In these communities, the forest does not operate under the logic of private ownership. Instead, the water, trees, and animals belong to everyone and no one.
As a company, Yaax Carbon is committed to ensuring that our projects not only contribute to capturing carbon dioxide, one of the main greenhouse gasses (GHGs) but also strengthen local economies and the social fabric of the communities, preserving their valuable cultural and natural heritage.
A Space For Dialogue And Reflection
For this reason, to create a space for discussing the challenges, opportunities, and experiences related to the forest, on June 30, 2024, in the community of Santa Catarina Ixtepeji, Oaxaca, the Communal Property Authorities, along with the Yaax Carbon team, participated in the first Forest Community Meeting.
This gathering brought together 68 community members from the Sierra Norte, specifically from the communities of Santa Catarina Ixtepeji (the host community) and Teococuilco de Marcos Pérez, as well as from the Sierra Sur, from the towns of San Jerónimo Coatlán, Santa Lucía Miahuatlán, Santa Catarina Cuixtla, San Pablo Coatlán, and San Agustín Mixtepec.
This space was created as an opportunity both to share knowledge and feelings and to foster interaction and dialogue among community members.
In his opening speech, Lorenzo León, the Project Director of Yaax Carbon, welcomed the attendees, thanking them for their collaboration on the projects and for their presence at the event.
Meanwhile, Julio Fonseca, the Director of the Technical Area at Yaax Carbon, emphasized in his speech that the purpose of the meeting was for the participants to exchange experiences from their communities and get to know each other to generate alliances and collaborations, while Nicolás Santiago, President of Communal Property of Santa Catarina Ixtepeji, invited the attendees to enjoy their stay in the community.
The Forest: A Universe of Possibilities
““To me, the forest is very special; it is life. The forest provides us everything: nature, water; without them, nothing can exist.””
“We do need to raise awareness and find ways to make use of it. And, indeed, the issue of selling carbon offsets is an option for us to preserve the forest.”
The Forest and the community: A Relationship of Reciprocity
It is worth noting that this first meeting allowed for a valuable exchange of knowledge and experiences regarding the conservation of biodiversity and forest areas, as well as the needs and concerns of each community. This facilitated finding common ground among the attendees and opened the door for collaboration and understanding.
We believe that inclusive interaction and dialogue will be the key to sustainable development, forest protection, and the social development of communities in Oaxaca.
We hope that this is the first of many meetings, and that we can continue to build these valuable and enriching spaces for the benefit of the communities and forest protection projects.
For more information about our forest carbon capture projects and our work with communities that protect the forests, follow us on social media.
