INTRODUCTION
Climate
predictions
for
Central
America
predict
an
intensification
of
dry
conditions
as
a
consequence
of
increases
in
temperature
(around
0.6°C
according
to
IPCC
(Magrin
et
al.,
2007).
Predictions
also
indicate
a
decrease
in
precipitation
on
the
Pacific
coast.
Over
time,
these
conditions
are
expected
to
extend
to
the
Caribbean
coast.
Predictions
for
2025
point
to
severe
water
stress
in
Central
America
particularly
on
the
Pacific
side
of
the
continent;
this
will
be
accompanied
by
resource
deterioration
resulting
from
combined
impacts
of
climate
change
and
demographic
pressure
(Perez
et
al.,
2007).
Adapting
to
climate
change
in
Central
America
will
require
measures
to
protect
and
restore
the
functions
of
forests
for
the
valuable
ecosystem
services
they
provide,
most
notably
regulation
of
the
water
cycle.
Destruction
of
forest
ecosystems
will
exacerbate
water
resource
degradation
and
vulnerability
of
rural
people
and
communities
that
depend
on
them.
Women
will
bear
the
majority
of
the
burden
of
reduced
access
to
water
and
food.
Similar
conclusions
can
be
drawn
for
other
water--dependent
sectors
including
biodiversity
and
landscapes
(Perez
et
al.,
2007).
In
Mexico,
climate
modelling
scenarios
estimate
that
rainfall
in
Yucatán
will
diminish
by
5
to
10%
by
2050
(4th
National
Communication
from
Mexico
to
the
United
Nations
Framework
Convention
on
Climate
Change
–
UNFCCC).
Along
with
increased
risk
of
droughts,
it
is
also
expected
that
extreme
rain
events
will
increase
in
intensity
and
frequency,
especially
in
the
state
of
Chiapas.
Nearly
30%
of
the
fresh
water
in
the
region
originates
in
the
Lacandon
Rainforest.
The
area
stores
water
which
contribute
to
regulating
floods
and
climate
variations.
The
forest
generates
nutrients
that
condition
the
fertility
of
the
low
plains
of
its
rivers
(4th
National
Communication
from
Mexico
to
UNFCCC).
Similar
climate
predictions
are
foreseen
for
Guatemala,
with
increases
in
temperature
and
droughts
expected,
according
to
the
country’s
1st
National
Communication
to
the
UNFCCC.
Project context
Brosimum
alicastrum
or
the
Maya
Nut
tree,
also
called
Ujuxte,
Masica,
Ojite,
Ramón,
Ojoche,
Capomo
or
Mojote,1
among
many
other
names,
is
a
large
tropical
forest
tree
in
the
fig
family.
It
grows
to
45
m.
It
is
native
to
tropical
dry
to
humid
forests
below
1500m
throughout
the
Neo--tropics,
including
South
and
Central
America,
Mexico
and
the
Caribbean.
It
was
once
abundant
and
was
probably
cultivated
by
pre--Hispanic
civilizations
for
food
and
to
attract
favoured
game
species.
Today,
it
is
highly
threatened
and
even
extinct
in
parts
of
its
range
as
a
result
of
extensive
cutting
for
firewood
and
clearing
for
maize
planting
(Fitzpatrick,
2008).
Guatemala’s
1st
National
Communication
to
the
UNFCCC
notes
that
Brosimum
alicastrum
can
survive
in
temperatures
of
between
18-32C°
and
with
precipitation
levels
of
between
100-2500
mm/year.
It
can
survive
on
precipitation
levels
250mm/year.
This
finding
was
confirmed
by
a
recent
study
(2008)
quoted
in
Mexico’s
4th
National
Communication
to
the
UNFCCC.
This
report
states
that
the
B.
alicastrum
is
one
of
five
tree
species
whose
properties
make
it
able
to
adapt
to
predicted
climate
changes
in
tropical
forests.
The
Brosimum alicastrum
seed
is
a
wild--harvested
forest
product.
This
nutritious
seed,
which
can
be
dried
and
stored
for
more
than
five
years,
is
an
excellent
drought
and
climate
change--resistant
food
for
rural
communities.
Entire
villages
have
survived
by
eating
the
Maya
Nut
during
war,
drought
and
locust
swarms;
during
the
Contra
war
in
Nicaragua
and
the
wars
in
Mexico
and
Guatemala
people
were
able
to
harvest
Maya
Nut
from
the
forest
to
eat
when
it
was
not
safe
to
plant
or
harvest
their
crops.
