Date established: 2000

Number of trees produced (through 2010): 393,841

Program history: Deforestation has left areas of Guatemala vulnerable to the devastating effects of hurricanes, most notably Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and Hurricane Stan in 2005. Our tree nursery in Tiquisate, on the south coast, has provided14 communities with tree seedlings to plant as a barrier to soil erosion, for use as a sustainable supply of firewood, and as a source of extra income. The Tiquisate nursery concentrates on fruit tree production, and has conducted workshops to train local farmers how to graft, plant, and care for the trees. In exchange for receiving fruit tree seedlings, farmers are required to plant a number of forest trees also.

In 2006 TWP also established a new training program focused on the Maya Nut tree. Maya Nut is an extremely nutritious traditional food staple throughout Mesoamerica. It has disappeared from the south coast of Guatemala as cattle ranches and crop plantations took over the land. We are now growing Maya Nut seedlings in the Tiquisate nursery and have conducted workshops on cooking with Maya Nut. We are distributing Maya Nut seedlings to local women and encouraging them to train women from other communities to plant and use this nutritious species.