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Riparian Reforestation Project

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The Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) has successfully embarked on a Riparian Restoration Project in San Pedro Columbia and San Miguel. The goal of the project is to prevent further clearing of the legally established 66-foot setback along rivers and restore 20% of cleared setbacks by 2013. The Riparian Restoration Project seeks to improve or maintain water quality and freshwater biodiversity by developing and implementing pilot participatory reforestation projects in the Rio Grande Watershed. In order to accomplish this goal, TIDE collaborated with community groups within these villages to establish nurseries for riparian and fruit trees that will be planted along the river and donated to farmers. This project is also a follow-up to a human impact mapping of the Rio Grande river that clearly showed that riparian deforestation was high in these areas. The Riparian Restoration Project started in July of 2009. The Project has four stages:

  • ·         Nursery development,
  • ·         Nursery maintenance,
  • ·         Transplanting of seedlings along the river, and
  • ·         Maintaining the trees.
 
As of March 2010, 5000 seedlings have been planted along the river in San Miguel and San Pedro Columbia. The reforested areas are being managed by the groups in their respective villages. Approximately 50% of the riparian areas of San Pedro Columbia and San Miguel have been reforested.    
 
This project was made possible by the close collaboration between TIDE and two community-based organizations: Xukaneb from Columbia Village led by Mr. Hilberto Co and Cac’alenel Car Sa Nima (San Miguel River Fish Watchers) from San Miguel led by Mr. Alberto Cal.
 
More than 80 community members are involved in the project. Fifty-four villagers from Columbia and thirty villagers from San Miguel have participated in the project. Each group member earned a stipend of BZ $25.00 per day, paid by TIDE and they contributed another BZ $25.00 of their time for a total value of $50.00 per day. Overall, the total value of both projects in San Miguel and Columbia was approximately $40,000.  This includes materials, transportation, services and in-kind contributions from the groups.
 
      It is expected that through communities' participation in this project, there will be an increase in the awareness of the importance of having trees along the river and, ultimately, a change in attitude and in farming practices respecting riparian forests. Expected benefits include:
 
  • Help stabilize the banks of streams and rivers
  • Help slow down the surface flow into streams and rivers
  • Serve as wildlife corridors
  • Provide nutrients to streams and rivers in the form of leaves, wood, fruits and flowers for fishes and other animals that we depend on
  • Shade the water, providing different temperature options for aquatic life
  • Add habitat to streams and rivers in the form of submerged wood and leaves
  • Provide safe and clean water for domestic use
 
Funding for this project was contributed by Machaca Hill, The Nature Conservancy, and Rain Forest Alliance.