Guatemala For a better comunication and more development in the SMFE s
1. Guatemala Context 108,880 Km 2, 51% of the area has forest vocation, 41% forest coverage. The country is located near USA, who is the biggest bussines partner. INAB, CONAP and National Forest Program(npf) The reforestation rate in Guatemala is aproximately 18,000ha per year; but the deforestationrateisabouta 60,000ha per year. (FAO-INAB) Forest management decentralization has been strenghten by the 149 Municipal Forest Offices. The forest sector contributes with 2.6% of the Gross Domestic Product.
2. Enterprises how many and types UT Zs CHE = (Good ( Tree in maya-quiche language) Association of Forestry Community; ; 24 communityl enterprises. ASOCUCH: : 21 Communities. ACOFOP: : 22 comunity enterprises. Fedecovera: : 33 cooperatives. ASILCOM: : 27 forest committee Types: Tree Nurseries Foresters individuals and communities Communities doing sustainable forest management, which include natural forests and plantations Sawmills Carpenters and furniture industries Wood sales Professional services Firewood sales Peasant associations producing and saling non timber forest products Tourism and other environmental services.
3. How to strengthen organization of SMFEs By using a Utz Che npf alliance as a local point of Forest Connect; By distributing and collecting information for the communities by the associations and Forest Policy Round Tables; By using associations as the only way to support communities.
4. How toimprovelinks ing tomarketby SMEFs By creating an office who will develop a market intelligence for products and service of the SMEFs; By connecting the associations of SMFEs with guatemalan big enterprises; By supporting the forest trade network withtheworktogetherofthesmfes; By promoting the forest related to the SMFEs in international fairs and commercialshows; By connecting the organizations with bussines and commercial organizations, either international or national
5. How to facilitate access to financial and y bussines development By providing costumer assistance through the Forest s office; By building alliances with the financial services (banking groups, cooperatives and micro-finance institutions) and training centers; Dialog with institutional partners (INAB, CONAP, Economy Ministry) in order to increase the SMEFs participation in public policies making;
6. Plan of communication The Forest Connect Office has the responsability of developing and managing the system and knowledge base; Development of the Forest Connect Guatemala web page, includying all information about SMFEs of the partners Associations, bussines opportunities bussines and services; Design a brochure for the comunnities and SMEFs, easily tounderstandforallpeople; all Costumer assitance for the comunnities and producers;
7. System of Monitoring To appoint a Steering Comittee of Forest Connect, including institutional and associations partners, whosemainobjectivewillbe objective will be the process monitoring; The office of Forest Connect (2 people) ) has to present to the Directive Group an annual working plan and monthly report;
8. Closing remarks ForestConnectOffice: Coordinator: market intelligence and connecting the market and the services System administration: manage the informationandconstumerassistance; The Forest Connect can be sustained when the communities see the aid; then the associations can finance the process; In Guatemala Forest Connect can have to much support from the Institutionals partners; Forest Connect have the chance to beginwiththenewageofthesmefs and Community Organization;
Thanks! Muchas Gracias