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ConForMa Project – Towards Concerted Forest Management for the Future (Selva Maya, Guatemala)

(ConForMa : CONcerted FORest MAnagement)

The ConForMa project aims to strengthen and promote the Community Forest Management (CFM) model developed over more than 20 years in the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR) in northern Guatemala. This region is home to the second largest tropical rainforest in the Americas, a key area for conservation, combating deforestation, and local development based on the sustainable use of forest resources.


Led by an international consortium comprising CIRAD (lead partner), ACOFOP, Rainforest Alliance, CATIE, CEMCA, and ATIBT, the project is funded by the FFEM (French Global Environment Facility). It is part of a scientific, community, and economic initiative aimed at consolidating and promoting the Petén community forest concession model, recognized for its remarkable achievements in conservation and local development.

General objectives

The project is structured around three main ambitions :

1. Sustain and adapt the certified community forest management (GFCC) model

Through technical innovation, improved silvicultural practices, and local capacity building, ConForMa aims to ensure the model's resilience in the face of land pressures, climate risks, fires, and market developments

2. Develop inclusive forest value chains The project supports:

  • the identification and characterization of new species from community forests,
  • the creation of Tropix technical data sheets,
  • the opening up of new markets,
  • the promotion of NTFPs (non-timber forest products) and ecotourism activities.

These actions aim to diversify community incomes, strengthen the competitiveness of FORESCOM and concessions, and promote a sustainable supply of tropical timber.

3. Promoting Certified Community Forest Management as an international model

The project is developing regional and international advocacy to highlight CCFM as an effective approach to conservation, local development, and sustainable management of tropical forests. ATIBT plays a key role in this dimension, in particular by raising the project's profile among European markets and professional timber networks.

 

Project structure

The project comprises four technical components and one coordination component:

Component 1: Forestry innovation and restoration

  • Diagnosis and improvement of forest management practices;
  • Development of biological monitoring protocols;
  • Engagement of the concession network and strengthening of community skills.

 Component 2: Inclusive value chains

  • Identification of 10 new potential species;
  • Production of 5 Tropix fact sheets;
  • Preparation of samples and commercial prospecting;
  • Promotion of NTFPs (xate, honey, ramón, pepper, etc.);
  • Development of tourism products.

Role of ATIBT:

  • Characterization of woods (Tropix);
  • Structuring of species groups;
  • Promotion to markets via mytropicaltimber.org;
  • Promotion via trade shows (CIB, World of Wood) and commercial alliances.

Component 3: Governance and land management

  • Territorial dialogue for a concerted vision;
  • Work on land pressure and changing land use.

Component 4: Regional and international networks

  • Promotion of the GFC model in the Neotropics;
  • Sharing of experiences within networks such as Bosques Modelo, TmFO, ForestConnect.

Duration, budget, and funding

  • Duration: 3.5 years (2024–2028)
  • Total budget: €5,339,151
  • FFEM funding: €2,541,634 (47.6%)
  • The FFEM grant allocated to ATIBT is €193,000.
  • Co-financers: CIRAD, ACOFOP, Rainforest Alliance, CATIE, CEMCA, ATIBT
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