After legal and illegal deforestation threatened the collapse of ecosystems in Guatemala, the government turned to local communities to protect forests.
For AIRES, this expectation was nothing new. They had been protecting local forests and communities for more than two decades.
AIRES believes that effective land management begins with strong communities. So far, it has helped more than 130 communities improve farming methods, protect against erosion and mudslides, build efficient stoves, plant trees, and more. Through its efforts, more than 5 million trees have been planted, 3,000 farmers have been trained, 200 nurseries created, and 860 cook stoves built.