However,
in
many
areas
it
is
no
longer
consumed
regularly
and
today
it
makes
up
less
than
.05%
of
local
diets
(The
New
Agriculturalist,
2008).
The
Maya
Nut
tree
increases
agro--ecosystem
resilience
to
climate
change
by
ensuring
food
security
during
periods
of
drought
and
after
extreme
events
such
as
hurricanes.
Its
deep
and
extensive
root
system
helps
retain
soil
during
natural
erosion
or
extreme
events
and
enable
the
tree
to
access
deeper
ground
water.
The
Maya
Nut
tree
plays
an
important
role
in
stabilizing
riverbanks
and
maintaining
flows
from
natural
springs.
Objectives
Maya
Nut
Institute2
(MNI)
seeks
to
promote
community--based
conservation
of
Brosimum
alicastrum
by
teaching
rural
and
indigenous
women
about
the
benefits
of
the
Nut
and
its
Nutritional
(composition
table)
assets.
It
is
believed
that
it
was
a
significant
food
source
for
Pre--Columbian
cultures
but
its
importance
has
faded
over
time.
This
project
was
driven
by
the
realization
that
several
Central
American
countries
have
high
rates
of
malnutrition,3
despite
presence
of
Maya
Nut
trees
and
ease
of
harvest
and
processing.
Maya
Nut
Institute
focuses
on
women’s
potential
to
contribute
to
reducing
social,
environmental
and
financial
vulnerability.
Adding
value
by
drying,
roasting
and
grinding
the
Nut
to
make
ice--cream
or
bread
(see
more
examples
below)
diminishes
social
vulnerability
by
empowering
women
as
income
generators
and
improves
the
nutrition
of
women
and
their
families.
Its
massive
root
system
increases
the
tree
resilience
to
hurricanes
and
helps
adapt
to
climate
change
by
avoiding
soil
losses
during
heavy
storms
and
protecting
riverbanks
from
erosion.
The
tree
is
also
resistant
to
droughts:
one
of
the
predicted
impacts
of
climate
change
in
the
region.
Promoting
the
economic
and
food
value
of
the
Maya
Nut
helps
to
reduce
deforestation
for
the
planting
of
other
crops.
This
in
turn
decreases
the
volume
of
carbon
emissions
thereby
helping
to
improve
environmental
quality.
In
addition,
it
helps
to
reduce
dependence
on
foreign
aid
and
provides
employment
for
women.
The
Maya
Nut
Institute
works
to
raise
awareness
about
the
Maya
Nut
tree
in
El
Salvador,
Honduras,
Nicaragua,
Guatemala,
Costa
Rica,
Belize,
Mexico,
Jamaica,
Cuba,
Peru,
Colombia
and
Haiti.
The
organization
offers
training
on
the
uses
of
the
Maya
Nut
for
food
and
income.
This
training
has
motivated
more
than
500
rural
and
indigenous
women
to
start
22
small
businesses
selling
by--products
of
the
Maya
Nut.
Stakeholders
Women
are
the
primary
beneficiaries
of
Maya
Nut
Institute
programmes
because
improved
conditions
for
women
result
in
improved
conditions
for
the
entire
family.
Women
participate
in
and
eventually
lead
the
design,
implementation
and
expansion
of
the
programme.
This
builds
their
self--esteem
and
gives
them
confidence
that
they
can
solve
family
and
community
problems
without
outside
help.
The
Maya
Nut
Institute
partners
with
local
and
national
government
institutions
as
much
as
possible.
Other
partners4
include
NGOs,
community
associations,
cooperatives,
universities,
local
schools
and
private
enterprises.
More
than
150
stakeholders
are
participating
in
the
Maya
Nut
programme
throughout
the
region.
Stakeholders
include
national
government
ministries
of
agriculture,
education
and
health
in
the
countries
where
MNI
works.
The
Institute
also
trains
local
NGOs
and
community
groups
to
conduct
Maya
Nut
training
programmes
in
communities,
thereby
expanding
the
reach
of
the
programme
and
providing
communities
with
another
tool
to
achieve
positive
social,
environmental
and
economic
impacts.
