Celebrating the Work of the Chico Mendes Reforestation Project

Post Author
Deb Schoelerman

Chico Mendes Reforestation Project is a community-run nonprofit based in the highland village of Pachaj, located in the outskirts of Quetzaltenango in northwest Guatemala. The Project began in 1998 with just three friends planting trees on the weekend. Now the mission is to protect forested lands from unjust exploitation, to reverse climate change, to empower the next generation of Guatemalans, and to stand up for local community decision-making.

Today, Chico Mendes, directed by Armando Lopez, continues reshaping the world, one tree at a time. Their team of local youth and international volunteers organize the power of hands, voices, and hearts by planting trees in the mountains of northwest Guatemala.

Members and friends of UUS have traveled 4 times in past years to work as volunteers at the Project. We continue to support them financially for special needs such as firefighting equipment, purchase of a pickup, and weed whackers for clearing brush from around the young trees.  

In addition to planting thousands of trees on the hillsides surrounding Pachaj each year, volunteers of the Project plant and protect the pinabete pine tree where the quetzal bird nests. The quetzal, the national bird of Guatemala, represents freedom, independence, and resilience, and is protected by law. Mining companies are then prohibited from exploring in the areas where the pinabete tree grows and the quetzal nests. As a result, the mountain streams, the water source for the community, are also protected. 

The pinabete tree produces seeds only every 2 or 3 years. Armando and his team are currently harvesting the seeds to be sprouted and cared for in the nursery. The work involves climbing the tree and gathering the pine cones, then extracting the small seeds to be planted.

The team and volunteers of Chico Mendes are committed to preserving our environment by planting one tree at a time, and UUS is proud to be one of their supporters.