A successful year despite difficulties

WasserWald project

Project work in 2023 was characterised by significant political changes in partner organisations and clear climate change impacts in the project regions in all three countries.

In particular, the scarcity of water resources, rising average temperatures and the increased frequency of extreme weather events place high demands on adaptation, especially in agriculture.

Here, OroVerde's measures in the WasserWald project once again made an important contribution.

Image: © Defensores de la Naturaleza

Mexico

In another very dry year, the focus has once again been on a range of forest fire prevention activ-ities. For example, the project partners cleared firebreaks to prevent fires.

Man sawing up a fir tree with a chainsaw

Image: Project workers build firebreaks in Mexico. © Pronatura Mexico

Following training, sat-ellite data can now be analysed to determine which areas should be used. To combat water shortages, existing cisterns were maintained and a new cistern was built in a joint effort. This means that the water supply for people, animals and plants can be guaranteed even in times of drought. In the Sierra de Guadalupe National Park, project workers have built barriers of dead wood along the contour lines. These slow down water run-off and are intended to prevent soil erosion.

Guatemala

A couple shows herbs from their own garden

Image: A couple in Guatemala enjoys the harvest from their newly planted home garden. © Defensores de la Naturaleza

In Guatemala, too, a wide variety of measures have been implemented. For example, a total of 15,280 tree seedlings were planted in spring areas at four locations within one year. This was done to strengthen the water balance.

Maintenance training was organised to ensure the long-term use of the 37 water systems already installed. Other training focused on cultivation, shade planting, fertilisation and improving soil fertility in the agroforestry system. The 67 'energy for-ests', planted with fast-growing plants as a source of firewood, have also developed well.

Dominican Republic

Three agroforestry systems were established in the Dominican Republic during the reporting pe-riod. More than 2,000 coffee plants are now growing here on an area of three hectares.

Image: Saplings are transported to reforestation projects in the Dominican Republic. © Centro Naturaleza

In addition, 15,000 banana trees have been integrated into the agroforestry system to provide shade, along with other plants. Despite procurement problems, it has also been possible to reforest an area of almost 8 hectares of unwooded land. These were planted with Caribbean pine, cypress and mahogany seedlings. In addition, 16 new home and family gardens were created and equipped with irrigation systems.

About OroVerde

The project enjoys a high approval rating among the population of the participating regions, as the quality of life for local people has already been noticeably improved after just a few years. Thanks to donations from Munich Re and ERGO, additional measures could be implemented, thereby increasing the positive impact. In practical terms, this means that the population is now considerably more resilient to the consequences of climate change.

More information on the project successes can be found in OroVerde's annual report