In just over a year and a half, 36 communities, 2,200 hectares of restored land, and thousands of people have been trained, helping to shape a more resilient Mesoamerica.
Cassava plot in the community of Pla Playa, Honduras. Photos by Mario Jolón (WCS Mesoamerica and the Caribbean)
Stronger community governance: 36 communities developed climate-smart plans, and 27 organizations received technical assistance in areas such as beekeeping, agroforestry, and community tourism.
Skills and training: More than 1,900 people were trained in governance, rights, sustainable livelihoods, fire prevention, and biodiversity monitoring. Training included innovative tools like drones, participatory mapping, and digital apps.
Inclusive participation: Women and youth were central to activities, from leadership workshops to the first AgroMarket Hackathon, where young people designed solutions to strengthen local businesses.
Conservation at scale: Four major protected areas—Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras), Laguna del Tigre (Guatemala), Chiquibul (Belize), and Cerro Huexque Ecological Park (Guatemala)—were strengthened through new equipment, training, and joint patrols.
Patrols and monitoring: More than 31,600 km of land and aerial patrols were carried out, deterring illegal logging and protecting wildlife.
Wildfire control: Over 300 people were trained and equipped, and strategic firebreaks established. Several Indigenous communities in Honduras declared “zero-burn zones,” reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting forests.
Biodiversity safeguarded: Monitoring covered 10 flagship species, including scarlet macaws, jaguars, tapirs, and freshwater turtles. Eleven technical studies were completed to guide conservation action.
Community conservation agreements: Seven new agreements formalized commitments between communities and authorities to sustainably manage forests.
Restoring degraded lands: More than 2,200 hectares were restored with native species, fruit trees, and agroforestry systems, far surpassing the original target of 314 hectares.
Sustainable value chains: Local enterprises in honey, cacao, timber, and non-timber products received support, increasing family incomes while conserving forests. In Belize alone, 50 cacao-producing families planted over 13,000 trees for long-term soil and forest recovery.
Climate-smart community plans: 22 plans now guide resilient agriculture, water management, and livelihood strategies across four countries.
Climate finance foundations: A Forest Conservation and Recovery Fund in Petén (Guatemala) and new REDD+ initiatives in Belize are laying the groundwork for long-term financing.
Reaching people: Communication campaigns and social media outreach connected with more than 214,000 people across the region, sharing success stories of conservation and sustainable livelihoods.
Land rights awareness: A campaign in La Moskitia reached over 3 million people, strengthening understanding of Indigenous land tenure and rights.
Collaboration: Agreements with local governments, Indigenous councils, NGOs, and research institutions created stronger platforms for action.
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