ADAPTATION STRATEGY n°1: EMPOWERING WOMEN AND CHILDREN TO INCREASE THEIR CAPACITY TO ADAPT TO EXTREME EVENTS
Training and awareness raising
Experience
has
shown
that
once
people
become
aware
of
the
food
and
market
value
of
the
Maya
Nut,
they
develop
an
interest
in
conserving
existing
trees
and
planting
more.
Since
2001
the
Maya
Nut
Institute
has
directly
and
indirectly
raised
awareness
of
more
than
200,000
rural
people
about
the
value
of
the
Maya
Nut.
Some
68%
of
these
people
had
never
eaten
Maya
Nut
before
and
57%
had
never
even
heard
of
it
(Vohman,
2011).
Women
Maya
Nut
Institute
(MNI)
focuses
on
women
as
the
caretakers
of
the
family
and
their
environment.
The
Institute
teaches
a
one--day
class
for
rural
and
indigenous
women
living
near
Maya
Nut
forests.
Workshops
include
information
on
nutrition,
recipes,
sustainable
harvesting,
processing
and
propagation.
By
increasing
awareness
of
the
value
of
this
multi--purpose
tree
to
rural
families,
the
Institute
is
able
to
encourage
conservation
and
reforestation.
During
the
training
session,
the
nutritional
components
and
benefits
of
the
Maya
Nut
are
explained,
along
with
the
different
ways
of
processing
the
Nut.
Finally
different
recipes
are
tested
to
ensure
adoption
of
the
Nut
by
the
women.
Children
In
2009
MNI
started
a
new
program,
Healthy
Kids,
Healthy
Forests,
a
Maya
Nut
school
lunch
program
with
the
goal
of
educating
rural
children
about
the
food
and
ecosystem
benefits
of
the
Maya
Nut
and
improving
children’s
health
and
nutrition.
Presently
more
than
15,000
children
receive
Maya
Nut
school
lunches
at
least
twice/week
in
Nicaragua,
Guatemala,
El
Salvador
and
Mexico.
This
program
serves
a
dual
purpose;
i)
An
informed
youth
is
an
important
starting
point
to
ensure
long--term
sustainability
of
new
practices
and
ii).
School
lunch
programs
represent
one
of
the
largest
and
most
consistent
markets
in
Central
America,
and
the
market
for
Maya
Nut
products
is
the
driver
of
many
program
impacts,
particularly
reduction
of
poverty
and
reforestation.
Government
The
Maya
Nut
has
great
potential
to
improve
the
resilience
of
the
Caribbean
islands’
agro--ecosystems.
Jamaica
has
large
and
healthy
population
of
Maya
Nuts
and
the
Jamaican
Department
of
Forestry
learned
about
the
uses
and
potential
of
the
Maya
Nut
from
the
MNI
in
2009.
Similarly,
in
2007,
the
MNI
was
able
to
train
staff
from
the
Ministry
of
Agriculture
in
Jamaica,
several
NGOs
and
individuals
on
ways
to
expand
their
Maya
Nut
resources
and
capitalize
on
them.
ADAPTATION STRATEGY N°2: INCREASE ECOSYSTEM RESILIENCE TO IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY FOR CHILDREN AND LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN
I. Maya Nut harvesting and ecosystem resilience
The
deep
and
extensive
root
system
of
the
Maya
Nut
tree
can
access
bedrock
water,
enabling
the
trees
to
remain
green
and
leafy,
even
during
the
long
dry
season
when
other
species
lose
their
leaves.
One
study
of
Brosimum
alicastrum
focused
on
its
resistance
to
droughts
in
the
Yucatan
Peninsula.
One
of
the
conclusions
of
the
research
was
that
“[t]he
ability
to
take
up
water
stored
in
the
upper
few
meters
of
the
limestone
bedrock
during
the
pronounced
dry
season
is
likely
the
key
feature
allowing
Brosimum
alicastrum
to
thrive
under
non--
irrigated
conditions
in
the
shallow,
rocky
soils
of
northern
Yucatan”.
Further,
the
report
stated
that
“[the]
results
suggest
that
locally
adapted
native
tree
species
capable
of
efficiently
extracting
water
from
bedrock
strata
may
be
the
only
perennial
crops
suitable
for
rainfed
cultivation
in
shallow
rocky
soils
under
seasonally
dry
tropical
climates”
(Querejeta
et
al.,
2006).
People
have
begun
to
harvest
Maya
Nut
trees
in
those
areas
where
wild
trees
have
been
felled
or
eradicated.
