Founded by Mayan women, Koolel-Kab/Muuchkambal is an organic farming and agroforestry initiative that works on forest conservation (they established a 5,000-hectare community forest), promoting indigenous land rights, environmental education, and community-level disaster risk reduction strategies. The association advocates for public policies that stop deforestation and offer alternatives to input-intensive commercial agriculture. An organic beekeeping model has been shared across more than 20 communities, providing an economic alternative to illegal logging. Drawing on Mayan identity, the initiative is a best practice in multi-stakeholder dialogue, forest protection, and free, prior and informed consent (FPIC). The initiative recently won a legal battle with the State government which ensures Mayan communities have to be consulted before large-scale agricultural projects can be approved.

 

Key Facts 

Equator Prize Winner: 2014

Founded: 1995

Location: Ich-Ek, Hopelchén, Campeche, Mexico

Beneficiaries: 15,490 individuals

Area of Focus: Indigenous land rights; free, prior, and
informed consent (FPIC); and organic apiculture and
agriculture

 

Case Study

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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