Leadership and capacity development program (MESOLIDER School)

In Mesoamerica, extractive industries and processes continue to threaten the rights of vulnerable groups including indigenous and forest dependent people. Clearing of forest for cattle ranching, monoculture plantations, unsustainable logging, hydro-electric projects, and mining are the main causes of deforestation and forest degradation in Mesoamerica. Centralized governmental management models have proved insufficient to stop those threats. Autonomy of territorial management is being compromised by lack of political support, rights to land and forest are not secure, and there are shortages or financial and technical support for sustainable management of forests by indigenous and forest peoples.

The governments and large producers are, in most cases, responsible for forest destruction in disregard of rights of indigenous and forest communities. Community leaders and activists are often threatened, jailed or even assassinated. As a counter point, Indigenous and community based land management in Mesoamerica have proved effective for natural resource conservation, climate change mitigation, and poverty alleviation.

This adverse context has forced indigenous peoples and local communities to find ways to exercise tenure rights as guardians of the Mesoamerican forests. Through their traditional authorities and community organizations, Indigenous Peoples have embarked on various fronts of action and struggle for defense of their territories and rights, which entail enormous challenges and require new capacities to manage risks and some opportunities of the context described. On the other hand, generational change and community cohesion also constitute internal challenges for community organizations and indigenous authorities so measures that support bringing youth and women to forest governance, and develop local capacities are key for long term sustainability of communities, territories and livelihoods.