Scolel'te's contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
The southeast of Mexico is characterized by the presence of peasant and indigenous communities that depend on agricultural activities. Scolel'te, has visualized the need to promote the use of agroforestry systems (SAFs). These systems are based on the traditional knowledge of peasant men and women, accompanied by advances in science. They make use of the land where they combine trees, agricultural crops, with animals, in an integral and diversified way, with the objective of providing co-benefits for local communities.
Agroforestry systems have proven to contribute to the increase in food production, the supply of various products with commercial, environmental and cultural value, which generate jobs for the participants. For example, the Ixim' te (Taungya) system, widely adopted and practiced by indigenous communities, involves the establishment of forest plantations using high-value native timber species.
The diversified shade-grown coffee system allows the production of high-quality grains at a better market price, as well as generating environmental benefits through production diversification. Likewise, silvopastoral practices, such as the use of live fences and the planting of dispersed trees in pastures, allow for more sustainable livestock farming. Agroforestry systems offer additional benefits to the family economy.
Scolel'te, through its strategy for the implementation of agroforestry systems and agroecological practices, contributes to peasant families having better food, in quantity and quality.
The implementation of fruit trees, palms, basic crops, such as: corn, beans, backyard vegetables, using agroecological practices and promoting the use of local inputs, is a way of promoting food sovereignty and self-sufficiency.
Food security is focused, in terms of diversification of crops for self-consumption, contributing to improve the diet of the participants.
Scolel'te promotes environmental education and training programs to strengthen management capacity, awareness and promotion of environmental responsibility.
It partners with universities in the country to facilitate research internship projects for university students that focus on sustainable forest management. It trains, strengthens, and promotes networks of regional and community technicians involved in community activities aimed at the sustainable management of resources.
Scolel'te measures training events that contribute to local knowledge on the impacts of climate change, climate resilience, food security, medicinal use of plants, management of agroforestry systems, plot diversification, pest control, land management and gender equality.
The Program promotes the inclusion of all people in the communities. The activities are designed to consider the participation of women, youth, the indigenous population, and the elderly. All family members are invited to participate in the design and implementation of the activities.
Its purpose is that decision-making about activities is generated in a participatory way and taking into consideration the interests of the entire family unit. Also, it seeks to promote the empowerment of key groups for decision-making.
Scolel'te measures the impact on this objective, through the seasonal and permanent works derived from the implementation of activities planned and necessary for the generation of Plan Vivo Certificates (PVCs).
Scolel'te was born with the aim of promoting the development of rural communities in the context of climate change. All actions and promotion of practices, as well as productive systems, have considered a purpose of mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Multiple studies have been carried out in work areas, which show the benefits of SAF's for carbon capture and additional co-benefits.
The Planes Vivos or Land Management Plans are used to guide a low emission rural development strategy. The work of the project is recognized by environmental institutions and federal authorities in Mexico.Scolel'te measures these indicators by listing the areas under reforestation, afforestation and conservation that contribute to mitigating climate change, carbon capture and guaranteeing the supply of water in quantity and quality.
The CO2 estimates that will be mitigated through the development of different activities that are endorsed by the technical specifications and are developed and approved by the Plan Vivo Standard Technical Committee.
Scolel'te has more than 1.5 million trees planted. It develops forest management and restoration activities in 10 Protected Natural Areas in the Southeast of Mexico. In addition, it promotes community strategies for the prevention and management of forest fires.
Reduces pressure on forests by using sustainable land use planning techniques, which allow communities to be provided with alternative sources of wood and firewood, using improved agricultural techniques.
It promotes the presence of biodiversity, soil fertility, habitats and the regulation of microclimates. Species of high value for biodiversity are used and part of the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the NOM 059 of the Ministry of the Environment (Mexico), because they are threatened or in danger of extinction.
The Scolel'te Program has a long history of national and international allies to implement different activities that contribute to the conservation of ecosystems.