El Salvador is advancing efforts to protect agriculture in western El Salvador with the installation of four new hydrometeorological stations in Ahuachapán Sur. The initiative, carried out by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims to prevent the impacts of climate change on local farming communities.
Environment Minister Fernando López explained that the data collected by these stations will improve early warning systems to guide decisions in agriculture, water management, disaster prevention, and territorial planning. “The start of their operation marks the beginning of a new stage based on knowledge and strategic action, to protect our resources, strengthen our ecosystems and guarantee a more resilient El Salvador,” he said.
The project, titled Strengthening the climate resilience of rural communities and ecosystems in Ahuachapán Sur, will directly benefit more than 98,000 residents by safeguarding their livelihoods and long days of agricultural work. López emphasized, “We reaffirm our commitment to climate resilience. Each station installed represents an investment in information, planning and security for our nation.”
According to the Ministry of Environment, Ahuachapán experiences significant rainfall, especially in September, and maintains an annual humidity of 76 percent. However, the area is also prone to recurrent droughts, particularly during the mid-summer dry spell in July. The new stations will help anticipate such threats, reducing agricultural losses and water stress. “This model of collaboration demonstrates that science, local knowledge and international cooperation are the foundation for effective and sustainable solutions,” López concluded.