Located in the Escuintla district on Guatemala’s Pacific Coast, the wetlands around Sipacate-Naranjo are treasured conservation areas. Sipacate-Naranjo National Park is one of the most representative conservation areas in the Pacific of Guatemala. It has a variety of ecosystems including mangroves, which are key nurseries for aquatic species and fundamental to the local economy. The wetland mangroves also serve as a refuge for animals from the interior during the winter dry season. Unique sites, such as the Poza del Nance, are visited by species like the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) that comes to feed, rest and reproduce before its journey to sea. Through an SGP project, targeted trainings are turning youth into powerful ambassadors for biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, spurring action to protect these unique Guatemalan wetlands. Read more HERE.

This initiative is part of the Global Support Initiative to territories and areas conserved by Indigenous Peoples and local communities (ICCA-GSI) Phase 1 and Phase 2. The ICCA-GSI is funded by the Government of Germany, through its Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and delivered by the GEF Small Grants Programme.