A tree seedling for reforestation at water sources in El Salvador

Water is life! Water is life!

Planting trees to protect water sources

Without water there is no life. This applies to nature as well as to people. In the small Central American country of El Salvador there is much more rain than in Germany, but only a few people have access to the water. People living in rural areas often suffer from a lack of water. For many years now, people have been organizing their own water supply: they build wells, water tanks and retention basins. This way they at least have some drinking water. But the self-built water systems are often not enough: the water shortage is currently increasing. Climate change is making the situation even worse. But there is a very old and proven technique for increasing the water content in the soil: planting trees. In the vicinity of trees, the soil can absorb rainwater better and the groundwater level can rise again. This can counteract the foreseeable water shortage.

need

Tree seedlings for reforestation of deforested counties in water source areas.

activity

Community residents plant 30,000 trees to protect surrounding water sources.

Measurable performance

Number of trees planted in the communities.

Result

The newly planted trees grow and protect the water sources and increase the groundwater level.

Systemically relevant impact

Water sources are protected for the long term and community residents have long-term access to water.

background

On average, 1,784 millimeters of rain fall in El Salvador each year (FAO, 2015). That is relatively high. Nevertheless, water is a scarce resource in El Salvador. Not only does precipitation fall very unevenly over the months, but it is also very unevenly distributed across the different regions of the country. At the same time, many trees are felled to obtain firewood. Due to the heavy deforestation, the soil can absorb less and less water. This has several negative consequences: the groundwater level is sinking, natural water sources are becoming weaker or even drying up completely. The advancing climate change is further exacerbating the problem.

In order to protect water sources, civil society organizations introduced a bill in 2006 that aims to ensure sustainable water use and fair distribution. However, parliament has not yet passed it or any other updated versions. There is currently even a threat of increasing privatization of water in El Salvador. This would make the sustainable protection of water sources even more difficult.

Sieben Landkreise in den beiden Departements La Libertad und Cuscatlán, El Salvador

The good deed

With your donation you will help reforest the spring areas in seven districts of El Salvador. Here, the local population in municipal councils has set up independent water systems to supply the population. Planting 30,000 native tree seedlings makes an important contribution to reforestation and protecting natural water sources. Since most of these are located in hilly or mountainous areas, the trees make a significant contribution to allowing much more rainwater to seep into the ground. This increases the groundwater level and the springs become stronger. More than 40,000 people benefit from the reforestation and at the same time a contribution is made to environmental and forest protection.

AboutEl Salvador

San Salvador

Capital city

6,400,000

Population

6.868

Gross domestic product per capita per year

Rank 121 of 189

Human Development Index (Human Development Index)

In terms of area, El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America. However, it has the highest population density and the smallest forest cover.

About the organization and further information