Sustainable Harvest International works in four Central American countries to preserve tropical forests and alleviate poverty. They provide training to over 1,000 families on sustainable farming, environmental conservation, and income generation. In the past quarter: over 30,000 trees were planted; 153 improved wood stoves and 3 composting toilets were built; 95 new home gardens were created; and 35 families increased their income through commercial crop sales. SHI has helped restore over 15,000 acres of land and plant over 2.8 million trees since 1997.

1. Sustainable Harvest
International
Planting Hope, Restoring Forests,
Nourishing Communities
Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua & Panama
Field Program Update
July to September 2010

2. The Mission
Sustainable Harvest International provides farming families
in Central America with the training and tools to preserve
our planet’s tropical forests while overcoming poverty.

3. SHI works in four Central American countries:
Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua & Panama
Yoro & Santa Barbara
Toledo &
Stan Creek
Kukra Hill &
Kukra River
Cocle &
Panama Oesta

4. ‣ Currently 1120 families*
‣ 100 communities in 7 work
areas
‣ Average annual income: $472
‣ Education: 4th grade
‣ Land ownership: 2.8 acres
‣ What is farmed: corn, beans,
cassava, taro, rice
‣ What is eaten: corn tortillas, rice,
red beans or pigeon pea,
cassava, plantains and bananas
*number is due to change as we continue with
The Families at the
Start

5. ‣ Environment
‣ Agroecology
‣ Food Security
‣ Livelihood (economic
development, basic needs)
‣ Learning Capacity
The Areas of Impact

6. Quarterly Achievements
July to September, 2010

7. Preserve tropical forests and the life-sustaining functions
they provide.
Environment

8. ‣ reforestation ‣ wood conserving stoves ‣ biodigesters ‣ composting latrines

9. Environmental
Accomplishments in Q1
✓ Improved wood burning stoves:
153
✓ Composting toilets: 3
✓ Trees planted: 31,209
✓ Acres reforested: 184
✓ Average number of tree species:
12
✓ Over 21 environmental
workshops and trainings held

10. Increase a community’s capacity to practice sustainable
farming that is compatible with local culture and the
environment.
Agroecology

11. “I feel proud to cultivate in a way that is good for the environment
because it is not necessary to damage the soil, but rather feed it.
Everything is useful in this system of farming that I am implementing.”
- Aparicio Garcia Benitez, Buena Vista, Honduras
Other techniques implemented by SHI families:
‣ cover crops ‣ crop rotation ‣ holistic pest management ‣ biointensive ‣ mulch

12. Agroecological
Accomplishments in Q1
✓ Area cultivated sustainably: 422
converted to sustainable land use
✓ Number of natural fertilizers
made and applied: 1722
fertilizers made and applied.
✓ 15,409 pounds of bocashi and
100 liters of efficient micro-
organisms
✓ Number of sustainable farming
techniques used: at least 8
techniques

13. Food Security
Provide access to healthy food and ensure household
food security

14. With support of SHI, I have planted mustard greens, lettuce, string beans,
tomatoes, cucumbers and more. With these harvests, every week I have
something to feed my feel, plus extra that I can sell.
- Joaquina Vasquez, El Entradero, Panama
‣ home gardens ‣ diversification ‣ animal husbandry ‣ grain storage ‣ seed saving

15. Food Security
Accomplishments in Q1
✓ Number of new gardens: 95
✓ Variety of species / livestock raised:
over 3
✓ Percent of food consumed that is
locally produced: approximately 75%
✓ Diversity of garden species: 25 types
of vegetables (amaranth, mustard
greens, okra, squash, etc.)

16. Livelihood
Increase household income along with the ability to
purchase basic household needs.

17. “SHI supported me with the
installation of a wood conserving
oven. Each week I bake bread with
little wood and am able to sell it in
my community. I have income now
that I never had before.”
- Maria Ical, San Benito Poite,
Belize

18. Livelihood
Accomplishments in Q1
✓ Average change in income (note
majority of families are only in phase
2 and not yet commercializing):
about 26% or $122 in three months
✓ Number of new families
commercializing produce on a local
and regional scale: 35
✓ Additional income generated by sale
of produce in 3 months: over $1400
✓ Number of new rural banks: 7
✓ Total amount loaned: $8,738 over 69
loans

19. Learning Capacity
Families gain a sense of empowerment and willingness
to innovate and strengthen community cooperation
through sustainability.

20. Learning Capacity
Accomplishments in Q1
✓ Trainings completed by field staff:
149
✓ Trainings held by participants: 85
✓ Number of non-SHI families
benefiting from participant
training sessions: 165
✓ Quantitative changes: increase
self esteem, leadership, sense
of community and teamwork,
environmental and health
conscious, and more.

21. • Over 360 graduates in three
countries
• Average income increased by
45%
• 80% of food consumed is
produced locally
• 81% no longer burn
• Average graduate has trained
an additional 10 families
Post Graduate
Families

22. Challenges
• Climate change & natural
disasters
• Cultural barriers
• Time
• Opposing projects / external
influences
• Habit vs. tradition
• Resources

23. ✓15,587 acres of degraded land
converted to sustainable uses
✓2.86 million trees planted
✓1252 wood-conserving stoves
(saving 12,000 trees per year)
✓23 community loan funds started
with $10,000 seed capital, now
manage $70,000 capital
SHI’s
Accomplishments
Growing slowly but surely since 1997

24. A Lot of Bang for Your Buck
‣ $18,000 supports the work of one field
trainer for an entire year.
‣ $6,000 sponsors an entire village
program for a whole year.
‣ $500 provides a family with technical
support and materials for one year.
‣ $100 sponsors a village school program
in a rural community working with SHI.
‣ $50 buys the materials for a wood-
conserving stove that will save 100 trees.
Supporting SHI

25. Thank You!

26. Sustainable Harvest International
Online at:
sustainableharvest.org
Planting Hope, Restoring Forests, Nourishing Communities