The
Maya
Nut
tree
begins
producing
nuts
as
early
as
4
to
5
years
after
planting
and
reaches
peak
production
at
around
50
to
70
years
(Vohman,
2010).
Trees
are
productive
for
more
than
100
years.
One
adult
Maya
Nut
tree
can
produce
up
to
300
kg
of
nutritious
seeds
per
year.
A
family
with
just
10
mature
trees
can
improve
its
food
supply,
health
and
income.
Maya
Nut
Institute,
with
funding
from
Darwin
Initiative,
DEFRA,
UK,
has
begun
developing
participatory
sustainable
harvest
guidelines
for
the
Maya
Nut
in
order
to
ensure
resource
sustainability
and
to
minimize
impacts
of
harvesting
on
regeneration
and
biodiversity.
These
guidelines
will
be
designed
and
implemented
by
the
harvesters
themselves,
based
on
data
they
collect
over
the
next
3
years.
This
will
improve
harvesters’
understanding
and
interest
of
sustainable
management
protocols
for
Maya
Nut
and
will
permit
them
to
better
manage
their
forests
for
food,
income,
biodiversity
and
ecosystem
services.
The
participatory
nature
of
these
management
plans
will
improve
economic
viability
for
women’s
Maya
Nut
businesses
because
they
won’t
be
required
to
hire
outside
consultants
to
design
the
plans
or
collect
the
data.
Maya
Nut--based
agroforestry
has
other
climate
change
benefits
when
compared
to
conventional
annual
cropping
systems
used
in
Central
America
and
Mexico.
Unlike
conventional
annual
cropping
systems
which
require
agrochemicals
to
ensure
good
harvests,
Maya
Nut
requires
no
agrochemical
inputs.
Furthermore,
over
time,
leaf
litter
from
Maya
Nut
trees
improves
soil
fertility.
Maya
Nut
forests
produce
more
calories
per
unit
area
than
annual
crops
(Vohman,
2011).
II. Food security and livelihood benefits
Uses and benefits of the Maya Nut tree
Although
a
topic
of
controversy
between
historians
and
archaeologists,
it
is
widely
believed
that
the
seeds
of
the
Maya
Nut
were
once
a
staple
food
of
the
Pre--Columbian
Mayan
people.
Its
leaves,
pulp
and
seeds
continue
to
be
central
to
the
diet
of
many
forest
birds
and
animals
(The
New
Agriculturalist,
2008).
Maya
Nut
Maya
Nut
is
extremely
versatile
and
can
be
eaten
fresh
(boiled
fresh
seeds)
or
dried,
roasted
and
ground.
The
fresh
Maya
Nut
seeds
can
be
boiled
and
ground
into
dough
similar
to
maize,
which
is
then
often
used
for
soups,
tamales,
tortillas,
burgers
and
puree.
Dry
seeds
can
be
roasted
and
ground
for
use
in
drinks,
deserts,
stews
and
baked
goods.
Boiled,
the
Nut
tastes
like
mashed
potato;
roasted,
it
tastes
like
chocolate
or
coffee.
Maya
Nut
is
rich
in
fibre,
calcium,
potassium,
folate,
iron,
zinc,
protein
and
B--vitamins.
It
is
nutritionally
comparable
to
amaranth,
quinoa
and
soy
(see
table
of
composition).
It
has
potential
to
resolve
problems
of
food
insecurity
and
malnutrition.
It
is
high
in
antioxidants
and
has
a
low
glycemic
index.
Finally,
the
Maya
Nut
tree
offers
assets
other
than
food.
Wood
is
used
for
construction,
furniture
or
fuel.
Latex
is
said
to
have
therapeutic
effects
when
mixed
with
water
(The
New
Agriculturalist,
2008)
and
can
be
used
for
chewing
gum.
The
latex
and
the
leaves
of
the
Central
American
variety
can
be
drunk
as
an
infusion
to
treat
asthma,
bronchitis
and
coughs5.
In
short,
every
single
part
of
the
tree
can
be
used
and
consumed
either
by
animals
or
human
beings.
Combining small businesses and good nutrition
Maya
Nut
Institute
focuses
on
women’s
empowerment.
More
than
22
small
businesses
have
been
developed
following
trainings
for
women
conducted
by
the
Institute.
