Time to say goodbye

The study tour 2011 is over. It’s time to say good bye to and thank everybody who participated in many ways in the study tour. It has been wonderful to share this experience with all of you.

Study tour souvenirs

In these 7 days I have learned much not only about our project partners, but also about Oikocredit members and investors and my colleagues in the region, especially Guatemala. I go back home with many thoughts in my mind: there is no perfect project but there is Oikocredit as long term partner for development. Being a social investor means creating real partnerships that go beyond financing especially in challenging times.

Study tour 2011 participants (Photo: A. Vargas)

Guatemala is a country of challenges and hard working women and men aiming for a better future for them, their families, their communities, and their beautiful environment.

One last effort

We arrived very early in Guatemala City. As hotel rooms were not ready, the conference room became the place to leave our luggage and finalize presentations.

In spite of all, all groups managed to finish on time and delivered very good quality materials. Presentations gave a good overview of the project partners visited as well as raised interesting points for further discussion.

After the closing session, a group of participants went to Antigua for the last dinner together. Once again we had a good time and enjoyed Guatemalan food and marimba music.

Culture and nature in the Maya Biosphere Reserve

Today I spent the day enjoying culture and nature in the Maya Biosphere: I will visit the ancient Maya ruins of Tikal. Tikal is located in a core zone of the reserve; where no sustainable forestry is allowed to preserve the primary forest. Because of its economic and touristic importance, the area where Tikal is located can be exploited for tourism under strict conditions.

Study tour participants on top of highest temple in Tikal

There is a clear difference when a forest is well preserved. While driving to the entrance of the archaeological area one could see some wild animals alongside the road. I saw a dead very dangerous and poisonous native snake and many colourful turkeys and other birds and animals. In the park, we spotted a female grown up monkey feeding and carrying her baby. In Tikal Park animals are not afraid of humans because nobody will harm them.

A beautiful forest

It takes almost an hour to get to plot 3 in Carmelita’s forest concession. The road becomes even narrower due to the dense vegetation and everywhere there are deep holes that make it very difficult for the pickups to get through. I hope we would not get stuck somewhere and would have to push the car.

We stopped by a Chico Zapote tree where Don Luis made a demonstration how resin is collected. The tree is not cut completely, so it can produce more resin. It was also explained the exploitation of the Chico Zapote tree follows the same harvesting scheme as the whole concession: after the plot has been harvested, it will not be harvested again until 40 years later.

1 km further we went into the forest to see mahogany “father trees”, which are mahogany trees of specific characteristics that were left in the harvested plot to provide seeds for future mahogany trees. Along the small roads, the community plants mahogany, cedar, and other secondary trees, so the ecosystem keeps its balance.


It was nice walking in the Maya Biosphere Reserve. I am glad these communities are preserving the forest while also making a living. Thanks to sustainable forestry practices future generations would also get the chance to enjoy this beautiful environment.

Would you like some gum?

The day started very early with a three hour drive to Carmelita, another FORESCOM member. Carmelita is a resident community located in the forest concession. The road is unpaved and pretty damaged, so sleeping was not an option.

Selecting xate for the US market (Photo: A. Vargas)

Upon arrival there was a presentation and a visit to Carmelita forestry facilities. I saw how Xate leaves are classified and packed to be exported to the US (the largest leaves) and The Netherlands (smaller leaves). Women are employed by Carmelita to do this job. Because the collection of Xate is not seasonal, these women have a steady income throughout the year.

Then I walked in this big room filled with squared blocks. They were made of resin collected in the forest concession from the Chico Zapote tree. The resin is boiled for some hours before it becomes gum.

When the group was invited to try the gum, I was a bit reluctant at first. But as more and more people dared, I decided to give it a try and it was worth doing it. The flavour is not something you can easily recognize. It was a smoky-woody flavour, but I could chew it as the gum I am used to. From now on, anytime I will chew gum I will remember the blocks piled waiting to start their long trip before arriving to me packaged as mint chewing gum.

Weighing gum block (Photo: A. Vargas)

Sustainable forestry in practice

Can you protect the forest if you are living far away from it? Yes, if you are FORESCOM member called AFISAP. AFISAP is located only 25 minutes away from Flores (Petén) in San Andrés Municipality and manages a forestry concession 90 km away as non-resident community. How can they do it? They organizing themselves and involve the community to manage the forest in a sustainable way.

Nubia, general manager of AFISAP

The whole concession is divided in 8 plots, with a rotation cycle of 5 years. This means that if a plot has been harvested this year, it will need to pass 40 years before the same plot is harvested again, so the forest can regenerate in a natural way.

Afterwards I visited AFISAP’s organic agro-forestry farm and eco-tourism project. They have many species like mahogany, cedar, cacao, orange trees, xate, and Chico Zapote trees. The organic farm also produces organic honing. And in the middle there is a small plantation of medicinal plants town managed by AFISAP’s women’s group.

Serving communities in the biosphere

FORESCOM is a community-based organization that provides services to its 11 members managing forestry concessions in the Maya National Biosphere. Forest concessions are licensed to communities for 25 years. According to Guatemalan law, all these concessions must be certified. Because of this communities acquire rights and obligations to manage the forest in a sustainable way.

Felisa, president of AFICC, chats with me (left) at FORESCOM facilities

After FORESCOM presentation, I visited the drying facilities and sawmill. It was the first time I saw how these look like. I learned communities can trace their timber thanks to a system of colours. To dry wood, FORESCOM uses timber rests as fuel for the ovens.

Associated communities use FORESCOM forestry and commercialization services to access international and local market opportunities. One of these communities is AFISAP, which I will visit after lunch.