El Salvador Government Projects Threaten Vital Water Area

A heavy storm caused flooding in areas of San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, on August 16. These phenomena mostly occur during the rainy season, partly due to the environmental degradation of a water recharge area known as El Espino.

Two government construction projects in a water recharge area on the slopes of the San Salvador volcano, near the country’s capital, threaten to increase the risk of flooding in poor neighborhoods downstream.

Environmentalists and local residents, who have lived for decades in this green area, warned that urban expansion is “slowly eating away” at 800 hectares of what was once the main coffee farm, El Espino.

“I was born here and have seen everything deteriorate,” said 63-year-old Héctor López, a member of the El Espino Agricultural Production Cooperative, which has 100 members mostly dedicated to coffee cultivation.

The two new government projects continue a pattern of deforestation dating back to the 1990s, fueled by real estate expansion.

The projects include the 50,000-seat El Salvador National Stadium, under construction since September 2022 on 55,000 square meters, expected to be ready in 2027, and the new Center for Fairs and Conventions (Cifco), covering a similar area. Both would occupy about 10 hectares.

With each new construction, the soil absorbs less rainwater, causing storm runoff to flood poor neighborhoods such as Santa Lucía. “When rainwater soaks into forests, there isn’t much runoff, but without forests, flooding increases,” said Ricardo Navarro of the Center for Appropriate Technology (Cesta).

El Espino still houses a forest with rich biodiversity. Both projects are funded by Chinese non-reimbursable funds, part of a broader package including a library, tourist pier, and water purification plant.

Navarro criticized the lack of environmental awareness among authorities, particularly President Nayib Bukele, who has governed with an authoritarian style since 2019. Constitutional changes now allow him to run for multiple presidential terms.

“President Bukele: The climate situation is going to get much worse due to climate change,” Navarro urged, highlighting recent storm flooding.

The El Espino farm, once owned by the wealthy Dueñas family, was partially seized during land reform in 1980, returning a section of urbanizable land to the family in 1986. The urbanized areas now host shopping malls and luxury residences.

Heavy storms continue to demonstrate the area’s vulnerability. In August 2023, floods affected hundreds of cars and forced the evacuation of 25 families. Historical floods, like the 1982 Montebello mudflow and 2008 bus tragedy, underline the risks.

Restoration efforts, including the 2020 “Sponge City” project promoted by UNEP, have rehabilitated 1,150 hectares to improve water absorption. Yet new constructions continue to threaten the area.

Members of the El Espino cooperative remain active in reforestation efforts. “We try to infiltrate water with trenches, but when the ground is saturated, it’s not enough,” said Elsa Méndez.

The social movement Todos Somos El Espino has called for a rally on August 23 to protest the construction of the convention center and protect the forest.