Help reforest Santa Maria Volcano, Guatemala
Donation protected
Help local environmental stewards with their reforestation efforts in the burned areas at the Santa Maria Volcano in Guatemala
Guatemala is a country of incredible natural beauty, but it’s also a country experiencing deforestation due to both direct human impact and from indirect human impact through climate change.
During the dry season, it is not uncommon to see wildfires at the mountains and volcanoes in the Guatemalan highlands. Wildfires are responsible for loss of biological diversity (fauna and flora), which contributes to climate change. It’s important to prioritize projects that restore natural ecosystems. This is one, and you can help!
The group "Explorando el Valle del Palajunoj" (Exploring the Palajunoj Valley) based in Llano de Pinal is committed to develop sustainable projects in 8 villages around the volcano. This amazing group of community mountain guides from surrounding towns uses sustainable tourism to promote conservation at the Santa Maria Volcano and offer hiking tours to the summit.
In addition to promoting interest in the local ecosystem through sustainable tourism, they are engaged in a reforestation campaign which uses only native tree species. Planting native trees mitigates the detrimental effects of climate change, maintains the biodiversity of the Santa Maria Volcano, and provides habitats for native birds, mammals, and insects.
In this project, volunteers plant native tree species in burnt areas such as pine, white pine, red pine, cherry, alder, cypress, oak, aguacatillo (a favorite of the national bird, the quetzal), Lion Hand Tree, and Guatemalan fir.
The overall objective is to plant 20,000 trees in 12 hectares (30 acres) of land by the end of the rainy season which ends in October in the plots that are affected by wildfires.
This project is 100% volunteer operated, but the materials cost money. It costs about $1 per tree to purchase seedlings and transport them by pickup up the mountain.
If we raise enough money to cover the costs of planting 2,000 trees, we will also purchase flowering plants to provide food and shelter for birds, mammals, and pollinators in this area while the trees grow to maturity.
This fundraiser is to raise the funds to reforest 10% of that area during the month of May.
Last year, Explorando el Valle del Palajunoj was successful in replanting 10,000 trees over 6 hectares (15 acres). They also have some other awesome past projects such as building a greenhouse and maintaining and promoting medicinal plant gardens. You can check them out on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/explorandoelvalle/
Your contribution to this project will mean a lot to me because Guatemala has a special place in my heart. I saw the natural beauty on trips as a teen and young adult and want future generations to be able to experience its loveliness too.
Guatemala is a country of incredible natural beauty, but it’s also a country experiencing deforestation due to both direct human impact and from indirect human impact through climate change.
During the dry season, it is not uncommon to see wildfires at the mountains and volcanoes in the Guatemalan highlands. Wildfires are responsible for loss of biological diversity (fauna and flora), which contributes to climate change. It’s important to prioritize projects that restore natural ecosystems. This is one, and you can help!
The group "Explorando el Valle del Palajunoj" (Exploring the Palajunoj Valley) based in Llano de Pinal is committed to develop sustainable projects in 8 villages around the volcano. This amazing group of community mountain guides from surrounding towns uses sustainable tourism to promote conservation at the Santa Maria Volcano and offer hiking tours to the summit.
In addition to promoting interest in the local ecosystem through sustainable tourism, they are engaged in a reforestation campaign which uses only native tree species. Planting native trees mitigates the detrimental effects of climate change, maintains the biodiversity of the Santa Maria Volcano, and provides habitats for native birds, mammals, and insects.
In this project, volunteers plant native tree species in burnt areas such as pine, white pine, red pine, cherry, alder, cypress, oak, aguacatillo (a favorite of the national bird, the quetzal), Lion Hand Tree, and Guatemalan fir.
The overall objective is to plant 20,000 trees in 12 hectares (30 acres) of land by the end of the rainy season which ends in October in the plots that are affected by wildfires.
This project is 100% volunteer operated, but the materials cost money. It costs about $1 per tree to purchase seedlings and transport them by pickup up the mountain.
If we raise enough money to cover the costs of planting 2,000 trees, we will also purchase flowering plants to provide food and shelter for birds, mammals, and pollinators in this area while the trees grow to maturity.
This fundraiser is to raise the funds to reforest 10% of that area during the month of May.
Last year, Explorando el Valle del Palajunoj was successful in replanting 10,000 trees over 6 hectares (15 acres). They also have some other awesome past projects such as building a greenhouse and maintaining and promoting medicinal plant gardens. You can check them out on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/explorandoelvalle/
Your contribution to this project will mean a lot to me because Guatemala has a special place in my heart. I saw the natural beauty on trips as a teen and young adult and want future generations to be able to experience its loveliness too.
Organizer
Sarah Molina
Organizer
Olivette, MO