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From June 23 to 26, Guatemala hosted a field exchange under the Building Resilient Future Landscapes project, an initiative designed to strengthen Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) by fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration among participating countries. The activity brought together researchers and representatives from ITAIPU Binacional and the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the National University of Asunción (Paraguay), the Autonomous University of Chihuahua (Mexico), and the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO).
The field exchange aimed to strengthen capacities for Forest Landscape Restoration by promoting the sharing of practical experiences, showcasing field demonstration sites, engaging key stakeholders, and supporting the scaling up of restoration approaches across participating countries. Throughout the four-day program, participants explored methodologies, best practices, and on-the-ground initiatives that contribute to ecosystem recovery and enhance climate resilience.
The program began with a technical exchange involving representatives from the National Forest Institute (INAB), the Municipality of Antigua Guatemala, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN), IUFRO, the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the National University of Asunción, and ICC. Participants presented project progress in Guatemala and Paraguay, discussed Guatemala’s National Forest Landscape Restoration Strategy, reviewed the country’s monitoring system, and shared experiences in social research methodologies. The delegation also visited ICC’s Regional Forest Nursery in Parramos, Chimaltenango, where native tree species are produced for demonstration sites established within the Achiguate River watershed.
On the second day, participants visited two demonstration sites in Sacatepéquez, where they observed collaborative restoration efforts led by local stakeholders. The visits highlighted how restoration strategies are tailored to the ecological and socioeconomic conditions of each landscape. The delegation also toured ICC’s headquarters, forest nursery, and meteorological station to learn about the Institute’s scientific and technical contributions to climate resilience and ecosystem restoration across the region.
The exchange continued with a visit to the mangrove ecosystem of Sipacate-Naranjo National Park, coordinated with INAB Region IX and the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP). Discussions focused on mangrove monitoring, conservation, and restoration, emphasizing the critical role these ecosystems play in biodiversity conservation and climate resilience. Participants also visited Empresa Magdalena to learn about its restoration initiatives and attended a presentation on the South Coast Restoration Network, highlighting the value of collaboration among government institutions, non-governmental organizations, academia, and the private sector.
The final day was dedicated to evaluating project achievements and progress in Guatemala and Paraguay, with technical facilitation from IUFRO. Through participatory sessions, participants identified strengths, opportunities, and priority actions to further strengthen project implementation in both countries. Throughout the week, the exchange fostered reflection, peer learning, and collaboration, reaffirming the importance of international cooperation in advancing Forest Landscape Restoration and building more resilient landscapes for future generations.
The field exchange was organized by the Private Institute for Climate Change Research (ICC) in collaboration with the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) under the IUFRO Special Programme for Development of Capacities (IUFRO-SPDC) and InNovaSilva. The initiative was supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation (Grant No. NNF24SA0100194) and the National Institute of Forest Science of the Republic of Korea.
Office in Mazatenango:
02 avenida, 20 PB Familia, colonia Monte Libano, zona 3 de Mazatenango.
Office in Parramos:
Km 60 carretera a Parramos, Parramos, Chimaltenango
Office in El Salvador:
Sonsonate, El Salvador
