family consumption.

Economic/Sustainable Development

This work has also focused on improving local economic and livelihood conditions. MFN support has allowed producers to tap into PINPEP incentives, which they would not have otherwise been able to access. 1) Forest protection $380/ha/yr for 10 yrs; 2) Reforestation $2,300/ha/6 yrs; 3) Agroforestry systems $1,100/ha/6 yrs; and 4) Natural regeneration $780/ha/6 yrs. The marketing of honey of 200 producers through COPIASURO allows them to obtain better prices for their products.

Climate

Agroforestry practices also lead to better adaptation to climate change of families, and more resilience to pests and infestations, such as pine beetles affecting local forests and viruses in the production of crops. Increased crop diversity, and especially native crop diversity that is more resistant to drought and climate fluctuations, provides families with a food safety net if their corn crop fails.

Sustainability

The first phases have been mostly funded by grants and municipal funds. Through slow and steady work, 500 families are now applying agroforestry practices on their plots and have the ability to access PINPEP incentives from the Guatemalan government. Long-term sustainability, with the adoption of agroforestry, will come from improved yields as families are improving soil fertility and their basic grain production, as well as cardamom, cacao, and honey not only for family consumption, but also to market surpluses in local and international markets. 200 families are producing honey and obtaining fair trade prices through COPIASURO. MFN and its partners expect to enhance this linkage to markets in coming years.

Return on investment

In the last 4 yrs approx. $600,000 have been invested between grants and municipal funds for MFN activities. Over that time, farmers and their families have accessed a total of $305,469 from gov. incentives. In 2016, beekeepers fetched about $17,000. The goal is to continue to leverage the critical mass of successes and actively participating farmers to bring on new farmers to establish agroforestry practices on their parcels and learn how to access PINPEP, with lower up-front investment. Demand is great and the potential for scaling is high. And, MFN seeks to continue increasing honey production, as well as enhancing cardamom and cacao production and access to markets to ensure long-term income and sustainability.

How could we successfully replicate this solution elsewhere?

MFN began in 2005 with 3 municipalities. 3 new municipalities have joined since then, through sharing of results obtained during the early years. 3 additional municipalities are now interested in joining (bringing the total to 9 municipalities). In order to ensure they join, MFN must focus on: 1. Finalizing negotiation with municipal governments, and 2. Investment on environmental projects that benefit them. In addition, through partners like EcoLogic, who have networks in the broader geography of Guatemala and Mesoamerica, we anticipate that this strengthened learning community and capacity building linked to financial incentives and markets will enable the expanded uptake of agroforestry practices within Guatemala—and beyond.

Overview