Next week on GLOBAL IDEAS: Protecting Guatemala's forests

Guatemala's third-largest national park "Sierra del Lacandon," located in the country's north, could lose over half its rainforest cover in 25 years. Illegal tree-cutting, unauthorized settlements, cattle breeding and corn cultivation are to blame. But a project by the German tropical forest foundation "OroVerde" is trying to protect the forest with the help of local partners. The organization is trying to spur farmers in the region to protect the rainforest by offering them a small compensation and guaranteeing them land use rights in the national park. The farmers are encouraged to reforest destroyed areas with local plant varieties. The measures are supported by international climate protection initiatives and the European Union.