Alliance for International Reforestation, Guatemala
The organisation
The mission of the Alliance for International Reforestation Guatemala (AIR) is to implement educational programs and agroforestry methods in Guatemala to protect water sources, prevent mudslides, reduce erosion, and provide more nutritious crops while protecting the Earth. AIR also provides brick stoves with chimneys to prevent lung diseases.
Founded by Anne Hallum, AIR helps people in Guatemala by establishing a better, more sustainable quality of life through tree planting. AIR technicians, who are Guatemalan professionals, educate indigenous farmers about proper tree-planting and agroforestry that will provide sustainable farming as well as protection from frequent and dangerous mudslides.
The native trees planted by local volunteers and farmers help preserve important forests, which have a tremendous impact on the villages. To date, AIR Guatemala has planted over 7 million trees, helped over 5,000 families, and built 880 efficient stoves to reduce CO2 emissions.
Among numerous awards, in 2011, AIR won the CNN Heroes Award, a program created by CNN to honor individuals who make extraordinary contributions to humanitarian aid and make a difference in their communities. The UN Development Programme (UNDP) announced on June 29th, 2017, the winners of the Equator Prize 2017, recognizing AIR and 14 other local and indigenous communities from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Photos
Main tree planting sites
