El Salvador - GFDRR

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III. CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES
A. ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR
As previously indicated, El Salvador’s population is vulnerable to natural disasters as a result of its geographic
location and socioeconomic factors. According to the Bureau of the National Service for Territorial Studies
(D-SNET), nearly 10% of the country is exposed to floods, approximately 20% is exposed to landslides,
50% may be affected by droughts, and nearly 75% of the country may be affected by earthquakes. The
disasters affect the population, damage infrastructure, and hold back development. The following table
shows the economic cost associated with the recent disasters in El Salvador. In particular, the poor are
most affected by natural disasters because they are more likely to live in hazardous areas such as floodprone
plains, riverbanks, steep slopes, and fragile buildings in densely populated settlements.
Disaster
TABLE 33. ECONOMIC COST OF RECENT NATURAL DISASTERS
Economic Cost
(as percentage of GDP)
El Niño (1997–1998) 1.6
Hurricane Mitch (1998) 3.0
Earthquakes (2001) 12.0
Drought (2001) 1.2
Source: National Territorial Studies Service (D-SNET 2004).
Improper administration of natural resources could increase the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters.
For example, due to the country’s mountainous nature, deforestation in areas of abundant rainfall
accelerates erosion, nutrient loss and sedimentation, which in turn impact the number and intensity of
floods, landslides and droughts (MARN 2004). The Framework for the Reduction of Vulnerability to Natural
Disasters in Central America, enacted by the presidents of all of the region’s countries in 1999, recognizes
that environmental and natural resource management is essential for a vulnerability reduction policy.
The fact that MARN, through D-SNET, is responsible for the national policy dealing with the prevention
and reduction of environmental risks stresses the importance that the Government of El Salvador assigns
to environmental and natural resource management in order to reduce the country’s vulnerability.
The Dominican Republic – Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) and infrastructure programs
represent a challenge and an opportunity for environmental institutions in El Salvador. For
example, DR-CAFTA is expected to increase commerce, investment and economic growth and to
improve the well-being of El Salvador’s population (including the poor). However, the extent of
DR-CAFTA’s net gains and benefits will depend on El Salvador’s capacity to implement complementary
policies. The treaty itself will probably not lead to substantial development gains if it is
not accompanied by parallel improvements in areas such as infrastructure, trade facilitation, in-