San Simon: Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change Adaptability

In the past two years, El Salvador has been hit by five extreme climate events: Tropical Storm Ida in 2009, Hurricanes Agatha, Alex and Matthew in 2010, and Tropical Depression 12E in 2011.  For communities and leaders in El Salvador, climate change is not up for debate – it is already taking a devastating toll on crops, infrastructure and human life. 

Watch a video about sustainable agriculture and climate change adaptability in San Simon here! 

As the effects of climate change become increasingly pronounced, it is the populations of countries like El Salvador that are being hit first and hit hardest. Unpredictable and increasingly extreme weather patterns are threatening the immediate food security and long-term struggle to overcome poverty of vulnerable communities throughout El Salvador. With this in mind, SHARE began to work with REDES in 2009, after Tropical Storm Ida, to work towards reducing risk in future disasters.

One of the communities that REDES works with is San Simon, in the department of Usulutan.  San Simon is bordered by two rivers, the Lempa and the San Simon.  This is both a blessing and a curse.  Rivers bring water for crops and human consumption and fish and other sea life for food and income.  They are also a latent threat; every rainy season, people go on alert for heavy rains and flash flooding.

In October 2011, before Tropical Depression 12E devastated El Salvador, SHARE staff were able to visit this community.  Excited and enthusiastic community leaders – about 20 in total – gave us a tour of their fields and talked extensively about the benefits of native seeds, community organizing, planting vegetables, and organic methods they are now putting into practice thanks to SHARE and REDES’ support. 

Although the community lost everything during Tropical Depression 12E, they will continue on, organized and as excited as ever about caring for their families and the environment.  Their disaster preparedness trainings with REDES clearly paid off, as no human lives were lost in the massive flooding from Oct 10-19th.  Together, they will replant their fields and vegetable gardens and continue to expand their native seed bank for the future. 

 Watch an exciting video about San Simon’s efforts to organize, rescue native seeds, implement organic agriculture methods, and prepare for climate disasters here!