Partnering for a thriving landscape

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Under the USAID initiative, ofi hired several technicians, whom the Rainforest Alliance’s Domínguez trained on regenerative coffee farming with a focus on climate resilience and restoration. Then, together, the Rainforest Alliance and ofi held trainings for community members. Science shows that what Indigenous people did 100 years ago is the best way to farm. DANIEL DOMÍNGUEZ MONZÓN, RAINFOREST ALLIANCE In a sad irony, much of what was shared in trainings are Indigenous practices that had been lost over the years. In the modern era, Domínguez said, “traditional ways came to be devalued in favor of conventional agriculture methods, like excessive agrochemical use, which we now know cause problems.” He added, “But science shows that what Indigenous people did 100 years ago is the best way to farm.” Now these traditional, regenerative practices have been restored to the community of La Ramona—and shared with ofi’s technicians, as well. Armed with this wealth of knowledge, the technicians can support coffee growers that they work with throughout the region.



The impact of this work goes far They moved again, this time to the town of Villa Corzo, where they set to working on an agreement with the government to purchase their own land. When at last these 100 hectares became theirs in March 2005, the families named their ejido La Ramona, in honor of the revered Zapatista commander and most famous woman leader in BYB Directory the Indigenous struggle. Within the year, the families were cultivating coffee with plants gifted—or so they thought—by a local exporter. Because La Ramona’s founders spoke mainly Tzotzil, they did not understand that they would be expected to pay the exporter back for the plants after three years. And given that the plants were of poor quality and produced scanty harvests, repayment was difficult.







We suffered a lot back then,” Santiz said. “But thankfully, we’re recovering.” beyond what was achieved under the initiative, because ofi can now replicate the work throughout Chiapas and beyond,” Domínguez said. Looking ahead La Ramona continues to flourish. With its increased income, the community—which has expanded from 20 to 35 families—has purchased fifty more hectares. It is also currently building a Catholic church and expanding a Seventh Day Adventist chapel. Though it was religious conflicts that led to the community’s violent expulsion nearly 20 years ago, Santiz insisted that no such divisions exist today in La Ramona. “There’s no discrimination here. After what our families went through, how could we do that?” “Anyway,” he said, smiling, “all that is in the past now.

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