The vanishing mangroves of El Salvador: 'All our efforts may only slow the destruction'

In Barra de Santiago, local people are struggling to save one of the few remaining mangrove forests, as they are lost to agriculture and urban sprawlAlong El Salvador's western coast lies a 10,000-hectare (25,000-acre) emerald oasis, in stark contrast to the rest of the country's largely deforested landscape. This lush forest, just a few miles from the Guatemalan border, teems with diverse wildlife - from crocodiles and crabs to fish darting through seemingly endless mangroves.More than a biodiversity haven, Barra de Santiago serves as a crucial carbon sink in a region battling deforestation, and a natural shield for a country exposed to climate crisis-induced tropical storms and escalating sea levels. It is also home to thousands of people, whose lives are intricately tied to the resources provided by land and sea. Continue reading...