The Chuamazán Parcialidad of Totonicapán is an organization established as an association under the legal status of an “Asociación,” known as the “Asociación Parcialidad Indígena de Chuamazán,” which was incorporated in 2005; the community was founded in 1850. The word Chuamazán, translated from K’iche’, means “in front of the apple trees,” and the community was given this name because, long ago, apples with very distinctive characteristics were harvested there.

The Chuamazán Parcialidad is dedicated to the protection and conservation of its natural assets and resources through a community service known as K’axko’l in the K’iche’ language. It promotes and carries out activities such as patrols within the forested area to verify its condition, as well as forest fire prevention measures such as creating firebreaks. Year after year, the community carries out activities to restore vegetation cover through reforestation with species native to the region and others adapted to local conditions, including oak, holm oak, alder, and pine. Additionally, they prioritize the protection of the springs located within their territory, given their connection to these water sources and their ancestral knowledge of the importance of these resources for life.

This organization also provides community-based ecotourism services, including Chajil Siwan Ecological Park which was established through the efforts and initiative of community members as an alternative means of generating income to improve their families’ living conditions.