The Rainforest Alliance is Collecting Donations for El Salvador's Earthquake Victims

January 18, 2001 - The Rainforest Alliance is collecting funds through its Catalyst Grants Program to help victims of the January 13 earthquake in El Salvador. The money will be sent to the Alliance's locally based partner group, SalvaNATURA, to assist them in helping those who have been devastated by this natural disaster. The funds will be used to provide basic necessities like water and food as well as building materials such as lumber, roofing, cement, and bricks, in order to assist local communities in the strenuous task of reconstructing their homes and communities.

SalvaNATURA's efforts are focussed in the following geographical areas: Santiago de María, Berlín, Alegría, and Mercedes Umaña, in El Salvador's Usulután department, and Tacuba, in the Ahuachapán department -- locations that were the most severely damaged by the disaster. In the majority of these areas, 60 percent of the homes either collapsed completely or were damaged. In the case of Santiago de María and Tacuba, an estimated 80 to 90 percent of the homes were totally destroyed.

Since Monday, January 15, 35 professionals from SalvaNATURA have been delivering aid, using that organization's nine four-wheel drive pick-up trucks for transport. The organization's staff is composed of a multidisciplinary team of professionals, with experience in logistical planning and emergency relief related to natural disasters. At present, the SalvaNATURA team is coordinating with the Salvadoran National Emergency Committee (COEN) and local governments in the communities previously mentioned to facilitate the distribution of national and international assistance.

To date, limited quantities of food, mattresses and bedding, materials for the construction of temporary housing, and water have been distributed. Additional help is needed in the form of cash donations. Contributions can be made by credit card, by calling 1-888-MY-EARTH, or by check, made payable to "Rainforest Alliance." Checks should be sent to:

Read selected news articles about the earthquake.