Prodetur
Encyclopedia
Prodetur is an ecotourism
organization, directed and managed by Luis Diaz Martinez, and is headquartered in the village of Perquin
in the Morazán
Province of El Salvador
. Prodetur directs tourist activities in Morazán which ensure the continuity of the Rio Sapo
preservation initiative.
was the site of some of the fiercest fighting during the Salvadoran civil war of 1980-1992. It was also the scene of the conflict's most notorious massacre, in the village of El Mozote
. Perquín
was long a rebel stronghold, and sometimes designated the FMLN's unofficial capital. The war had an ambivalent effect on the region's natural ecosystem: on the one hand, the combat was a source of widespread destruction; on the other hand, it prevented significant urbanization.
, located in the northeast of El Salvador
. The Rio Sapo area is particularly significant due to the ecosystem surrounding it, which includes several pine forests, 84 species of threatened flora and fauna, and 24 species of endangered fauna. Part of Prodetur’s purpose is to ensure the protection of these rare species by constant monitoring.
The protection of the Rio Sapo area was initiated in 2000 but also included the installment of tourist services, such as those offered by Prodetur. Since then Prodetur has attracted tourist attention while at the same time stressing a community-wide conservation and management of the natural resources. The protection of the Rio Sapo area is ensured through development of environmental-friendly infrastructure, environmental education, research of the Rio Sapo ecosystem, and the use of clean technologies.
, Arambala
, Joacaitique, San Fernando
, Joateca
, Meanguera, El Rosario
, Torola
, Guatajiagua
, Cacaopera
and Maroon. Prodetur and the local businesses of these towns, together, offer tourists guided tours of natural and historic attractions, lodging, meals, recreational activities, and transportation to/from sites.
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism...
organization, directed and managed by Luis Diaz Martinez, and is headquartered in the village of Perquin
Perquín
Perquín is a municipality in the Morazán department of El Salvador. It is home to the Museum of the Revolution, which contains artifacts and exhibits related to the Salvadoran Civil War...
in the Morazán
Morazán
Morazán is a name shared by several places in Central America, all named in honour of 19th century regional statesman Francisco Morazán:*Morazán Department, El Salvador*Francisco Morazán Department, Honduras* Morazán, Yoro, municipality in Honduras...
Province of El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
. Prodetur directs tourist activities in Morazán which ensure the continuity of the Rio Sapo
Rio Sapo
The Rio Sapo is a river in the U.S. commonwealth of Puerto Rico....
preservation initiative.
Historical background
The department of MorazánMorazán Department
Morazán is a department of El Salvador. Located in the northeast part of the country, its capital is San Francisco Gotera. It covers a total surface area of 1,447 km² and has a population of more than 200,000.-History:...
was the site of some of the fiercest fighting during the Salvadoran civil war of 1980-1992. It was also the scene of the conflict's most notorious massacre, in the village of El Mozote
El Mozote
El Mozote is a village in the Morazán department in El Salvador. It was the site of the El Mozote massacre during the civil war in December 1981 when nearly 1,000 civilians were killed by the US-trained Atlacatl Battalion, backed by the Salvadoran government....
. Perquín
Perquín
Perquín is a municipality in the Morazán department of El Salvador. It is home to the Museum of the Revolution, which contains artifacts and exhibits related to the Salvadoran Civil War...
was long a rebel stronghold, and sometimes designated the FMLN's unofficial capital. The war had an ambivalent effect on the region's natural ecosystem: on the one hand, the combat was a source of widespread destruction; on the other hand, it prevented significant urbanization.
Purpose
Prodetur oversees the conservation and management of 6,000 hectares along the Rio Sapo in Morazán DepartmentMorazán Department
Morazán is a department of El Salvador. Located in the northeast part of the country, its capital is San Francisco Gotera. It covers a total surface area of 1,447 km² and has a population of more than 200,000.-History:...
, located in the northeast of El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
. The Rio Sapo area is particularly significant due to the ecosystem surrounding it, which includes several pine forests, 84 species of threatened flora and fauna, and 24 species of endangered fauna. Part of Prodetur’s purpose is to ensure the protection of these rare species by constant monitoring.
The protection of the Rio Sapo area was initiated in 2000 but also included the installment of tourist services, such as those offered by Prodetur. Since then Prodetur has attracted tourist attention while at the same time stressing a community-wide conservation and management of the natural resources. The protection of the Rio Sapo area is ensured through development of environmental-friendly infrastructure, environmental education, research of the Rio Sapo ecosystem, and the use of clean technologies.
Donors and development initiatives
The funds to implement Prodetur programs are provided by the Fund Initiative of the Americas, Program of Small Donations, the World Fund for the Environment, and the Binational Program of Frontier Development. Under the Binational Program of Frontier Development which was implemented in 2005, both Honduras and El Salvador created nuclei of development along the border provinces. Nucleus of Local Development number three, located in Morazán, has largely been a tourism initiative, of which Prodetur is a part. Prodetur, in coordination with bordering municipalities in Honduras, has developed a series of programs that integrate the southern part of Honduras and the department of Morazán. Central to this tourism initiative is a series of services offered by Prodetur and Morazán province, such as food, lodging, transportation, and various outdoor/recreation activities, including, but not limited to, mountain biking, bird-watching, nature walks, hiking, camping, and swimming.Location and collaboration
Prodetur operates in villages and hamlets along one of the most historically significant roads in Morazán. The Ruta de la Paz Lenca was a road of strategic importance, militarily and economically, during the Salvadoran Civil War which lasted from 1980 to 1992. Subsequently, the north of Morazán has become an important tourist destination for its historic sites from the civil war. Prodetur has utilized this increasing tourist attention to Morazán by directing these tourists to local businesses for their accommodations. In this way, the local post-war economy benefits from the tourist activity as well. Prodetur’s operation benefits the communities along the Ruta de Paz, including PerquínPerquín
Perquín is a municipality in the Morazán department of El Salvador. It is home to the Museum of the Revolution, which contains artifacts and exhibits related to the Salvadoran Civil War...
, Arambala
Arambala
Arambala is a municipality in the Morazán Department of El Salvador. As of 2003, it had a population of 2116....
, Joacaitique, San Fernando
San Fernando, Morazán
San Fernando is a municipality in the Morazán department of El Salvador....
, Joateca
Joateca
Joateca is a municipality in the Morazán department of El Salvador.-External links:*...
, Meanguera, El Rosario
El Rosario, Morazán
El Rosario is a municipality in the Morazán department of El Salvador. The minicipality has an area of 19.12 km² and a population of 1,296 according to the 2007 census....
, Torola
Torola
Torola is a municipality in the Morazán department of El Salvador....
, Guatajiagua
Guatajiagua
Guatajiagua is a municipality in the Morazán department of El Salvador....
, Cacaopera
Cacaopera
Cacaopera is a municipality in the Morazán department of El Salvador.According to UNESCO:The community of Cacaopera is the sole surviving representative of an otherwise vanished ethnic group, variously referred to as Ulua, Matagalpa, or Cacaopera...
and Maroon. Prodetur and the local businesses of these towns, together, offer tourists guided tours of natural and historic attractions, lodging, meals, recreational activities, and transportation to/from sites.