Sustainable management of productive landscapes in Montañona

The agricultural practices of El Salvador, despite the fact that it benefits from tropical rains, have led it to the verge of the collapse of the productive capacity of its soil. Deforestation and an insufficient plant cover expose it to high rates of erosion and sedimentation. These conditions threaten the country’s food security and jeopardize the quality of rivers, irrigation and dams for power generation, as well as the mangroves and coastal ports. 66% of the surface area of El Salvador is exposed to 6 months of drought, which means that the 1,600 mm of annual rainfall are concentrated in just a few short months. This situation has forced the country to seek integrated strategies for an efficient management of its water resources and to reduce its vulnerability to extreme climate conditions.

A strategic aspect worth noting is the country’s heavy dependence on hydroelectric generation, and in particular from the Rio Lempa basin, which are transboundary waters, as both hydroelectric generation and water intake in the Rio Lempa basin have an impact on the natural areas of La Montañona. 
 

The project is based on four components:

• Promote the transformation of traditional agricultural and animal production into agroforestry and agro-sylvipastoral systems resistant to the impact of climate change, with a group of producers large enough to extend their influence.
• Effective management of the natural resources of La Montañona, in particular those of the forest area as an area of biodiversity, sustainable water supply and providing other environmental services, and ensure that people have the possibility of improving their livelihoods in a context in harmony with the environment.
• Strengthen a decentralized governance framework, based on agreements to align with ministerial policies, using municipal territorial management instruments and via local participatory bodies. It is based on coordination mechanisms which the Mancomunidad already has.
• Set up a project management and administration system and a semi-autonomous trust fund.

• Sustainable management of natural resources in the area, by improving local production systems;
• Improve the conservation of ecosystems, by implementing agricultural conservation, agroforestry and sylvipastoralism systems;
• Improve the socioeconomic conditions of local communities;
• Reduce the risks caused by fires, increase organic matter and water reserves in the forest of La Montañona.