FUNDAECO´s “Metropolitan Greenbelt” Initiative has sought to establish a network of nature reserves in forested ravines within the city of Guatemala, in order to provide safe public recreational spaces for all city inhabitants. This urban green infrastructure is also increasing the city’s resilience to climate change by protecting micro-watersheds, recharging the water table, reducing vulnerability to landslides, protecting urban biodiversity, and countering the heat island effect. 

In 1995 FUNDAECO created the first Ecological Metropolitan Park in a ravine within the City (“Parque Cayalá”). The impressive canyons that crisscross the city had traditionally been seen as dumpsters, dangerous refuges for criminals and illegal and highly vulnerable squatting slums.

Since then, many ravines have been converted into public green spaces for citizens. Zoning plans have been enacted by municipalities, new parks have been created and a green network of protected sites is currently being developed.