Ecological Reforestation
Deforestation is a real threat to the health of Lake Atitlán and thus to the communities that depend on it. In 2023 alone, Wellkind planted over 50k trees. These trees are directly addressing the need for reforestation and also providing a deeper level of follow-on support and data collection than any other programs around Lake Atitlán.
Our innovative approach to reforestation ensures that all our partners and collaborators can track the success of our work. Using satellite coordinates and professional mapping software, our reforestation dashboard provides a top level view of our impact with potential for granular analysis; you can visit our dashboard here. Our team has also partnered with local municipalities to reforest lands that hold communal freshwater springs around Lake Atitlán, benefiting whole populations by protecting their potable water sources.
We partner with local families—over 360 direct beneficiaries—in our reforestation efforts. These individuals receive workshops and trees to be planted on their plots of land, benefiting them directly. The trees we plant provide them with erosion control, water filtration, carbon sequestration, nutrition, and cash crops. Beyond these beneficiaries we estimate that 4,000 to 5,000 people indirectly benefit from the clean water, fertile soil, abundant forests, and restored ecosystems which are a product of this initiative. Our main goal is to provide indigenous communities with long-term access to natural resources, supporting them to be stewards of the land.
“The reforestation program has been a huge help to my family because our land now has fruit trees that we will be able to harvest from to sell in the market or eat at home. It is really hard to find quality trees to buy in Tzununá, but thanks to Wellkind we now have 6 different species of native fruit trees that are growing quickly.” - Maria Benita, program beneficiary
Every year our Reforestation program has managed to grow and to improve the diversity of the native wood and fruit trees that we plant. The Wellkind team analyzes the ecosystem and elevational range of each planting site and creates a profile of which trees will fit best within the given microclimate. This program is not just about planting trees: it is about providing more resources to local families and restoring the ecology of the ecosystems of Atitlán. Our trees create multi-level forests that support ecosystem functions and provide economically and nutritionally significant crops on farmers’ lands.
Tree Planting
We have estimated that for every 20,000 trees we plant, we sequester more than 644 tons of CO2 each year—the equivalent to taking 139 cars off the road! In the freshwater springs around Lake Atitlán, we focus on planting tree species that clean water and prevent erosion. These lands are usually owned by the municipality and are intended to benefit the whole population by protecting their sources of drinking water.
restoring the ecological balance of the Lake atitlán watershed is key to the sustainable development of the region.
The goal through this program is to support the renewal of natural resources in the area which are currently being depleted. Wellkind aims to provide more wood, fruit, and clean drinking water to the indigenous families in these communities through the planting of native trees.
Appreciative Inquiry Four-Part Cycle
