Because of one encounter. Andrea, from Italy, and Virgilio, from Guatemala, have met in Guatemala and right from the start shared a vision for a fairer future. This is how, around a dish of tomato sauce pasta, sitting in front of a chicken coop, zeroCO2 was born. The context is however essential: over the last 40 years, forest areas in Guatemala have been literally plundered: uncontrolled fires, environmental degradation due to drug trafficking, and poor land administration have led to devastating levels of deforestation.
One tree, two values.
We decided to start our journey from a country with a high poverty rate, namely from a region, El Petén, in North-West Guatemala, where one tree can make the difference, not only environmentally but also socially: It can bring support to the economy and food supply of families. Our choice fully embraces the idea of linking trees to the climate challenge which affects all of us, in the whole world, although not everybody in the same way.
How do we choose a community?
The selection process of communities is very complex. In Guatemala, for instance, in collaboration with the university hub CUDEP of Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, the territory and the socio-economic condition of the population is scrutinized and a profile is traced of local communities. The most suitable make it to the next phase: the training of the families who are interested to work with us.