The
‘Healthy
Kids,
Healthy
Forests’
programme
in
Guatemala,
El
Salvador,
Mexico
and
Nicaragua
is
a
good
example
of
how
rural
women
can
use
Maya
Nut
to
solve
recurrent
problems.
‘Healthy
Kids,
Healthy
Forests’
is
a
Maya
Nut--based
school
lunch
program,
which
was
developed
with
one
of
the
Maya
Nut
producer
groups
in
Guatemala,
Alimentos
Nutri--Naturales
with
multiple
goals
of
creating
a
local
market,
improving
business
viability,
reducing
chronic
malnutrition
and
motivating
reforestation
with
Maya
Nut
in
rural
communities.
The
program
has
been
wildly
successful,
yet
extremely
difficult
to
fund,
though
it
only
costs
between
$20--$25/child/year.
As
a
result
of
‘Healthy
Kids,
Healthy
Forests’,
the
Guatemalan
Ministry
of
environment
has
financed
planting
1,500,000
Maya
Nut
trees
and
the
Ministry
of
Education
now
requires
Maya
Nut
lunches
to
be
served
at
least
twice
per
week
during
the
school
year.
These
seedlings
will
one
day
provide
over
4
million
kilos
of
food
per
year
for
the
communities,
representing
a
long
term
solution
to
problems
of
malnutrition
and
food
insecurity
in
the
region,
in
addition
to
the
environmental
services
they
provide.
RESULTS AND LESSONS LEARNED
The
results
of
the
Maya
Nut
Institute
work
since
2001
include:
15,000
rural
women
from
900
communities
have
received
training
about
Maya
Nut.
Of
the
graduates,
317
have
formed
22
microenterprises
to
produce
and
sell
Maya
Nut
products
(ice
cream,
cookies,
bread,
drinks,
cake
and
cereal).
Some
3,000
community
members
now
earn
an
income
from
harvesting
Maya
Nut
from
wild
forests.
1,800,000
new
Maya
Nut
trees
were
planted
by
the
communities
and
other
stakeholders
where
the
Institute
has
been
working
to
generate
interest
in
the
Maya
Nut.
This
project
has
contributed
towards
livelihood
improvements
in
different
sectors.
Food
security
has
increased
as
women
producing
Maya
Nut
products
for
family
consumption
have
another
option
to
feed
their
families.
67%
of
women
trained
by
the
Maya
Nut
Institute
have
never
participated
in
any
sort
of
training
programme
before.
The
focus
on
women
for
Maya
Nut
production
and
marketing
improves
the
women
producers’
status
in
the
family
and
sets
an
important
example
for
children.
Changes
in
self--esteem
and
independence
are
impressive.
Women
are
learning
to
open
bank
accounts,
write
cheques
and
use
ATM
machines.
Some
are
learning
to
use
the
internet
while
others
are
going
back
to
school
to
learn
to
read
and
write.
Several
of
the
producers’
groups
are
writing
proposals
to
raise
funds
to
grow
their
businesses
and
incorporate
other
projects
into
their
community
work
including
fuel--saving
stoves,
solar
cookers,
chicken
farming
and
vegetable
gardening.
Moreover,
the
Institute
observes
that
as
women’s
self--esteem
and
confidence
improves,
they
are
more
likely
to
adopt
public
health
and
other
interventions
which
impact
their
children’s
health
and
education.
Monitoring and evaluation
Maya
Nut
Institute
monitors
changes
in
awareness
of
the
value
of
the
Maya
Nut
tree
before
and
after
community
workshops.
Number
of
trees
planted
and
women’s
income
are
also
monitored.
Changes
in
nutritional
status
and
anthropomorphic
indicators
are
also
monitored.
CRITICAL SUCCESS AND RISK FACTORS
The
success
of
the
Maya
Nut
programme
lies
in
its
focus
on
women.
Women
are
more
concerned
with
family
food
security
and
are
much
better
at
managing
local
sales
(which
increases
local
consumption
of
Maya
Nut)
while
men
tend
to
focus
on
cash
generation
by
selling
Maya
Nut
with
an
eye
on
export.
Risks
associated
with
the
programme
stem
primarily
from
the
Maya
Nut's
threatened
status
and
from
issues
related
to
land
tenure,
which
could
affect
communities’
access
to
Maya
Nut.
Logging
of
the
Maya
Nut
is
one
of
the
biggest
threats
and,
disappointingly,
the
Maya
Nut
tree
remains
on
the
Rainforest
Alliance
and
Forest
Stewardship
Council
lists
of
permitted
timber
species,
even
though
it
is
a
keystone
species
for
biodiversity.
