Reforestation

The mountain range (the Sierre de los Cuchumatanes) where we work was deforested over a hundred years ago. Though the cause is unclear, we think it was due to a combination of parasites, over-cutting, and changing climate. What once was a tropical cloud forest is now mostly fields, pasture and rocks. Seeds of Help Foundation teaches the basics of reforestation. These include collecting seeds, building community nurseries, and then distributing these seedlings to the participants of the project. We start with just a few trees each year of varieties that are hearty enough to survive at these altitudes. Each year we add a few trees and encourage the use of less wood for cooking by using appropriate technology stoves. The focus of this project is to increase awareness and to teach the people to protect their environment. We emphasize the impact on their children. These changes that individuals make can, if continued, help future generations.