Trees & Latrines in El Salvador

World Centric + Trees, Water & People

$18,560.00 from profits from fiscal year 2018 (48% of project total budget)
Carbon Offsets Project

El Salvador has the second highest deforestation rate in Central America. Between 1990 and 2010, El Salvador lost 23.9% of its remaining forest cover. Smallholder farmers are particularly at risk to the negative impacts of deforestation including catastrophic landslides, deteriorating watersheds, and declining ecological and economic quality of farms that no longer include overstory trees. Heavy rains in the region will flood traditional pit latrines, leading to contamination of shallow water tables which communities rely upon for drinking water.

This is our 3rd year supporting Trees Water & People in expanding their tree nursery capacity in El Salvador. They partners with local NGO Arboles y Agua para el Peublo (AAP) to provide hardwood and fruit tree species. They collaborate with municipalities, public schools, and local farmers to plant seedlings on their lands. To complement this environmental health work, TWP is building 20 dry-composting latrines in communities near the El Chingo Conservation Area and in the community of El Porvenir to replace pit-latrines which often flood during heavy rains, cause pollution, and are unsanitary.

The Impact

• 40,000 seedlings raised and planted
• 20 dry-composting latrines constructed serving 20 individual households with an average family size of 5

Indirect Impact:

• 5 local people employed at the nursery (2 elderly men and 3 single mothers). They are also encouraged to grow a small amount of their own vegetables on the propert
• 5 part-time jobs created building the latrines
• Reforestation will impact 320 hectares of land, enriching soils, protecting ground water, creating shade for migratory birds, and mitigating drought
• Latrines will protect groundwater from contamination and produce fertilizer
• Quality of life and sanitation improved for 100 community members from access to sanitation
• Prevention of fecal-matter-borne diseases

About Trees, Water & People

A World Centric partner since 2015.

Trees, Water & People's mission is to improve people's lives by helping communities protect, conserve, and manage the natural resources upon which their long-term well-being depends.TWP's unique community-based development model was founded on the philosophy that the best way to help those most in need is to involve them directly in the design and implementation of local environmental and economic development initiatives.

More projects with Trees, Water & People:

• Justa Cookstoves in Honduras
• Doña Dora Cookstoves & a Rainwater Catchment Cistern in Guatemala
• Trees & Proleña Cookstoves in Nicaragua