The British Embassy in El Salvador, in collaboration with the Salvadoran government, officially launched the Resilient and Bio-diverse Landscapes of Northern Mesoamerica project today. The initiative, funded by the Bio-diverse Landscapes Fund (BLF), aims to protect El Salvador’s forests while bolstering local communities.
The launch event took place at the Metapán lagoon and included a visit to the project’s operational areas, where coordination with seven communities is underway. These communities are set to develop a Community Plan for Climate-Smart Development and enhance their skills in regenerative agriculture.
British Ambassador David Lelliott was on hand to present equipment and tools designed for fire prevention and control, underscoring the project’s commitment to forest protection. In his closing remarks, Ambassador Lelliott expressed his enthusiasm about the project, stating, “I am delighted to have been able to formally launch the Bio-diverse Landscapes Fund Programme in El Salvador before concluding my mission here. The programme focuses on El Trifinio and will operate for 7 years to support biodiversity and sustainable development.”
The event also featured remarks from His Excellency Dr. Félix Ulloa, Vice President of El Salvador, and was attended by Jorge Urbina, National Executive Director of El Trifinio, and Karla de Palma, General Director of the Salvadoran Agency for International Cooperation (ESCO).
Funded by the British Government’s International Development funds, the BLF is dedicated to poverty reduction, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation across six key biologically diverse landscapes globally. The Mesoamerican Landscape, which includes Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, will see an investment of up to US$19 million over the next six years.
In El Salvador’s Trifinio region, the BLF will invest around US$2 million through collaborations with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE). The project encompasses four key components:
- Prosperous and Resilient Communities: Developing sustainable income streams and climate-smart rural development practices.
- Protected Areas and Species Protection: Ensuring effective management of conservation areas and safeguarding threatened species.
- Enabling Political and Financial Mechanisms: Promoting policy reforms and multi-sector collaboration to incentivize forest protection.
- Learning and Adaptive Management: Implementing a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to guide decision-making and assess impact.
This significant investment marks a pivotal step in enhancing environmental sustainability and community resilience in Northern Mesoamerica.
On his final day, the British Ambassador bid farewell, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to engage in dialogue and offering his best wishes for the continued sustainable development of the country.