The Guatemala Highland Restoration Project will improve community livelihoods through employment, restoration of the environment, and by building sustainable agroforestry businesses that empower the community. The restoration of the highlands cloud forests in the area will benefit communities through preventing erosion into the river that serves thousands of people downstream, will protect the water supply of the natural spring that is formed by this mountain, and will create a recreational forest for the people of Guatemala's second largest city of Quetzaltenango to enjoy.

Long-term environmental change cannot happen without first addressing the communities’ needs. To transform the socioeconomic and environmental conditions of the area, community members will be employed to plant millions of native cloud forest species. In addition to planting, the area will be used to boost recreational activities of the community and protect one of Guatemala's most important watersheds.