Mesoamerica is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots—with only half a percent of the world’s land area, it is home to seven percent of the world’s biodiversity… In the first year of this project, 181 hectares (447 acres) were planted in agroforestry systems and 966 hectares (2,387 acres) of forest were placed into payments for ecosystem services programs. These projects highlight the importance of working with local communities to find creative solutions that not only protect forests and support carbon sequestration but also provide livelihoods for people living near protected areas. Developing alternatives to activities that deforest or degrade large forests is essential for healthy, productive forests that store carbon, generate other ecosystem services, and provide for surrounding communities.