To protect drinking water sources and restore forests (only two percent of El Salvador's original forest remains), TWP and FUDEMCO will plant trees with members of local communities. They will also train community members in forest fire prevention and control and will work on marking the boundaries of the La Magdalena protected area. The project is community-based; TWP feels that natural resources are best protected and restored with the help of local people.
How much does this cost?
One of the main goals of this project is treeplanting and maintenance. It typically costs $1 to plant and maintain one tree for a period of two years. Therefore, TWP and their project partners need $70,000 just for the treeplanting component of the project. Some of this cost will be supported by FIAES (the El Salvador & U.S. Debt for Nature Fund). Training is another major component of the program. TWP needs funding for local trainers in agroforestry and soil conservation to help farmers produce food without using destructive agricultural practices.
Who is this for?
The project helps the people of El Coco, El Salvador to protect and restore their forest and protect their watershed. The forest provides water for 10,000 people who live in the area, including 5,000 people in the town of El Coco. TWP and FUDEMCO will be working closely with the people of El Coco and surrounding communities.
What are the obstacles?
Changing the slash and burn agricultural practices that have decimated the forests of El Salvador is not easy. It requires farmer-to-farmer training in the benefits of not burning fields and reincorporating organic matter to rebuild soils. By using these methods, however, farmers can produce more food for their families and for sale. TWP and FUDEMCO will provide training to local farmers who will then provide this training to others in their community. They are seeking funding to support this training program.
They are also seeking funding to support the community tree planting program - in which we will be planting 70,000 trees to help reforest land in El Salvador's important watersheds.
What is the next step?
TWP is seeking funding now to begin the year 2001 El Salvador Environmental Recovery Program. Funding will be used to plant 70,000 trees and to train local residents and farmers in how to protect and maintain their forests and watersheds.
What does this all mean?
Due to uncontrolled deforestation and clearing land for agriculture, only 2% of the native forests remain in El Salvador. When the trees and forests disappear, the springs and streams that supply people with water in the dry season dry up as well. While community members are working on projects to improve their lives, such as new water supply systems, they cannot fully protect their water supply without protecting and restoring their forests and watersheds.
TWP works with local people and non-governmental organizations to plant tens of thousands of trees each year and to help local people protect and maintain those trees. Among other areas, their program is focused in the Magdalena forest and the community of El Coco in northern El Salvador, a watershed that supplies drinking water to more than 10,000 people. The combination of grassroots reforestation and training to help farmers improve their livelihoods and protect their forests will help to reverse the dangerous environmental decline in El Salvador.
How are they doing this?