Description
The Comarca Guna Yala is an indigenous community
in Panama, home to approximately 85,000 people.
With a low income derived from fishing and
subsistence agriculture, the region faces significant
threats, such as the loss of agricultural biodiversity,
ecosystem degradation, and a lack of state support
for environmental matters.
This project aims to preserve indigenous knowledge
by conserving the biodiversity and vital ecosystems
of the Guna communities, while improving the
management of lands, forests, and agricultural
biodiversity. It will strengthen local capacities in
seed collection, cultivation, and exchange, helping
to ensure food security and promote the protection
and sustainable use of natural resources.
The project addresses several key challenges,
including the extinction of traditional agricultural
knowledge, the loss of native seeds, and ecosystem
degradation, all of which threaten food security
and cultural practices. It also seeks to conserve
sacred sites and ecosystems important to the
Guna people, ensuring their protection through
sustainable agricultural practices that have spiritual,
cultural, and nutritional value.
Special focus will be placed on engaging youth
and women in the recovery of native seeds and the
revitalization of traditional knowledge in ecosystem
management. By involving these groups, the project
aims to strengthen community resilience and
promote the sustainable use of natural resources.