UK Delegation Visits Guatemala to Assess Progress of Biodiversity and Climate Change Project

A UK delegation from the Biodiversity Fund for Landscape (BLF) is currently in Guatemala to assess the progress of its projects aimed at protecting biodiversity, reducing poverty, and addressing climate change.

The delegation, led by Roger Heath, Senior Responsible Owner of the BLF and 30×30, and Samuel Leigh, Regional Advisor for Mesoamerica and Andes Amazon, will meet with government representatives, implementing partners, civil society, and participate in field visits to Peten and Chiquimula. Rachel Wilson, Team Leader of the BLF’s Fund Management team at Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC), will also join the delegation.

On October 7, the delegation will meet with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the leader of the BLF consortium in Guatemala, to discuss project progress and upcoming activities. In Guatemala, the BLF is working in Peten and Chiquimula to implement projects aligned with Guatemalan environmental priorities until 2029.

The UK delegation will also meet with representatives from the Ministry of Environment, the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss Guatemala’s support for the BLF and explore future interventions to address environmental pressures, such as the loss of flora and fauna in the Mayan Jungle and the prevention of forest fires in the Trifinio region.

From October 8-12, Heath and Leigh will visit Peten to engage with communities benefiting from sustainable livelihoods projects, including xate classification, tree planting, beekeeping, and sustainable forestry. They will also interact with local delivery partners supporting communities in achieving their development and poverty reduction goals.

On October 13, the delegation will travel to Chiquimula’s Trifinio region to learn about sustainable agricultural practices and discuss how the BLF can support environmentally sensitive areas.

The BLF is funding activities in six of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots to create a world free from poverty on a liveable planet. Approximately 40% of the funds allocated to Mesoamerica, totaling US$7 million, will be invested in Guatemala to address shared priorities in environment and social development.