mano-Y-ola Starts Outreach to Farmers in the Sunshine State!

Paul, our Chief Agronomist in Florida, (pictured above) has started reaching out to landowners in Florida along with Maelo!

Fort Myers, Florida — mano-Y-ola is expanding its outreach efforts in Florida to support Hispanic/Latino farmers and landowners through two key programs: the Hispanic Forest Landowners Outreach (HFLO) Program and the Hispanic Climate-Smart Commodities Initiative (HCSCI), also known as the Climate-Smart Program. Led by Senior Conservationist Advisor Ismael (Maelo) Reyes and Chief Agronomist Paul Pendergast, our team is actively engaging with landowners across the state to help them implement climate-smart practices and achieve their long-term goals.

As the Climate-Smart effort gains momentum in Florida, Paul and Maelo are collaborating with Victus Puerto Rico, Inc. to host a series of three orientations for pasture and forage ranchers during September. In addition to landowners, farmers who are renting or leasing land are also eligible to participate in this program, as well as in the HFLO Program. These three separate orientations, which will each be held in different locations, will bring together landowners who are participating in the Climate-Smart Program, providing an opportunity for them to learn more about this initiative. Our work in Florida builds on Victus Puerto Rico’s implementation of the Climate-Smart Program in Puerto Rico. During the orientation, members of the Victus team will also share with landowners their successes and lessons learned from their work on the island.

Paul, pictured here with Ariel Avila, has begun conducting site visits with Maelo to learn more about landowners' goals, challenges, and visions for the future.

Paul and Maelo have had the opportunity to start meeting with landowners and visiting their farms, where they can learn firsthand from the landowners about their vision for the future and any challenges they might be facing. In a recent conversation, Paul described meeting one landowner whose motivation stems from wanting to create a better future for his children. This landowner knows the topography of his land so well that he has already mapped out the most ideal spots for planting trees, Paul explained. 

As part of the Climate-Smart effort, mano-Y-ola and Victus will work with landowners to plant trees with the aim of sequestering carbon while also providing additional benefits to forage and pasture ranchers. For example, planting trees in pastures provides shade for cattle. As temperatures continue to grow hotter due to the effects of climate change, climate adaptation measures like this are becoming increasingly important. Additionally, the program will incentivize forage and pasture ranchers who establish silvopasture practices and will provide soil testing and monitoring data to landowners at no cost. 

Stay tuned for more updates about our Climate-Smart and HFLO Program efforts in the coming months!

Spotlight on Hispanic Forest Landowners: Environmental Education and Sustainable Agriculture at Finca La Tomatera

Heriberto has visited Carlos and Carmen at their beautiful farm, Finca La Tomatera - an oasis of green outside of the metropolitan area of San Juan. Heriberto took these photos with a drone!

As part of the Hispanic Forest Landowners Outreach (HFLO) Program, we are excited to feature Carlos Maysonet Negrón and Carmen M. Acevedo, dedicated forest landowners and educators in Puerto Rico. Their farm, Finca La Tomatera, will soon host a forestry outreach workshop in collaboration with mYo Chief Agronomist, Heriberto Martínez Méndez. This workshop will delve into the vital topic of sustainable tourism in Puerto Rico.

Carlos and Carmen have been enthusiastic participants in the mYo program, working closely with Heriberto. “We loved the program from the beginning,” Carlos shared. “We have learned so much.” 

His passion for conservation is evident, especially in his interest in bat conservation—a topic that hits close to home as his farm is located near a cave system under threat from development. He is particularly excited about attending our second bat workshop in September!

Carlos and Carmen, both former professors at the University of Puerto Rico, established Finca La Tomatera in Vega Alta, located in the northern karst area of Puerto Rico. Motivated by concerns about food security in the event of a natural disaster, they took action by starting their own farm. They have been renting the land and are now beginning the process of buying it.

Carlos and Carmen's vision for Finca La Tomatera is multifaceted:

• Education: Establish interactive opportunities for the public to learn about Puerto Rico’s biodiversity.

• Conservation: Implement conservation practices, including soil and water management and forest preservation.

• Agrotourism: Develop educational experiences centered on sustainable agriculture, including composting and natural pest control.

• Community Engagement: Foster environmental awareness and community organization to protect local ecosystems from harmful development.

Their long-term goals include creating an interactive, educational trail through a part of the farm known as a mogote, teaching youth about the importance of forested karst areas.

As Puerto Rico faces critical challenges in food security and environmental sustainability, Carlos and Carmen's work at Finca La Tomatera is a beacon of hope. Their commitment to education, conservation, and community engagement exemplifies the vital role that forest landowners can play in shaping a sustainable future for the island.

Stay tuned for more updates about Carlos and Carmen and to learn how sustainable tourism and agriculture can go hand in hand to preserve Puerto Rico’s natural heritage!

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Coming Soon!

This year, Asekia Inc., our new nonprofit organization, is hosting the sixth annual Hispanic Farmers and Agricultural Professionals Symposium, along with mano-Y-ola! Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, we’ll hold a series of virtual events featuring leaders, farmers, and youth in agriculture and forestry. Follow our Instagram and Facebook pages for updates about these upcoming events and information about how to participate!