Bio Resources and International Development for Global Environmental Sustainability
B. R.I.D.G.E.S.
Description of Project Location:
The northern regions of Guatemala are made up of densely covered jungle were wildlife flourishes.
La Union is a small village of approximately thirty-five families and is located in the Peten region of Northern Guatemala on the shores of Laguna Perdida. La Union is a two-hour drive on poorly maintained dirt roads west of Peten's departmental capital, Flores. The community is returning refugees the government relocated after the peace treaties were signed in Guatemala in 1996.
The community is amazing! The people have very little except the basic necessities for survival and they are still extremely happy. The children and younger adults have to take time out of their days or after school to collect firewood for their cooking stoves (open fires) and water from the lake for drinking. The community of La Union has strong family structures and church services seven days a week.
The community is made up of "campecinos" or peasant farmers and they use a slash and burn technique of clearing the rain forest for fertile land. The land is planted with maize and grown for two years, were there after the nutrients of the soil are depleted and the a new section of the rain forest is used. It is estimated if more actions are not taken the Jungles of Guatemala will be exhausted of their resources in twenty to thirty years.
Current Project
La Union, Laguna Perdida Irrigation and Fertilization Project
Peten, Guatemala
Complete Proposal: Laguna Perdida
A fertilizer will be introduced into the section of land depending on the nutrients available. The fertilizer will encompass manure from the village's small chicken project and hogs. The community will develop other fertilizers through composting and other methods.
An irrigation system will be established using the lake that is located close to the community. This system will also create a municipal water system decreasing the time spent collecting water and it is to be pumped out of the center of the lake decreasing the chances of obtaining contaminated water. The irrigation system will utilize materials that exist with in the community, this will enable maintenance and innovations by the community. The community has a 5-hp water pump that is connected to 2 in PVC piping that runs from the lake close to the residential sections. From the PVC piping water is to be discharged onto a surface irrigation system using furrows to transport the water.
This project will be completed with my help through the community. A local agronomist will be hired from town to watch over and fix all plant related problems. Two individuals from the community will be hired to tend the land and organize the community. An education program will be set up for all interested in the community to learn about sustainable agriculture and to inspire new innovating ideas. A local organization in Guatemala named Fecairan will be contracted out to supervise the project and to help establish all educational programs.
The purpose of this project is to show the community other methods of obtaining fertile land exist besides the slash and burn agricultural method of clearing land. It will educate the community in other local methods of farming and give a community project. It will diversify crops, while increasing the general nutrition levels of the community diets. This project will give much needed work to some community members to increase economy, a sense of accomplishment, and will bring the people together.
Current Staff:
My name is Gared Grube; I have a B.S. in Environmental Engineer, EIT certified. I recently graduated from Colorado State University (CSU) on December 21, 2002. I have volunteered in the Peten region of Northern Guatemala in a village named La Union on the shores of Laguna Perdida. My fiancée Stephanie Schmidt is a natural resources management graduate of CSU and she is co-founder of BRIDGES.
Some of the village children playing on their soccer field.
Funding:
If you would like to donate to the Irrigation And Fertilization project or other projects you can do it through BRIDGES. I am completely voluntary and I am doing this for the benefit of the community. Contact me via e-mail at worldbridges@hotmail.comFecairan is a non-profit in Guatemala that will be assisting BRIDGES and has contact and organization information at FECAIRAN
A Section of Jungle that has been cleared and burnt.