ESCALAR supports the Environmental Investment Fund of El Salvador in strengthening agroforestry systems

• The initiative seeks to scale sustainable agroforestry practices to improve climate resilience in vulnerable areas of El Salvador.

To promote sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture in critical ecosystems, the ESCALAR project—Scaling Climate Change Adaptation Solutions for Resilience and Reducing Migration in the Central American Dry Corridor—led by CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center), is supporting the expansion of agricultural innovations with the Environmental Investment Fund of El Salvador (FIAES). This initiative, launched in August, is set to run for 23 months.

This scale-up of climate-adapted agricultural innovations (IApA) involves establishing 900 hectares of Basic Grain Agroforestry Systems (SAF) in the district of San Francisco Menéndez, Ahuachapán Sur municipality, Ahuachapán department, in El Salvador.

Additionally, the project will support the establishment of two community nurseries for the production of 20,000 forest plants, two facilities for producing agroecological inputs, and the construction of six rainwater harvesting reservoirs.

The initiative will also implement four learning farms in the communities of La Ceiba, El Jocotillo, and Sacramento in the district of San Francisco Menéndez.

Moreover, the project plans to plant 45,900 forest trees and 91,800 grafted fruit trees within the 900 hectares of Basic Grain SAF.

This initiative aims to strengthen the capacities of 500 families in basic grain SAF techniques and integrated water management, with the goal of developing productive plots that enhance soil fertility and increase vegetative cover, promoting food production. Practices, techniques, and infrastructure will be implemented to boost sustainable productive capacity.

With ESCALAR's support, the Environmental Investment Fund of El Salvador and the communities of San Francisco Menéndez are advancing toward a sustainable production model that contributes to food security and climate resilience in the region.

“This commitment to agroforestry systems not only enhances agricultural productivity but also provides an alternative to reduce the impacts of migration in the Central American Dry Corridor, promoting family prosperity and strengthening local ecosystems,” explained José Gabriel Suchini of CATIE's ESCALAR project.