In order to promote sustainable development for the well-being of all, Bancoagrícola, in alliance with Fundación Domenech and with the support of Mastercard, successfully completed the second phase of La Cuenta del Mar, an initiative that protected the mangroves of the Jaltepeque Estuary and strengthened the economic and social fabric of coastal communities. As part of the outstanding achievements of this phase, 12 km of natural channels were intervened in key biodiversity areas.
In addition, important reforestation and marine species repopulation actions were carried out during this phase: 1,000 mangrove candelillas were planted and 100,000 shrimp postlarvae were repopulated. The social impact of the project was also significant, directly benefiting more than 850 people on Tasajera Island.
During this stage of the project, five additional kilometers were rehabilitated in the Santa Cruz and Agua Zarca estuarine canals, priority areas for their ecological value, where species such as endangered sea turtles and native birds live. These actions improved the natural water flow, recovered habitats, and strengthened biodiversity.
As part of the ecological restoration approach with community participation, 10,000 curile seeds were also introduced into community corrals. These actions not only benefited the ecosystem, but also generated decent employment and promoted food security in the area.
In addition, 10 underwater cleanups were carried out at critical points identified together with the community, where ghost fishing nets and solid waste that threatened marine fauna and water quality were removed. These tasks were carried out with the necessary technical support and the active participation of local fishermen.
“This project transformed environmental care into a collective and tangible action. At Bancoagrícola we believe that caring for the mangrove is caring for the people who live from it. For this reason, La Cuenta del Mar was also a commitment to equity, sustainability, and community pride”, said María Luz Castellanos, Bancoagrícola’s Brand manager.
“From our purpose of promoting sustainable development to achieve the well-being of all, we opened La Cuenta del Mar as a bridge between the care of nature and the well-being of people. Every channel restored, every seed planted and every cleanup day was an opportunity to build a more humane and resilient country”, said María Luz Castellanos, Bancoagrícola’s Head of Brand.
The impact of La Cuenta del Mar went beyond environmental issues. Thanks to the articulation with community organizations such as Asociación de Desarrollo Comunal Turística y Medio Ambiente Local (ACOMAYTUL) and the Estrellitas del Mar cooperative, the initiative strengthened women’s leadership, sustainable income generation and local technical knowledge.
“We have made significant progress in the restoration of the Estero de Jaltepeque. The closeness with the communities and the technical approach we share with Bancoagrícola and Mastercard allowed us to make the mangrove a living, productive and respected space”, said Margarita Ayala, general manager of Fundación Domenech.
With this second phase, Bancoagrícola and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to a more humane, green, and resilient future. Because only when we take care of what surrounds us, we can speak of well-being for all.
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