Help us preserve this primeval cloud forest with the indigenous Maya!
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Deep in the Guatemalan highlands where the Quiche forest Maya live, an incredible discovery was recently made: Cerro el Amay.
This mist-shrouded paradise is the largest unprotected virgin (old growth) cloud forest in northern Central America. Amazingly, this forest was completely unknown to science until recently, and exploration has only just begun. This rich and unique forest has already yielded many species potentially new to science in our first explorations. Cerro el Amay contains vast systems of caves with underground streams, stalactites, stalagmites and other cave formations. Massive sinkholes harbor unique ecosystems with unique fauna and flora. With the rich and ancient history of these Mayan lands, there is no telling what mysteries and adventures will unfold in our February-March 2015 Eco-Adventure into the heart of the forest, sinkholes and caves! You can be a part of this adventure; see the perks below!
Under the duress of economic pressure, the Quiché Maya, who have held the forest communally for generations, are beginning to not only harvest the ancient trees but survey and sell parcels of the land to support their needs. Loggers and speculators are lining up to buy, but we are fighting on behalf of the forest and wildlife. We work with indigenous communities to plant food trees, creating economic independence, and helping them to conserve and protect their sacred forest. As land rights come up for sale we are stepping in to purchase them to establish the new Cerro el Amay Cloud Forest Preserve. This will preserve the ancient forest for generations to come.
Are you ready to join us on the adventure of a lifetime?
Time is of the essence. We need your help to make this Preserve a reality.
Welcome to the team!
The CFCI Board
Who we are:
The
Cloud Forest Conservation Initiative (CFCI) is a nonprofit organization, based in the US and Guatemala, working with US-based, Conservation Imaging Inc. (CI),
a 501(c)3 nonprofit, for the preservation and conservation of the largest
unprotected Tropical Montane Cloud Forest in northern Central America. This forested jewel, Cerro el Amay, is
located in Quiché Department, in the karstic Guatemalan highlands, specifically
in the Sierra de Chama, and contains
more than 19,000 hectares (46,950 acres) of ancient, pristine cloud forest and nearly
3,000 hectares (7,415 acres) of undeveloped, second growth. This unique and sensitive habitat is home to
multiple threatened and endangered species, as well as species new to science,
and is home to several communities of indigenous Maya.
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Current Threats:
The integrity and pristine quality
of Cerro el Amay is threatened by
numerous environmental and physical impacts.
These include but are not limited to illegal logging, poaching,
encroaching slash-and-burn agriculture, road building, climate change, and
unsustainable development.
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Objectives:
- Establish a majestic cloud forest preserve in the heart of the Guatemalan highlands through direct acquisitions, land agreements, and conservation easements.
- Work in concert with indigenous communities to create sustainable economic and ecologically-sensitive development projects that will enable the communities to thrive.
- Spearhead reforestation through our Macadamia Conservation Exchange (MCE) program.
- Create a center for biological & environmental research, eco-tourism, and cultural heritage.
- Conduct biological inventories and karst/cave surveys.
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What We Need
Money and people. Our crowd-sourcing campaign funds will help CFCI:
- Identify and target parcels for reforestation.
- Collaborate with indigenous partners to implement the Macadamia-Conservation Exchange.
- Train local Mayan guides to lead their own eco-adventures in the cloud forest.
- Install greywater (domestic effluent) treatment in headwater villages.
- Conduct threatened and endangered species surveys.
- Inventory the cave system.
- Negotiate the protection and purchase of land rights.
Specifically, $12,000 USD will pay for materials to train Mayan guides in climbing/rappelling, safety training, greywater systems, environmental monitoring, trail maintenance/design, macadamia trees, hand tools, and personnel transportation costs. Any funding received in excess of our goal will be applied directly towards land preservation through purchase of land rights. We also want to see you in the cloud forest. Come and join us!
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What You Get (Perks):
$15 ~ We will give you an awesome virtual high-five and plant a tree in your honor (personalized with your name on a metal name tag) at Cerro el Amay restoration sites.
$25 ~ Yes! Another virtual high-five, a tree planted in your honor with a metal name tag, and a copy of board member Rob Lenfestey's new CD of world music.
$50 ~ Stepping it up! Now you get a virtual high-five, a tree planted in your honor with a metal name tag, and a CFCI tea/coffee mug.
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$100 ~ A round figure! You'll receive a virtual high-five, a tree planted in your honor with a metal name tag, and a cotton canvas CFCI shopping bag.
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$150 ~ Thanks! For this level of contribution you get a virtual high-five, a tree planted in your honor with a metal name tag, and a signed and glass/oak framed high resolution photograph from the cloud forest. Choices will be emailed to you.
$200 ~ Take the next step! This will award you with a virtual high-five, a tree planted in your honor with a metal name tag, and a unique Mayan weave (table runner or wall hanging). The image below is just an example of a table runner.
