LAKE ATITLAN RESTORATION & ECOTOURISM, GUATEMALA

Lake Atitlan Restoration & Sustainable Ecotourism, guatemala

Train Indigenous farmers in sustainable planting practices and local guides in bird watching/ nature tourism, resulting in the reforestation of the lake shoreline with local trees and plants, the recuperation of local biodiversity, sustainable food access for local families, birds, and pollinators, and an improved and environmentally responsible tourist experience. Though climate change brings an existential threat to farmers and food access, responsible stewardship of native plants allows them to adapt to a changing climate. By reforesting the lake shoreline with native plants and trees, IMAP will not only help with carbon capture, but will also contribute to a cleaner lake, greater biodiversity, and increased resilience in the food supply for humans and wildlife alike. 

THE ISSUE

San Lucas Tolimán is a majority Indigenous Maya Kaqchikel community located along the shores of Lake Atitlán. Much of the local economy is based on agriculture and tourism. However, the concentration of land in the hands of a few for monoculture farming, increased use of pesticides, and unsustainable tourist activities have resulted in environmental degradation, diminished biodiversity, and high malnutrition. Local communities are faced with the challenge of how to provide for themselves, while protecting the lake’s beauty, its biodiversity and their own cultural survival.  

THE GOAL

A successful project will result in a shoreline reforested with native trees, healthy habitats for more than a 1000 species, and a community invested in farming and sustainable tourism practices that ensure food access and the long-term well-being of Lake Atitlán.

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This project has already been awarded $7,000 by global businesses in the travel and outdoor industries! Help them achieve even more impact and get to $10,000 by the end of this year.