La Colorada: Located in the northern region of the Peten, this area is known for its xate palm concession plants. Granted concession rights through the Forest Stewardship Council and Rainforest Alliance, this area thrives off the work of the xateros. It isn’t all about profit however. It’s about the livelihood and the people behind the plant.
Facts:
The concession model has kept deforestation under 2% each year
Most of the area consists of forest wetlands
The concession has been transitioning away from agriculture to the concession model for the past 10 years
Source: Forest Concessions in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala: A decade later
Xate helps to bring gender equality and opportunities for women in small communities
AFICC, which stands for “Asociacion Forestal Integral Cruce a la Colorada” (Integral Forest Association of Cruce a la Colorada), was established in 2012 to sustainably harvest timber from the surrounding area in the Maya Biosphere Reserve.
About two years ago, 11 women in the community got together to figure out a way to create employment opportunities for women using forest resources. Through the Climate Nature and Communities in Guatemala initiative with the support of the Rainforest Alliance, they learned how to collect, clean, and package xate to be sold to churches in the U.S.
Delmia Perez was one of these original 11 women, and has been working with xate for the past two years. Typically, men (called Xateros) go out and harvest the palms while women sort, clean, and package them in preparation for shipment to Guatemala City and then the U.S. Delmia says that “employment from xate helps all the women in the community, not just the ones that work with xate directly.”
She says that since they started selling xate, gender equality in the community has improved because it provides employment for both men and women. She is thankful for sales of xate because it brings jobs to the community, rather than forcing community members to leave the area to find work.
Milvia Rivera is 23 years old and has been working as a sorter and cleaner of the xate palms for about a year now. She says the project has benefited her greatly, and she uses the extra income for household expenses and to help pay for her school. Milvia says that the xate sales have brought gender equality to the community, because now women have a way to earn income and don’t have to rely on their husbands.
“I would like churches to know that through their purchases they’re giving us a source of income that benefits community members and their families.” Milvia Rivera 23
The Impact Xate has had in the livelihoods of the community
“I came to this community when I was only twelve years old. Since this time, my life has been dedicated to the forest. Without xate there are not many employment opportunities, so being an eco-palm producer has changed my life positively and provided income for my family.” Rodolfo Hernandez, 40
Rodolfo Hernandez is 40 years old and has been collecting xate (eco-palms) for two months. He says that “already my life has changed in just two months; the money is good and is used to buy daily necessities.” He would like the churches who buy eco-palms to know that the funds from these sales support the community of Cruce La Colorada, primarily through building infrastructure and social programs (including better healthcare and educational opportunities for youth).
Filadelfio Cornelio Charle is a leader in the community. He is 59 years old and has been working with non-timber forest products since 1976. Working with Rainforest Alliance has brought many jobs to the community and has helped protect the forest.
“The reason I am involved in this process is because of the experience I have and that I can give to the community. But most of all, is because I like working with non-timber products and protecting the forests. With my experience, I am supporting the conservation process.”
Xate is everything in La Colorada. Without it, there would be no income, no jobs, and most importantly, no livelihood.
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