Written by Benjamin Meletz, Specialist Environment Technician
There is a profound and inspiring force that can be felt when travelling through the mountains and forests of Sololá. The whisper of the wind through the pine trees, the cool freshness of the water springs and the vibrant green that surrounds our communities are more than just a landscape; they are life itself, beating with strength.
At Natün, the Environment is not an isolated project: it is one of our cross-cutting themes, the backbone that runs through and inspires every area of our organization. Guided by our 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, we work with inexhaustible passion, driven by a clear purpose:
To contribute to the conservation and protection of Mother Nature through ancestral principles and practices as a measure of climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Our approach is clear: initiatives are directed first and foremost towards the communities of Sololá while, at the same time, we adopt the same actions and strengthen our environmental commitment at an institutional level. In this way, we achieve a solid, comprehensive and consistent approach to environmental protection more broadly. Through the threefold approach of raising awareness, teaching and taking action, we promote genuine ethnodevelopment and Buen Vivir (Living Well).
This vision comes to life across the territory through our three areas of work:
1. Environmental Education: Women and Leaders as Guardians of the Territory
Lasting change flourishes when knowledge reaches the heart of the community. In five communities – Maya Kaqchikel, Los Yaxón Neboyá, Progreso Xajaxac, Pancá and Peña Blanca – we deliver engaging and in-depth workshops aimed primarily at women, mothers and groups of community leaders, while always welcoming anyone who wishes to participate. These workshops strengthen participants’ knowledge of the management and conservation of Mother Earth.
It has been inspiring to see around 400 participants (the vast majority of whom are women and mothers who are the heart of their households) come together enthusiastically to learn and discuss the sacred care of the soil, the protection of water sources and the safeguarding of biodiversity. They do not simply acquire practical tools; they become the main protectors and transmitters of environmental awareness within their families and throughout the department.
2. Forestry: Green Sovereignty and the Ancestral Revival of Our Seeds
To heal and defend our forests, community autonomy is essential. We are currently establishing three community forest nurseries where the community itself leads the entire cycle of life: collecting the seeds, carefully germinating them, nurturing them in the nursery, transplanting them and planting them in their final location.
At the heart of this effort is the conservation and recovery of native and traditional seeds. These ancestral seeds safeguard the genetic memory and millennia-old adaptability needed to withstand the impacts of climate change. Preserving them means guaranteeing the sovereignty of our land.
Alongside planting, we walk through the forests in coordination with CONAP (National Council of Protected Areas), carrying out monitoring of wild flora and fauna, as well as regularly collecting water samples from springs and rivers to ensure their purity and conservation.
3. Clean Energy: A Collective and Institutional Solar Transformation
Leading by example is the only way to build meaningful and transparent change. For this reason, the transition towards a clean energy model is taking shape through five fully operational solar photovoltaic systems, bringing sustainable solutions to both the community and institutional settings simultaneously.
- Community Impact: The power of the sun directly illuminates the community halls of Santa María El Tablón and Pancá, transforming them into sustainable meeting spaces for the local population.
- Institutional Commitment: With the same conviction, Natün operates another three systems at its headquarters and at the preschools in Peña Blanca and Tierra Linda, educating new generations through practical example.
A Journey of Love for Our Mother Earth
Working for the environment in Sololá means falling in love every day with the hands that plant a traditional seed, with the mothers who defend their water springs and with the sunlight that illuminates the classrooms of our preschools.
At Natün, every workshop delivered, every tree planted and every solar panel switched on is living proof that it is possible to flourish in harmony with nature. We invite you to share this same passion, honor the knowledge of our peoples and build together a future in which Buen Vivir (Living Well) is the most beautiful legacy we can leave to the Earth.
