"More Trees, Fewer Cows' ' aims to raise awareness and take a stand against the devastating impact of illegal cattle ranching in Indigenous Territories and Protected Areas across Mesoamerica's forests. Cattle ranching is the primary driver of deforestation in Latin America. Illegal cattle ranching within Mesoamerica’s protected areas and Indigenous territories, often tied to organized crime and drug trafficking, has led to greater than 20% loss of three of the region’s largest forests in the past 20 years.
Shockingly, an estimated 1-2 million cattle are trafficked illegally as contraband annually from Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala to Mexico. The consequences are dire, significantly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the region’s resiliency to climate change, as well as endangering the physical, cultural, food, and water security of Indigenous peoples and local communities.
The event will present rigorous scientific information and testimonials from Indigenous territorial leaders in Mesoamerica's 5 Great Forests to highlight the impacts of illegal ranching and the urgency of addressing this issue. "More Trees, Fewer Cows'' is a call to action for forest conservation and the protection of Indigenous peoples and local communities across Mesoamerica’s Five Great Forests.