Since September 2009 we have been collecting offsetting funds for the Maya Nut Tree project in the Guatemalan rainforest area of El Petén. The initiative has been successful in other parts of Central America, and is gradually being rolled out throughout the region.
Why Maya Nut trees? Well, aside from their excellent carbon dioxide retention properties (it is estimated that each tree sequesters around 1 tonne of CO2 over the course of 40 years), the Maya Nut Tree offers a huge number of other benefits for the local community. The nuts produced by the tree are a highly-nutritious source of food and medicine, which provides security for local people. Since the plantations are looked after by local schools, there are also many educational benefits in teaching students about the protection of the rainforest. Aside from this, Mayan Nut Trees also provide a habitat for wildlife.
The project has enjoyed great success so far; the physical work began at the start of 2010 and 2,566 Trees were planted in San Andres, Petén – where the plantation is looked after by a local school. So far in 2011, 1,414 more trees have been planted and at the time of our last update in May, 605 new trees were due to be planted in Purushilá, Petén.
Further updates will follow as we receive them, but in the meantime we would like to say a big thank you to you - our clients - for all your generous donations.