Project Grant LA196

IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICO, COMMUNITIES THAT LIVE IN TROPICAL FORESTS STRIVE TO MANAGE THESE FORESTS SUSTAINABLY AND PROTECT THEIR LAND RIGHTS WHILE FACING CONSTANT PRESSURE FROM DESTRUCTIVE PRACTICES SUCH AS ILLEGAL LOGGING. AT THE IAF, WE SUPPORT COMMUNITY-LED APPROACHES TO EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPROVING NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. OUR GRANTEE PARTNER, ASOCIACION DE COMUNIDADES FORESTALES DE PETEN (ACOFOP), TOGETHER WITH THE ALIANZA MESOAMERICANA DE PUEBLOS Y BOSQUES (AMPB) IS PROMOTING INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN FOREST COMMUNITIES BY STRENGTHENING A NETWORK OF YOUNG LEADERS FROM GUATEMALA, PANAMA, NICARAGUA, MEXICO, COSTA RICA, AND HONDURAS. ACOFOP AND AMPB ARE TRAINING THESE EMERGING LEADERS IN PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT, PROVIDING SEED FUNDING FOR THEIR COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, AND HONING THEIR COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY FORESTRY IN THEIR COUNTRIES. THIS GRANT IS PART OF THE IAF'S EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF IRREGULAR MIGRATION IN CENTRAL AMERICA.