Maya
Nut
trees
can
be
difficult
to
re--establish
on
sites
where
they
have
been
eradicated.
This
is
due
primarily
to
sensitivity
to
drought
and
predation
by
rats,
cows,
pigs,
iguanas,
deer,
voles,
horses
and
other
animals
in
its
first
year
of
establishment.
Additionally,
because
they
need
to
develop
a
deep
taproot
to
access
bedrock
water,
trees
produced
in
bags
in
nurseries
sometimes
have
difficulty
becoming
established
because
taproot
development
is
compromised
by
nursery
bags
and
transplanting.
Probably
the
biggest
challenge
to
reforestation
is
the
high
palatability
of
Brosimum
alicastrum
leaves
to
livestock.
Fencing
is
required
to
prevent
cattle,
goats,
mules,
sheep
and
other
grazers
from
killing
the
young
seedlings.
Fencing
is
expensive
and
therefore
not
easy
for
most
rural
families
to
obtain.
CONCLUSION
More
than
300
women
who
have
received
training
from
the
Maya
Nut
Institute
have
started
Maya
Nut--based
businesses,
building
on
what
they
have
learned.
Some
of
these
businesses
are
producing
Maya
Nut
goods
for
local
and
regional
sale.
Alimentos
Nutri--Naturales
in
Guatemala
and
Flor
de
Ojoche,
Nicaragua
are
exporting
to
the
US,
Japan,
El
Salvador,
and
Haiti.
The
success
of
the
‘Healthy
Kids,
Healthy
Forest’
programme
also
motivated
the
Ministry
of
Education
to
mandate
serving
Maya
Nut
at
least
twice
per
week
in
schools
and
to
ban
all
cookies
from
schools
with
the
sole
exception
of
Maya
Nut
cookies!
The
Maya
Nut
Institute,
under
the
leadership
of
Erika
Vohman,
Founder
and
Executive
Director,
is
currently
in
the
process
of
expanding
the
Maya
Nut
programme
to
Cuba,
Colombia,
Bolivia,
Peru,
Ecuador
and
Brazil,
where
Maya
Nut
is
native
but
underutilized
as
a
food
and
source
of
income.
The
Maya
Nut
range
has
been
severely
reduced
by
logging,
overgrazing
and
conversion
of
forest
to
sugar
and
annual
crops.
It
is
hoped
that
preliminary
sensitization
programmes
aimed
at
the
Ministries
of
Agriculture
and
the
Environment
will
help
them
expand
and
capitalize
on
their
Maya
Nut
resources.
In
Haiti
and
the
Dominican
Republic,
the
Maya
Nut
is
presumed
to
be
extinct
but
plans
are
underway
by
the
Maya
Nut
Institute
in
partnership
with
several
local
NGOs
and
community
groups
to
restore
it
to
the
island.
Because
of
the
plant’s
complex
reproductive
system,
seed
for
reforestation
in
Haiti
has
been
sourced
from
the
Yucatan
peninsula
of
Mexico,
where
the
local
Maya
Nut
population
is
dioecious,
thereby
ensuring
a
mix
of
male
and
female
trees
for
seed
production.
Erika
Vohman
of
the
Maya
Nut
Institute
believes
that
Maya
Nut
reforestation
on
upland
riparian
sites
can
and
will
play
a
critical
role
in
reducing
salinization
of
the
water
table
near
coasts
by
increasing
freshwater
flows
from
bedrock
and
aquifers.
This
scenario
may
hold
promise
to
manage
yet
another
negative
impact
of
climate
change:
rising
sea
levels.6
Notes
1
In
Mexico
alone
this
plant
is
known
by
46
different
names.
2The
Maya
Nut
Institute
(formerly
the
Equilibrium
Fund)
is
an
international
NGO
working
to
rescue
lost
indigenous
knowledge
about
the
Maya
Nut
in
Central
America
and
Mexico
to
help
adapt
to
future
climate
change
impacts,
conserve
rainforests,
reduce
poverty
and
improve
food
security.
The
organization
won
the
Darwin
Initiative
Award
in
2010,
the
St.
Andrews
Prize
for
the
Environment
in
2006
and
the
NGO--Mobile
award
in
Mexico
in
2007.
