Project Description
In 2025, Empresa Agropecuaria Santa Elena established a 4.31-hectare bamboo system on the farms of Guatelinda, located in the department of Suchitepéquez in southern Guatemala, approximately 120 kilometres from Guatemala City. The region is known for its exceptionally fertile volcanic soils and is home to several of Guatelinda's farms, which have been cultivating natural rubber and other crops for decades.
The project focuses on increasing total ecosystem carbon (TEC) storage through the establishment and long-term management of a bamboo forest system. Carbon is stored in above-ground biomass, below-ground root biomass, and soil organic carbon (SOC).
About the Remover
The project is owned and operated by Empresa Agropecuaria Santa Elena, the agricultural enterprise behind the Guatelinda group of farms in Suchitepéquez, Guatemala. Guatelinda has been active in sustainable land management since the 1980s, originally focused on coffee cultivation before diversifying into natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) and other crops. Since 2015, the company has pursued FSC forest certification across its farms, covering a total of 1,725 certified hectares. Guatelinda is deeply rooted in its local communities, providing employment, education, and infrastructure support to more than 300 families across five surrounding communities. The bamboo project reflects the company's ongoing commitment to combining productive land use with long-term climate and ecological stewardship.