CABEI promotes reforestation, environmental education, and conservation in Guatemala’s protected areas

Guatemala City, September 22, 2025. - The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship through a reforestation campaign at the Naciones Unidas National Park in Villa Nueva and by supporting forest restoration initiatives in the buffer zone of the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve.

This year, over 40 CABEI volunteers planted 125 trees in Naciones Unidas Park, contributing to the recovery of forest landscapes in a strategic area of the Lake Amatitlán watershed. In addition to strengthening habitats for local species and reducing pressure on ecosystem services, the initiative also enhances carbon capture and helps preserve a forest where at least 115 tree species and 165 species of wildlife have been identified.

The event also included environmental education activities. Volunteers helped establish pollinator gardens with native plants grown at the park's demonstration nursery, while learning how these species support local fauna and contribute to natural pest control. They also received hands-on training in native plant propagation, including soil preparation, seed germination, and seedling care.

In addition, CABEI will support the planting of 375 trees in the buffer zone of the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve as part of an agroforestry system combining coffee with Inga, oak, pine, and alder species. This effort aims to prevent agricultural expansion into the reserve's core area while promoting sustainable production practices that benefit local communities responsible for maintaining and managing the plantations.

These initiatives are part of CABEI's Corporate Environmental and Social Responsibility System and its Environmental Management System, designed to offset the institution's paper consumption and to contribute to the restoration of biologically important areas in the region. Through these actions, CABEI reaffirms its commitment to environmental conservation and to Guatemala's sustainable development.