Península de Yucatán

Regional initiatives implemented

Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (DGM Mexico)
Institutionalization of Transparency, Governance, and Benefits: A Platform to
Consolidate the Development of the Forest Value Chain at the Landscape Level in Southern Mexico (Tinker Foundation)
Our Forest, Our Future
Design of a Business Capacities-Strengthening Program in the Wood Industry in the Yucatán Peninsula (WRI Project)

Participants in the Initiative

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Local Technical Assistance for DGM Mexico
World Bank
National Forestry Commission
DGM Mexico National Steering Committee and Regional Subcommittees
Conservation International
Teachers and youth from educational institutions in Calakmul
Ejidos (communal land representatives)
Forest Investment Fund
World Resources Institute (WRI Mexico)
National Institute of Indigenous Peoples
Rainforest Alliance México
Secretariat of Economic Development of Quintana Roo
United States Forest Service
The Nature Conservancy

Purpose of the initiatives

DGM Mexico Strengthen the capacities of people who depend on forests and implement best practices across different productive sectors through REDD+, aiming to catalyze a transition toward a sustainable, low-carbon rural development model.

Tinker Foundation:Promote community business development and support the growth of community forestry enterprises to make them market-viable in the Yucatán Peninsula, through the establishment of solid business governance systems and tools, accessible via an inter-ejido (inter communal land) business platform.

Our Forest, Our Future: Build leadership capacities to foster greater civic engagement and education locally, creating conditions for young people to personally invest in their communities and build a future close to home.

WRI Project: Design and implement a pilot training program for small and medium-sized forestry enterprises from 25 ejidos (communal lands) in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico.

Reduce deforestation and expand forest conservation by promoting the restoration of productive landscapes at high risk of deforestation, and improve the economic viability of marketing agricultural and forest products managed under best practices. Also, strengthen the resilience of producers in forest and rainforest management in the face of the climate crisis.

Implementation period

DGM Mexico: 2017-2024
Tinker Foundation: 2018-2024
Our Forest, Our Future: 2016-2026
WRI Project: 2023-2024
Landscapes and Markets: 2018-2023

Type of activity / productive activity

Ecosystem restoration
Ecosystem rehabilitation
Prevention of land-use change and ecosystem degradation
Improvement of land management
Agroforestry systems
Silvopastoral systems
Ecoturism
Sustainable forest management (timber and non-timber)
Climate-smart agriculture
Processing and sale of timber products
Production of food and personal hygiene products
Education
Natural resource management

Geographical location

Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo

Value Propositions

Access to financing and markets for Indigenous peoples and local communities.
Facilitating access for youth and women without land rights to opportunities and benefits from forest management.
Promotion of commercial collaboration in timber and non-timber value chains by supporting community forestry enterprises in order to build more resilient local economies and reduce pressure on the region’s natural resources.
Identification of direct and indirect benefits in communities supported by Rainforest Alliance Mexico, as well as challenges, opportunities, and community perceptions.
Listening to the voices of Rainforest Alliance Mexico beneficiaries.
Generation of baseline information on beneficiaries for Rainforest Alliance Mexico (baseline, indicator review, etc.).
Development of young people’s skills for natural resource management.
Recovery of degraded lands (restoration and reforestation).
Strengthening of organizations (business development, marketing, and communication).
Establishment of commercial relationships and market access.
Building of alliances throughout the value chain.
Inclusion of women and youth in value chains.

National-level results

DGM Mexico

Financing for 88 subprojects (38 from the Financial Inclusion Window and 50 from the Social Inclusion Window).
3,850 beneficiaries (1,280 women and 2,570 men).
980 people trained (532 women and 448 men).
3,222 temporary day jobs generated (1,355 women and 1,867 men).
30 knowledge exchange workshops facilitated (587 participants: 191 women and 396 men).
26 young Local Community Promoters trained to support the subprojects (17 women and 9 men).
Participation of 39 people in advocacy events on REDD+ topics (16 women and 23 men).

Tinker Foundation

More than 80 beneficiaries trained in the CAF.
25 forestry producers participated in a workshop with Precious Woods and the Forest Stewardship Council to explore foreign tropical wood markets.
15 beneficiaries participated in an exchange of experiences in Oaxaca on community governance and forestry entrepreneurship.
1 exchange of experiences between Mexico and Guatemala focused on non-timber forest products, second-tier business models, and degraded soil restoration.
Identification of key links in the wood value chain that require strengthening, including entrepreneurship, investment, governance, and partnerships with civil society organizations and environmental sector institutions.

Our Forest, Our Future

Creation and adaptation of new academic programs (Forestry Technician, University-level Technician in Natural Resources, Beekeeping, and Agromatics).
Delivery of 15 training courses (psychosocial skills, forest value chain, radio, broadcasting, mycorrhiza).
Peer learning exchanges on orchid conservation and community organization.
Experiential learning opportunities for 71 young people from Calakmul to support their integration into ejido (communal land) productive chains through hands-on activities.
Direct coordination between an educational center, 10 regional forestry technicians, and seven forestry ejidos to promote youth inclusion in experiential learning.

WRI

8 training workshops on business administration
1 training manual on business administration
1 exercise booklet
2 reinforcement materials focused on community entrepreneurship (an infographic and a video)

Landscapes and Markets

7,086 people trained in sustainable landscape management (2,175 women and 4,911 men)
37 organizations improved their capacity to address sustainable landscape issues
181,391 estimated metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions reduced, captured, or avoided
4,221 people (1,326 women and 2,895 men) with improved livelihoods through monetary and non-monetary benefits from implementing sustainable landscape activities
6 brands of small-scale coffee producers strengthened through communication and marketing strategies
More than 9 million people reached through media campaigns focused on increasing the visibility of small-scale coffee, cocoa, and timber producers
4,535,326 greenhouse gas emissions projected to be reduced or avoided by 2030 through adopted laws, policies, regulations, or technologies related to sustainable landscapes
486,638 hectares under improved natural resource management
2 coffee-producing cooperatives in Chiapas certified by Rainforest Alliance
187 certified producers
431 certified hectares
Creation of the platform “Markets for a Sustainable Future” to promote commercial partnerships between responsible companies and small producers engaging in sustainable practices (52 partners, 15,365 producers improved their production practices and livelihoods, 3 commercial alliances, 194,366 hectares with better agricultural and forestry practices, 104 products)