Project Name: maya nut tree project (TP064)

Location: El Petén, Guatemala

This project is being funded by Journey Latin America. Please contact TICOS if you require further information about this project, quoting its reference number 'TP064' in correspondence.

Project Status Table for TICOS Project TP064
Date verified by TICOS:	August 2009
Project costs:	Estimated project cost up to £50,000. Minimum funding sought from TICOS, £30,000.
Project timescale:	One to two years from receipt of initial funding.
Additional sustainable development benefits:	Food security for rural communities with limited resources. Poverty alleviation for communities in underdeveloped areas. Health benefits from improved diet and living conditions. Educational benefits from local schools/communities taking ownership of project development. Avoidance of rainforest destruction leads to the preservation of current habitats and wildlife.

Project Details

This project is located in the in the Guatemalan rainforest of El Petén. It is part of the 'Healthy Kids, Healthy Forests' programme established by the Guatemalan Ministry of Education and the Guatemalan Ministry of Agriculture in September, 2008. This programme is part of the 'Equilibrium Fund' whose mission is to alleviate poverty, malnutrition and deforestation by teaching rural and indigenous women about the nutrition, uses and processing of Maya Nut.

Nut plantation Nut seedlings

This project promotes reforestation by the planting of Maya Nut Tree plantations in selected areas/communities. The trees have an excellent carbon retention profile, therefore a positive climate change benefit, and also produce a highly nutritious food source. This significantly benefits the local communities that often have limited food resources.

Maya Nut is a 100% organic, non-GMO wild-harvested forest product which grows naturally in fertile rainforest soils. It is much higher in many vital nutrients including antioxidants than foods grown on farmed soils.

Each plantation is planted and looked after by local volunteers, often from the local schools, which gives significant social and educational benefits.