Contour Lines is a nonprofit organization founded by Sean Dixon-Sullivan, dedicated to promoting regenerative agriculture and reforestation in Guatemala. The organization’s name is derived from a soil conservation method called Contour Lines, which involves planting rows of trees along a hill’s contour to intercept rainwater runoff, trap eroding soil, and create terraces of fertility.
Mission and Vision
Contour Lines aims to foster a symbiotic mindset that unites humans with nature, integrates farms with forests, and balances the economic with the ecological. The organization advocates for reforestation and regenerative agriculture, emphasizing practical, hands-on approaches to achieve measurable results.
Our Work
Afforestation and Tree Planting
Contour Lines focuses on afforestation and tree planting, with Contour Lines forming the backbone of their regenerative landscape design. This technique is implemented as tree rows, debris walls, swales, or access roads, creating a foundation for later design elements. The organization adopts a project-oriented approach, involving locals in training and implementation.
Training and Local Involvement
The organization engages with communities by building A-levels and marking contour lines on the second visit. Local residents are quickly trained and involved in projects, creating a sense of ownership and empowerment. The approach is designed to transition from chemical monocultures to biodiverse food forests.
Achievements
In the eastern region of Izabal, Guatemala, Contour Lines has achieved significant results:
- Funded and planted 13,168 projects across 374 villages.
- Planted 2.2 million trees, including 55 different species of fruit trees.
- Trained over 25,000 locals in Contour Lines methods, with 65 becoming experienced trainers.
- Developed business models to value-add harvests, bringing income and nutrition to communities.
- Reduced Food Forest Project costs by 70%, from $671 per acre to $184 per acre.
- Expanded support base to include over 235 individual donors and partnered with organizations like One Tree Planted, Ecosystem Restoration Camps, Abundant Earth Foundation, and iGiveTrees.
Sustainability and Expansion
As Contour Lines enters its eighth planting season, the focus is on the sustainability of projects. Successful value-adding and marketing pilots are ready for replication. Trained locals have become teachers and organizers, expanding projects while forming their legal association. The organization has expanded models into nine new regions of Guatemala and is open to applications from potential project partners in Central America and beyond.
Get Involved
Contour Lines invites like-minded individuals to support the regenerative transition through donations, grants, visits to their Center in Antigua, and participation in educational programs. The organization’s website provides information on mission and vision, education and training, food forests, value-added processing, impact, history, and the team.
By joining Contour Lines in the war against soil erosion, supporters contribute to the transformation of land from slash-and-burn to regenerative food forests, benefiting thousands of families in Guatemala and potentially beyond.