Ecosia x Fundación DIA
reportage, Nicaragua, 2022
In the Pacific Lowlands of Nicaragua is stablished the environmental organisation Fundación Desarrollo Integral Asociado. Together with Ecosia - a search engine donating all its profits to NGOs focusing on reforestation -, they conduct reforestation efforts to restore the heavily deforested area around León.
With Ecosia’s support, I travelled to Nicaragua to see closely how Gilberto, Israel and all the Fundación DIA members are tackling soil erosion, restoring water sources and empowering farmers with more sustainable subsistence models. It was a beautiful journey of many learnings and everything was documented.
Gilberto Jaen
Founder of Fundación DIA
How and why was Fundación DIA created?
We were created in 2005. We are professionals who want to support the environment and the sustainable development of Nicaragua. We saw that there was a lot of potential to work in León in the fight against climate change by reforesting areas that are being completely destroyed. Not only that, but also to mitigate poverty and foster social development . I believe that we can make a change that is not only climate related, but also with a social impact.
How do you see environmental conservation in Nicaragua?
At the level of environmental conservation, the greatest danger is that there is no control. The trees are planted, but there is no follow-up.
For example, when we decided to reforest we initially did it in protected areas, in private properties, because the owners take care of their area, they clean it. The problem that eradicates the environment in Nicaragua is that public land, land from the state, are not being taken care of. There is no forest ranger, there is no one to take care of them. So the people who live on firewood are the biggest deforesters.
The trees survives because they has had strength and were planted at a good time, normally around March. When the trees are planted late, they may die. So, the survival rate here is around 60-70%. We have achieved up to 80% because we have first used the ZAI method and, combined with this ZAI method, a hydrokeeper, a water retainer, which retains water for 3-4 months.
The ZAI Method is a traditional technique consisting of digging holes 30 cm deep to accommodate the plant during the dry season, adding organic matter to the bottom. In doing so, the tree develops a root system, so when the rainy season arrives its growth is very rapid.
“We have planted more than a million trees with Ecosia in Leon.
In the first year we planted 800 000, in the second 1 million and now 1,5 million. In this there is 80% living plants.
The biggest difficulty we have had is with the plantation in Cerro Negro, because of the volcano and the intense heat there.”
Israel Tóellez Obregón
Forest Engineer at Fundación DIA
Why did you decide to pursue Forestry Engineering?
Since my childhood I always identified myself with nature. My first years of life were spent in a farm where we took care of cattle and we were dedicated to planting fruit trees. That greatly influenced my decision to pursuit this career.
What is it like to be a Forestry Engineer in Nicaragua?
Like any career, it is a progressive career for the environment. There are very few people who study it here in Nicaragua.
What plants do you have at Fundación DIA ?
Fundación DIA is quite integral - we have cocoa, marango, a part of beekeeping and forestry plantation for CO2 capture.
And another part is the reforestation of protected areas. Right now we are working on a biomass project to provide alternatives to the producer, so that they do not go to protected areas to look for wood.
Carmen Maria Torres
Farmer
What do you grow here at your farm and why do you have these plantations?
Besides cocoa, we have papaya, oranges, lemons, bananas, ayote, mangoes, among others.
We like to reforest. A reforested farm has more life, it is a healthy farm.Wwe feed ourselves with our fruits, we feed ourselves healthily. The production that comes out of this farm is practically organic, no chemicals are used. We are entrepreneurs, because from the production we can also obtain income for our families. And my father, mother and brother work here. It is a blessing to work the land. And we also have precious resources like water and we can take advantage of that water for farming.
Have you seen any benefits from the plantations?
Mostly with cocoa - we see a great benefit. And it can be produced in this area, which surprised us positively. For us it is a new experience. But I see that in this zone more cocoa can be produced and for us cocoa is good, because I can generate income for the family.
What is the role of Fundación DIA and Ecosia in the cocoa plantation?
The plant is the resource they are putting in the hands of the producer. We are also very grateful for all the technical follow-up in the field and support with marketing strategies.
Many people are leaving this area. How is it that you decided to stay?
Nowadays, many young people are emigrating. But I have a lot of hope in my land and I say that yes, I can work here, I can start a business here and get ahead. Because currently in this country a lot of importance is being given to entrepreneurship.
With Fundación DIA, the agreement we signed said that they would help us commercialize the product. So there is a lot of support in that area, and I truly believe that if you work, you can make a living without leaving the country.
Maxiliano Reyes Flores
Farmer
What kind of plantations do you grow here at your farm in El Sauce?
Here we have many varied plantations! I have pochote, mahogany, malanga, almond, banana, coffee... I no longer go to the market to buy vegetables to make a soup. Here I have everything!
And what about your cocoa plantation?
I fell in love with cocoa. It gives me freshness, it is a precious tree and it bears fruit. It’s going to reward me for all the work we've had up to now. I sow it because I look to the future and see the reward. And I want to let the municipality know that we can improve the environment by putting our hands and hearts into producing this tree. And knowing that the tree needs special care because it gives us life.
The tree that gives life. Because if we on Planet Earth do not have trees, we will not exist. There is no human being that lives without trees.
“The air we breathe here is pure. Can you feel it? I have not used chemicals here for at least 30 years. I don't light fire anymore for 15, 20 years. I no longer light fire or use chemicals here.”
Many people end up leaving El Sauce because of lack of employment. Why did you decide to stay with your family?
Having how to live here, why go elsewhere? With this here I can live. I don't have corn, I have plantains; I don't have plantains, I have something else. Why am I going to travel, if I have everything here? It is so beautiful here.
“What is missing are resources. But I have been finding support. Fundación DIA gave me a big push with cocoa. There are times when an activity is gone, but then we have another. Now I have cocoa, later I will have something else.”
What are the foundation's dreams for the next 5-10 years?
Our dream is to have a sustainable reforestation system. Firstly, we’d like that all farmers can have their plantations. Then, that the farmers that make profit from those plantations and that Fundación DIA can commercialise the products. Producers need income as an impulse to plant trees. Either it is fruit, or moringa, or cocoa or at least plants that produce honey for the bees and not only a tree that is planted for pleasure or its beauty.
We want that in the future the reforestation system is sustainable, that it generates income not only to the producer but also to Fundación DIA. And that we also have a small company with working capital, to grow together with the producers.
Gilberto, what is your message to the Ecosia users?
Don't stop using the search engine, because through it you help us to plant more trees in this world. And we want to thank the users, because they contribute to the conservation of the environment, because each tree we plant is a lung for breathing, for climate change, to reduce heat, for our living.
Thanks to Ecosia for believing in Fundación DIA.
