Published on www.climatecentre.org, September 2008

Reforestation Sabana Grande

August 9 2008

On August 9, the Chiquimula Branch of the Guatemalan Red Cross organised an activity to plant trees to mitigate the effects of Climate Change in the community of Sabana Grande in the Department of Chiquimula within the framework of the project "Reducing vulnerability to the effects of Climate Change in Guatemala, phase II".

In total, 400 pupils of primary school participated in this activity as well as 34 parents, 18 teachers, members of the Community Development and Water Committees and 2 representatives of the municipality of Chiquimula. Together they planted 2,000 trees of varieties that are proper to the region such as matili Reforestación Sabana Grandesguate, cedro, zapoton and palo blando or adapt well to the region in the case of neem. They also planted 80 fruit trees in order to stimulate them to take care of all trees, as they will literally receive fruits from these trees within a few years from now.

Published on www.climatecentre.org, September 2008

The inhabitants of Sabana Grande, through their leaders, committed themselves to take care of the reforested area so as to achieve the set goals: recovery of degraded areas and conservation of water sources. They protected the area with barbed wire. The owner of the land signed a certificate which states that he donated the land for reforestation.

Spanish text: Raúl García (project coordinator) English translation: Esther Barend Photos: Andrés Galvez (project member) and Efraín Ortega (volunteer) - these and more photos are available in higher resolution Financed by the National Zipcode Lottery (HERE Campaign) and the Netherlands Red Cross.