On the occasion of World Environment Day, the Franciscan Order, together with several social, ecclesial, and environmental organisations in El Salvador, released a statement in support of the 26th Ecological Walk, celebrated this year under the theme “Walking Conscience, Transforming Commitment.”
The document expresses participants’ concern about the growing degradation of ecosystems, the advancement of projects that threaten common goods, and the social hardships affecting thousands of Salvadoran families. The organisers denounce that many decisions regarding the land continue to be made without adequate involvement of the affected communities, whilst problems such as water insecurity, job insecurity, evictions, and the rising cost of living persist.
The statement also draws attention to the increasingly evident effects of the climate crisis in Central America, including extreme temperatures, agricultural losses, and the decline in basic food production, phenomena that particularly affect the most vulnerable populations.
Alongside this denunciation, the organisations recognise numerous signs of hope present in communities, among young people, indigenous peoples, families, social organisations, and citizen movements who are committed to the care of creation every day. They highlight the work of those promoting agroecology, protecting native seeds, defending territories, and fostering more harmonious and sustainable relationships with nature.
The participants in the 26th Ecological Walk also appeal to all of the Salvadoran society—communities, churches, public and private institutions, universities, media, businesses, and government authorities—to responsibly assume the care of our Common Home through concrete actions and policies aimed at defending life, water, and ecosystems.
Specifically, the statement calls for a reconsideration of the Metal Mining Law, highlighting the risks it poses to water sources, communities, and the country’s environmental balance. The signatories recall the broad national consensus that, in recent years, led to protecting the territory from the threat of open-pit mining.
The 26th Ecological Walk concludes with a call to strengthen the paths of dialogue, justice, and social participation, reaffirming that it is still possible to build a more humane and sustainable future. “May this walking conscience also become a transformative commitment,” the statement concludes.
