Increasing the Resilience of Tropical Hillside Communities through Forest Landscape Restoration

Tropical hillside communities in Latin America, Africa, and Asia are highly vulnerable to soil erosion and deforestation, which are exacerbated by climate change. The PASOLAC program in Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador demonstrates that Sustainable Soil and Water Management (SSWM) techniques—such as agroforestry, organic fertilization, and the construction of dams—increase resilience to droughts and heavy rainfall. Key outcomes include improved soil water retention, reduced topsoil loss, and the restoration of year-round water flows. The document argues that integrating human-based approaches, financial instruments like payments for environmental services, and market access is essential for long-term adaptation and livelihood security.

• Tropical hillsides, covering 13 million km2 (9% of the world's landmass), are characterized by extreme fragility, losing nearly 25,898 km2 of forest and 13 billion tons of topsoil annually to deforestation and erosion.
• In Central America, climate change is expected to exacerbate the impacts of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), leading to more frequent and intense hurricanes, irregular rainfall, and prolonged droughts.
• The PASOLAC program implemented Sustainable Soil and Water Management (SSWM) through three innovative methods: 'Invertir la Mirada' (IM) for farmer-led training, 'Pago por Servicios Ambientales' (PSA) for resource management payments, and 'Mercados para Agricultores de Laderas' (MERCASEL) for market integration.
• SSWM techniques significantly improved water security and drought resistance; soil water retention in the top 20 cm increased by an average of 3% (60,000 litres per hectare), and some streambeds that previously dried up now flow year-round due to dam construction.
• Comparative studies in Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua show that SSWM plots had a fertile soil layer 1.1–2.6 cm thicker than traditional plots, and traditional plots suffered 34% higher topsoil loss due to erosion.
• Effective climate adaptation for hillside communities requires an integrated approach that combines human and social capital improvements, locally-adapted resource management, financial instruments, and a supportive legal and institutional framework.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2003). Increasing the Resilience of Tropical Hillside Communities through Forest Landscape Restoration. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/envsec_livelihoods_2.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Increasing the Resilience of Tropical Hillside Communities through Forest Landscape Restoration. 2003. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/envsec_livelihoods_2.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Increasing the Resilience of Tropical Hillside Communities through Forest Landscape Restoration |date=2 December 2003 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/envsec_livelihoods_2.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2003increasing, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Increasing the Resilience of Tropical Hillside Communities through Forest Landscape Restoration}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2003}, month = dec, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/envsec_livelihoods_2.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }