In 2021, the United States and El Salvador signed the Agreement on the Conservation of Tropical Forests and Coral Reefs, which considered the allocation of US$20 million for the purpose, appointing FIAES as the fund manager. In this context, and in an unprecedented effort to protect coral reefs in the east of the country, FUNZEL and FIAES, in coordination with the Ministry of the Environment, managed to generate conditions for the declaration as a Coastal-Marine Protected Natural Area.

Santa Tecla, 6 December 2024.  An interdisciplinary team, coordinated by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN), with technical and financial support from FIAES and valuable execution from the Zoological Foundation of El Salvador (FUNZEL), marked a milestone in the conservation of the marine coastal ecosystem along the El Salvador coastline, and managed to develop synergies for work articulated between various entities working for the conservation of natural resources. 

With funds from the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Act (TFCCA), administered by FIAES, in the Gulf of Fonseca and Los Cóbanos, under a cooperation agreement, FUNZEL executed a project to carry out legal and bathymetric studies to generate conditions that would lead to the declaration of the new coastal-marine Natural Protected Area (NPA).

The project included a bathymetric survey and subsequent research, using autonomous diving. This holistic approach will not only contribute to the conservation of marine tropical coral forests, but will also allow further research to be carried out in the future on the identification of the different species that develop in these valuable ecosystems.

Leticia Andino, who coordinated the project on behalf of FUNZEL, explained the joint work with FIAES and MARN: "our work has focused on the delimitation of this new protected area, which will be a valuable input to the Ministry of the Environment in preparing the  the establishment of this new NPA. This project will contribute to the expansion of ecosystems in the Gulf of Fonseca area, thus benefiting the conservation and protection of our natural environment".

Daisy Herrera, head of the FIAES Oceans Program, described: "we set a precedent by generating accurate data, from the beginning, for the delimitation and management of a coastal marine Natural Protected Area.  This will allow us to develop a detailed management plan with precise zoning.  Something that, until now, had not been achieved in our country".

The project included legal studies, a bathymetric survey and further research through scuba diving. This comprehensive approach will not only contribute to the conservation of the marine tropical coral forests in the area, but will also allow the development of other future research related to the identification of the different species that develop in these valuable ecosystems. Combining topography and bathymetry techniques, it was possible to know exactly the characteristics of the Protected Natural Area, Maculís.  Margarita López, a biologist and reef specialist at FAIES, said that through the research, "crucial information was obtained on the composition of the seabed, identifying rocky areas, reefs and softer soils". 

She addresses that this information is essential to achieve more effective management of natural resources, and better conservation of the marine ecosystem.

FIAES emphasizes that this experience is an example of the key role played by the articulation of multi-sectoral strategic partners and actors, in achieving environmental conservation goals in the country.

For further information, contact the FIAES Communications and Public Relations Unit:

E-mail: communications@fiaes.org.sv

WhatsApp: +503 7746-4748

Photography: Ministry of the Environment of El Savador.