Building a Sustainable Farm and Preserving Natural Forests in Guatemala

In the lush Alta Verapaz region, Finca Chimelb manages 4,700 hectares that combine high-value agricultural production—including over 250 hectares of cacao, specialty coffee, rubber, eucalyptus, and pine—with the active conservation of 2,300 hectares of natural forests. With financial support from 12Tree, the farm provides dignified employment for over 400 permanent workers and up to 2,000 seasonal workers during the harvest, offering wages 40% higher than the national minimum wage and access to social security. Chimelb also operates a highly diverse nursery for research into cacao varieties and sustainable farming techniques, such as the use of rubber trees to control erosion and microorganisms to restore degraded soils. Through the “One by One” program, the farm trains local smallholder farmers and strengthens the cacao value chain in the region, integrating environmental sustainability, agricultural innovation, and community development.