El Salvador advances with wetland protection program

El Salvador is moving forward with four pilot projects for the conservation and appropriate use of wetlands in different parts of the country.

The projects are being implemented in the Olomega and El Jocotal lagoons and the surrounding buffer zones in San Miguel department jointly between the environment and natural resources ministry (MARN) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Launched in 2016, the goal of the projects is to develop a framework for the comprehensive management of lagoons, which could be used as a model to promote wetland conservation efforts nationwide, the ministry said in a release.

One of them is focused on control methods for aquatic plants, and is aimed at studying whether these types of plants can be used for electric power generation.

A second initiative is aimed at promoting environmental education and involves the creation of a Ramsar education center near the El Jocotal lagoon.

The third is focused on reducing natural disaster risks and entails the recovery of 6.5ha in the Las Moritas national protected area.

And the fourth project is intended to promote agricultural best practices in sugarcane farming through training sessions focused on the protection of wetlands. The training is being provided to agricultural producers in El Tránsito and San Miguel.