Alimentos
Nutri--Naturales,
S.A.,
the
Guatemalan
Maya
Nut
producers
won
The
Equator
Prize
in
2007.
‘Healthy
Kids,
Healthy
Forests’
received
a
grant
from
the
Development
Marketplace
2009,
financed
by
the
Global
Environment
Facility,
the
Danish
Government
and
the
World
Bank.
3
This
situation
is
in
part
due
to
low
presence
of
tryptophan
(an
essential
amino
acid
in
the
human
diet)
in
maize
and
beans,
while
Brosilum
alicastrum
is
rich
in
tryptophan.
4
For
a
complete
list
of
partners,
please
visit
The Maya Institute.
5
For
more
information
see
Bioplanet
6This
is
an
assumption
MNI
is
making
based
on
observations
and
a
review
of
literature.
The
Maya
Nut
Institute
will
implement
a
Maya
Nut
reforestation
project
in
association
with
a
mangrove
reforestation
project
in
northern
Haiti
in
2011
which
it
is
hoped
will
generate
a
number
of
lessons
about
the
effect
of
Maya
Nut
forests
on
island
and
coastal
hydrology.
References
Fitzpatrick,
C.
(2008)
“Alicastrum”,
UBC
Botanical
Garden
Available
at:
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/2008/03/brosimum_alicastrum.php
Guatemala,
Primero
Communicación
Nacional
ante
la
Convención
Marco
de
las
Naciones
Unidas
sobre
el
Cambio
Climático
(2001).
Available
at:
http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/guanc1.pdf
Magrin,
G.,
C.
Gay
García,
D.
Cruz
Choque,
J.C.
Giménez,
A.R.
Moreno,
G.J.
Nagy,
C.
Nobre
and
A.
Villamizar
(2007)
Latin
America.
Climate
Change
2007:
Impacts,
Adaptation
and
Vulnerability.
Contribution
of
Working
Group
II
to
the
Fourth
Assessment
Report
of
the
Intergovernmental
Panel
on
Climate
Change,
M.L.
Parry,
O.F.
Canziani,
J.P.
Palutikof,
P.J.
van
der
Linden
and
C.E.
Hanson,
Eds.,
Cambridge
University
Press,
Cambridge,
UK.
Available
at:
http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg2/ar4-wg2-chapter13.pdf
México,
Cuarta
Comunicación
Nacional
ante
la
Convención
Marco
de
las
Naciones
Unidas
sobre
el
Cambio
Climático
(2010).
Available
at
http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/mexnc4s.pdf
Pérez,
C.,
Locatelli,
B.,
Vignola,
R.
and
Imbach,
P.
(2007)
Integrar
los
bosques
tropicales
en
las
políticas
de
adaptación
al
cambio
climático «Cambio
Climático,
ecosistemas
y
gente,
(Monthly
Priodical)
n°
165,
2007.
All
the
authors
are
part
of
the
Grupo
Cambio
Global
del
Centro
Agronómico
Tropical
de
Investigación
y
Enseñanza
(Catie).
This
institution
collaborates
on
the
Tropical
Forests
and
Adaptation
to
Climate
Change
(TroFCCA)
project
with
the
Center
for
International
Forestry
Research
(CIFOR),
among
others.
Querejeta,
J.,
Estrada--Medina,
H.,
Allen,
M.,
Jimenez--Osornio,
J.,
Ruenes,
R.
(2006)
Utilization
of
bedrock
water
by
Brosimum
alicastrum
trees
growing
on
shallow
soil
atop
limestone
in
a
dry
tropical
climate,
Plant
Soil
(2006)
287:187–197,
Springer
Science+Business
Media
B.V.
Ramón
seed
(Brosimum
alicastrum
sw.)
and
ramón
seed--derived
ingredients
for
use
in
traditional
foods
Generally
recognized
as
safe
(gras)
self--affirmation
report
(following
US
Food
and
Drug
Administration
rule).
The
New
Agriculturalist
(2008)
“Maya
Nut:
a
forgotten
treasure”.
Available
at:
http://www.new-ag.info/focus/focusItem.php?a=424
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the third in the series of ELAN case studies on ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change. ELAN case studies on adaptation to climate change in Burkina Fasso and Madagascar were published in the October and November issues, respectively. Another ELAN case study will be published in the January issue. Links to a recent series of ELAN case studies can be found here. To visit the ELAN's web site, click here.
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