$2.5 million destined for locally-led conservation initiatives in the bay
The Fund for the Initiative of the Americas, FIAES, a leading environmental funder and conservation organization in El Salvador, announced last month it would be investing $16.6 million over the next five years in the protection of seven wetland areas and nature reserves across the country.
$2.5 million of those funds are destined for conservation work in the Bay of Jiquilisco-Xirihualtique reserve in the Lower Lempa, work which will be defined and implemented by local communities.
This represents a major accomplishment for EcoViva and our partners, who have been working for over twenty years to protect crucial ecosystems and improve quality of life for rural residents of the Lower Lempa.
FIAES tapped local entities to coordinate these investments. In the Lower Lempa and Bay of Jiquilisco region, they designated the Mangrove Association alongside partners EcoViva and CATIE to convene other local actors and lead the design of a “Plan for Local Sustainable Development.” This participatory process will guide conservation efforts to preserve mangroves and fisheries, and improve land use throughout the Bay of Jiquilisco.
The Plan for Local Sustainable Development, or PDLS, will institutionalize common standards for conservation that have defined our work in El Salvador. Non-government organizations, municipal governments, and national entities will all work together toward the same set of goals, set forth by community leadership.
The PDLS will also integrate lessons learned from local experiences like the Local Sustainable Use Plan (PLAS) and Ecological Mangrove Restoration (EMR) pioneered by the Mangrove Association in El Salvador.
National institutions are buying into our locally-led models for environmental protection. Thanks to local leadership, the future sustainability of El Salvador’s highly-valued and naturally vulnerable coastline will be defined by local people, the rural communities who live in and depend on these crucial ecosystems.
Jim Enright says
Congratulations from the Mangrove Action Project (MAP)! This really is amazing, the Mangrove Association & local communities being given the lead and budget to conserve, restore and manage mangroves in the Bay of Jiquilisco-Xirihualtique reserve in the Lower Lempa. This is exactly what many mangrove projects around the world are striving for. I feel lucky to have had the good fortune to see the work and dedication of the Mangrove Association members first hand on the ground in El Salvador. It’s important that this endeavor be carefully recorded so others may learn from this unique experience .
EcoViva says
Thank you, Jim and MAP, and thank you for all your leadership in raising awareness about and protecting vital mangrove ecosystems all over the globe!
shrimpless says
Congratulations to all there in El Salvador! It is great to see that the work we initiated back in 2011 involving CBEMR has taken deeper root in rich community soils there in El Salvador. This can hopefully inspire neighboring nations to emulate this as a good
working model!
EcoViva says
Thanks Alfredo! We look forward to exploring ways to promote this kind of community-based management in other parts of the region.