CATIE and ACOFOP sign cooperation agreement for sustainable forest management actions in Petén

• Since the creation of the Maya Biosphere Reserve and the implementation of forest concessions, CATIE has participated in several processes that have contributed to consolidate community forest management as a global example of sustainable forest management.

August 9, 2022. After more than 30 years of joint collaboration between CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) and the Asociación de Comunidades Forestales de Petén (ACOFOP, its Spanish acronym), on August 4 of this year both organizations ratified their commitment to the integrated management of natural resources and, mainly, to sustainable forest management, strategic actions that have been embodied in the signing of a technical and scientific cooperation agreement.

The agreement was signed by CATIE's Director General, Muhammad Ibrahim, and ACOFOP's Executive Director, Marcedonio Cortave, who thanked the Center for its research and technical contributions, which represent support for the sustainable forest management model in Petén, Guatemala.

For more than three decades, CATIE has collaborated with different organizations, associations and institutions in Petén to promote an integral, social and technical production model that ensures the sustainability of tropical forests and promotes rural development.

As a strategic partner, the Center constantly contributes through technical and scientific assistance in training, education and governance promotion processes, as well as the generation of technological tools. Therefore, in addition to the agreement with ACOFOP, it is expected that this alliance will allow us to continue to document lessons learned, identify the potential for cooperation with more partners, promote innovation and the development of sustainable agribusinesses, among others.

In turn, during CATIE's visit to Guatemala, led by Ibrahim, Juan Carlos Méndez, deputy general director, and Julio López, national director and representative of the Center in Guatemala, participated; and Julio López, national director and representative of the Center in Guatemala, took the opportunity to share experiences on the conservation of the Maya Biosphere Reserve with other important local actors and partners, such as the Wildlife Conservation Society the Vice-Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) in charge of Petén and the Community Forest Services Company (Forescom). There was also an opportunity to meet with professionals who graduated from CATIE's Graduate School, with whom they exchanged knowledge related to their academic training and their projection in various issues in the region.

During the meetings with each of the organizations and institutions, strategic issues for the department were highlighted, including sustainable livestock farming; opportunities for joint implementation of biodiversity, carbon and coastal zone initiatives; the current situation and outlook for community forestry concessions; and CATIE's contributions to the Green Fund for Community Development as part of the Finnfor project.

"For CATIE, the department of Petén is a strategic site of great interest, since the objectives of the Center, as well as its mission and strategic instruments, coincide and are framed in the potential of this territory; thus, CATIE will be increasing its presence with a long-term vision, promoting and resuming the integral and complementary work with local partners, in addition to identifying opportunities and implementing initiatives that contribute to green and inclusive development, as established in the Institutional Strategic Plan 2021-2030," said López.