Mapping Priority Areas for Forest Landscape Restoration and Improvement of Rural Community Livelihoods in Guatemala's San Marcos Highlands

Mapping Priority Areas for Forest Landscape Restoration and Improvement of Rural Community Livelihoods in Guatemala's San Marcos Highlands

background

This study maps priority areas for forest landscape restoration in three watershades of south-western Guatemala. This rural region has received attention from local government and international socio-economic development projects.

Research Goals & Methods

This study used GIS and Multi-criteria decision analysis to generate maps. These tools enabled the integration of a wide variety of complex information to evaluate different contexts and dynamics of the landscape.

Conclusions & Takeaways

The authors point out the fundamental role that that these geographic analysis tools have in supporting the decision-making process of landscape-scale restoration projects, especially in developing countries. The analysis process resulted in maps and charts that indicate the areas (location and size) according to their degree of priority (green = low, yellow = red = medium and high). The maps revealed spatial patterns of land use directly related to the dynamics between livelihoods and biophysics of the landscape. The authors note that the success of any restoration plan will depend on the participation of local community groups and the formation of strategic alliances with external organizations and government sectors. The plan must recognize the inhabitants of watersheds and the importance of cultural diversity.

 

 

 

Affiliation: 

  • Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE) Turrialba, Costa Rica