An Integral Environmental Project was launched in favour of the Guatemalan biodiversity
Manuel Centeno from Casa Médica holds a jar of honey produced by the communities that participate in the Forests project of Defensores de la Naturaleza Foundation; he received it as well as a diploma of recognitionf for his work in favor of nature from Óscar Núñez, Executive Director of the aforementioned foundation.
If trees gave us Internet signal, would we plant trees? Let's hold our breath for a few minutes and ask ourselves: How long would we live without oxygen? With these approaches and a couple of interactive thoughts on the importance of taking care of nature, Manuel Centeno, Director of Retail and Culture at Casa Médica, introduced the cooperation agreement he has with Defensores de la Naturaleza Foundation to execute an Integral Environmental Project.
The mentioned project includes the preservation of the habitat of El Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) -the bird symbol of Guatemala-; the conservation of the Biosphere Reserve of Sierra de las Minas and reforestations at the United Nations National Park.
Details of the alliance
According to Óscar Núñez, forest engineer and Executive Director of Defensores de la Naturaleza Foundation, the partnership with Casa Médica emerges from the work initiative that the foundation has with several companies in the country to promote its corporate social responsibility in favor of our natural resources.
Casa Médica, through the Integral Environmental Program, will donate Q1 for each selected product (stethoscopes, digital pressure gauges, wheelchairs, chairs, pillows and glucometers) that its clients acquire in the sales room, online or through the Contact Center.
Casa Médica also adopted 10 hectares of the Biosphere Reserve of Sierra de las Minas as part of the investment program for families and businesses called: “Adopt a forest”, promoted by Defensores with the main goal of supporting the conservation of the protected areas´ biodiversity that they co-administer.
And the third project is the planting of a thousand trees, by Casa Médica´s collaborators and friends, at the United Nations National Park.
The cooperation´s impacts
“By preserving the natural habitat of El Quetzal in the Biosphere Reserve of Sierra de las Minas, Casa Médica contributes to preserve the home of more than 800 species of animals, including birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles; to preserve 63 rivers that provide water to more than 500 thousand people; to maintain a seed bank for reforestation and the practice of agroforestry in the tropics, as well as the protection of edible and medicinal plants that benefit more than 280 thousand people of Q'eqchí, Poqomchí and mestizo origin”.
“Another benefit of this alliance in Sierra de las Minas will be the transformation and equipment of the cabin we have, into the scientific station “Héctor Centeno”, to honor the memory of the Founder and President of Casa Médica and Defensores de la Naturaleza: engineer Héctor Adolfo Centeno Bolaños”, says Núñez .
And how do you get the confidence of the private sector to support nature conservation projects? “In our 35 years of experience we have proven to be a responsible, transparent and equitable institution,” he says.
In addition, the foundation is responsible for the co-administration of 5 percent of the Guatemalan territory declared protected area, where you can find the 85 percent of the country`s flora and fauna.
Forest engineer Óscar Núñez, Executive Director of Defensores de la Naturaleza Foundation.
“Only the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere produces US$1,400 million annually in ecosystem services, and due to the little support and investment that the government authorities give to this “Jewel of Conservation”; we take care of the forests and maintain the environmental services that they offer,” Núñez says.
In the details is the difference
Manuel Centeno, Director of Retail and Culture of Casa Médica, shares that they support Defensores de la Naturaleza Foundation to honor the memory of his grandfather Héctor Centeno and to practice the values he instilled in them.
“My grandfather was passionate about everything that would help Guatemala to get ahead and above all to preserve nature. I remember as a child he taught me to close the shower while I soaped and not let the tap water run while I brushed my teeth, because in the small details is the difference and in this case, just turn off the tap while you wash, thousands of liters of water are saved.”
Centeno considers that as his grandfather taught, the change of the life habits that damage nature begins with education. That is why in his company they are doing an internal work of education and personal motivation, so that people learn to turn off the light if it is not serving them; to use water sparingly; to prefer to take water from ecofilters and not bottled, among other environmental friendly practices.
The young entrepreneur also realized that his employee´s children are the ones who most enjoy the reforestation days that they have been doing annually for five years at the United Nations National Park. And since the children always ask their parents when they will go back to the forest, they decided to make two annual reforestations. “You have to set the example and what better than to children, who have the future in their hands,” Centeno says with a big smile on his lips.
Manuel Centeno, Director of Retail and Culture, Casa Médica.
The reason why Centeno considers that the private sector of the country should support programs like those promoted by Defensores de la Naturaleza is according to his words: “As Facundo Cabral would say, if the bad guys knew what good business it is to be good, they would be good even if only for business. And being good at this type of activity brings many benefits, starting with the fact that if we do not have a healthy ecosystem, our companies will not have anyone to serve."
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