How are deforestation and irresponsible forest management affecting communities in Guatemala today?
A large portion of Guatemala’s population relies on forests for firewood, water resource protection, food, building materials and medicine. The loss of these resources endangers communities and creates conflict among community members. Today, one of the biggest problems in Guatemala is the dwindling availability of potable water — it’s causing health problems and fighting amongst locals. What is the Rainforest Alliance doing to promote forest conservation in Guatemala, and throughout Central and South America? We’re promoting responsible forest management through Forest Stewardship Council certification. In addition, we are supporting forest-dependant communities and helping them to access better market opportunities and diversify their value-added forest products supply. It’s evident that community-managed forests are better at promoting conservation and reducing deforestation. How are communities benefiting from responsible forest management? The communities are able to access more
