Date established: 2000

Partner: PROLEÑA

Number of trees produced (through 2006): 740,214

Program history: Deforestation due to domestic and commercial wood consumption is compounded by the fact that Nicaragua is the poorest country in Central America. TWP and our partner organization PROLEÑA have worked since 2000 to conserve Nicaragua’s forests and water resources. Our programs are focused on helping halt deforestation along the Pacific coastal region, where the majority of Nicaragua’s population lives.

TWP and PROLEÑA have established three Forest Replacement Associations (FRAs) across the Pacific coast of Nicaragua. These FRAs are designed to create a local, sustainable supply of fuelwood for local commercial and domestic consumers. These businesses include brick makers, potters and lime producers, all of whom consume vast quantities of fuelwood, and more often than not need to buy fuelwood shipped in from far away. In La Paz Centro, where we have established a FRA, brick makers and potters consume over 20,000 pounds of fuelwood per year. By joining a FRA, local businesses can contribute money towards producing new tree seedlings in our local nurseries. These seedlings are then sold at a reduced price to local farmers who can harvest the trees within 3-5 years and sell them back to local commercial consumers.

Since the inception of these FRAs we have produced over 582,000 trees in La Paz Centro, San Rafael del Sur, and Tipitapa. These trees will then be consumed by over 60 brick makers throughout the region.  Currently, the majority of these producers buy fuelwood cut inside or near Momotombo Volcano Natural Reserve. By producing and growing trees closer to La Paz we are hoping to help protect this reserve for future generations.