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$350 ~ May the forest be with you! This level of gift wins you a virtual high-five, a tree planted in your honor with a metal name tag, and a Mayan basket set made of mimbre root fibers, a species of arboreal Monstera plant that can only be found growing in the cloud forest. We are the only source of these baskets, which are hand made by Juan Chivalan and his wife, Maria at one of our Conservation Communities in the cloud forest!
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$2,500 ~ Making things happen! For this level of donation, you'll receive a virtual high-five, a tree planted in your honor with a metal name tag, and a seat on the February 27 - March 11, 2015 cloud forest eco-adventure with board members and indigenous Mayan guides. This perk can be gifted to another person in your honor.
http://inchantedjourneys.com/portfolio/guatemala-2015/
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$10,000 ~ World changer! For this level of donation, we will provide, a dozen trees planted in your honor with personalized metal name tags, and an all-expenses paid trip to the Cerro el Amay cloud forest led by one or two of our board members, as well as our friends in the indigenous communities. This trip comes with expert interpretation of the cloud forest environment.
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$14,500 ~ A gift that will endure by conserving 111 acres of virgin cloud forest! With this level of donation, not only do you receive two virtual high-fives, but we will also plant fifty trees in your name, with metal name tags on each one, but more importantly, we will be able to purchase a derecho (111 acres) to add to the cloud forest preserve now being managed by CFCI.
http://www.forestprimeval.org/land_purchase_program.xhtml
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All donations will be acknowledged on our website. All donations are tax-deductible, and all donations over $50 will receive
a vellum-parchment letter of thanks from the Executive Director of CFCI. All funds raised in this crowd-sourcing campaign will go towards CFCI and the preservation of Cerro el Amay.
The Impact
CFCI is creating a primal cloud forest preserve which is not only a biological haven, but also serves as a headwaters region for many communities and municipalities. Some lands have already been preserved through philanthropic donations, biological studies, and conservation agreements. Cerro el Amay contains many endangered and threatened species. Some of the rare species known to exist there include;
- Black-handed spider monkey,
- Guatemalan black howler monkey,
- Resplendent Quetzal, among the most beautiful birds in the world.
- Highland Guan (Penelopina nigra), and
- The Guatemalan spike-thumb frog.
- A terrestrial crab that may be new to science, living in the mountains.
CFCI's efforts will also help improve the indigenous Mayan communities, by providing the people with ecologically-sensitive economic developments. Our current developments include:
- Planting specialty crops that curb poverty--especially macadamia and cacao trees.
- Helping the Maya enroll their lands into the Forestry Incentives Program whereby they can receive a cash incentive for every year they conserve the forest.
- Improving water quality with domestic greywater treatment systems.
- Increasing local revenue from indigenous craft sales through direct marketing.
- Facilitating eco-tourism via cloud forest tours for international travelers.
Risks & Challenges
This project requires a multi-tiered effort on the behalf of the cloud forest and the indigenous people. We have to move quickly and effectively because chain saws are running, and most of Cerro el Amay remains unprotected. Together we can work to establish this region as a preserve.
Since establishing the Cloud Forest Conservation Initiative in 2009, we have made exciting progress working with communities to create new sources of income that protect and restore the endangered forests and watersheds. By focusing international attention on cloud forest concerns, we provide material and logistical force at local and regional levels and help local leaders protect the cloud forest. Our successful strategy in the management planning of Cerro el Amay includes engaging:
- Local communities and schools,
- Community organizations,
- Government agencies,
- Guatemalan universities,
- Other nonprofits and NGO's,
- Philanthropists, and
- People like you who care!
While focusing specifically on this primal cloud forest in Guatemala, it is essential to recognize that CI board members have many years of experience with successfully implementing conservation and sustainable development strategies around the world. Other Ways You Can Help
- Organize a music, yoga, or arts event in a city near you to help raise awareness. Initiate one in your community, or plug into an existing fund-raising events.
- Send out emails to friends and family.
- Share our campaign and video on Facebook.
- Help us find philanthropists and other donors to underwrite specific projects or purchase land in the cloud forest on CFCI's behalf.
- Visit the cloud forest with us: http://inchantedjourneys.com/portfolio/guatemala-2015/
- Use the Indiegogo share tools to spread the word.
- Support our teaming partners and their businesses, because they have been underwriting this project so far with private funds and micro grants.
Teaming Partners:
Video & Image Credits:
Music: Alex Caruso & Rob Lenfestey Video Editing: Alex Caruso Film Crew: Jeremy Schewe & Rob Lenfestey Still Shots: Philip Tanimoto, Rob Lenfestey & Jeremy Schewe Voice/Narration: Diane Gardner
Learn more at: