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In the past decades, the rural population of the Western Mexican State of Michoacan has lived in the most obvious way: It used the immediately available resources.
The increasing population places a growing pressure on . Particularly the unbalanced cultivation of unsuitable mono-cultures (maize) is exposing the land to the acute danger of an irrevocable, permanent degradation.
Therefore, Fair Travel aims at supporting the rural population of Michoacan on their way toward an ecologically sustainable utilization of their resources through hands-on, practical training combined with long-term reforestation projects. This way, Fair Travel offers an alternative way of making a living and at the same time protecting the environment and the long-term living conditions in the region.
To achieve this dual goal, the project closely collaborates with the rural population of the three communities lying in the reforestation area. Through training courses and active participation, locals are learning to develop their own economic alternative (sustainable forest management) and, in turn, live responsibly regarding the environmental necessities. The practical training courses and the reforestation activities are also directly supported by Mexican NGOs and companies; this support is indicative for the local support which Fair Travel enjoys already. After all, the Mexican stakeholders involved have realized the necessity and suitability of sustainable forest management for their prosperous long-term development.
In line with the philosophy of the project approach and in addition to these measures, Fair Travel is planting one tree for each traveler to Mexico as a sign of solidarity and a symbol of gratitude for the country's hospitality and the utilization of its resources by the visitors. |
