Working with rural communities throughout Guatemala the past four years* Contour Lines has:
- Designed and installed 12,996 agroforestry sites across 374 communities.
- Transitioned 3,757 hectares (9.284 acres) to regenerative land use.
- Planted 2,180,588 trees (436k fruit trees and 1,744k legume trees).
- Trained over 25k locals, over 50% women, in agriculture.
Our Objectives span the economic-environmental-social trifecta:
Economic
- Organic produce. Worker/community sustenance as well as income from sales. Produce includes both short-term (cassava, banana, taro) and long-term crops (fruit trees), all with value-adding potential such as chips, flours and ferments.
- Employment. And training for locals on the demonstration site, processing centers, and construction projects.
- Tourism. Hiking, camping, bird-watching, eco-tourism and agro-tourism.
Ecological
- Agroecology. Farming methods such as erosion control lines, cover-crops and mulching, polycultures and organic pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers.
- Ecosystem restoration. From slash-and-burn chemical corn to agroforestry systems
- Ecosystem services. Carbon sequestration, air and water purification, soil building and wildlife habitat.
Social
- Health. Supplying local, organic food improves diets and reduces malnutrition. Also, reforested landscapes reduce stress, micro-climate extremes, air pollution, etc.
- Culture. Improved food-autonomy, less dependence on foreign imports. Furthermore, locals may develop greater appreciation for their native ecosystems, and by extension for their Mayan ancestry, through the common principles of farming ecologically.
- Education. In sustainable agriculture practices (contour lines, organic fertilizers and pest control, mulching, composting etc.) through training employees, hosting workshops and guiding tours.
See ways you can Get Involved to support these objectives, or donate.
