The Nicaraguan Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope has organized the planting of approximately 7,500 trees in the Dry Corridor, one of the regions in Central America struggling with desertification. Photo: LWF/E. Albrecht
7,000 trees planted through the “Sowing the path to COP30” campaign
(LWI) – In Nicaragua’s Dry Corridor, which is one of Central America’s regions most affected by drought and environmental degradation, hope is beginning to take root. In June, more than 7,000 trees were planted across the rural communities of El Rodeo, La Carbonera, San Luis, and Tierra Colorada in the municipality of Somoto. As if in affirmation of the community’s efforts, rain finally returned after nine long months of drought, bringing much-needed relief to the community. The Dry Corridor, which stretches across El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, is highly vulnerable to extreme climate events. Prolonged droughts, displacement, and food insecurity have taken a heavy toll on the region’s people and ecosystems.
This reforestation effort is part of the “Sowing the path to COP30” campaign, an initiative of the Latin American and Caribbean Climate Justice Forum, coordinated by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). In Nicaragua, the campaign is led by the Nicaraguan Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope (ILFE), which has long supported families most affected by climate change.
As part of this initiative, ILFE partnered with the Mayor’s Office of Somoto, which received tree seedlings to support local reforestation. Mayor Dania Sujey Martínez Mondragón personally joined the planting efforts and praised the church’s role: “ILFE’s work is relevant, assertive, and well-coordinated. We’ve worked hand in hand for years to promote healthy, peaceful, and harmonious coexistence for families,” she said.
She also emphasized the municipality’s environmental commitment: “We promote care for Mother Earth through policies and campaigns like ‘Verde que te quiero verde’ (Green, I love you green), a key initiative of the Guardabarranco environmental movement led by Sandinista youth. Climate change is real, and it is vital that more of us join this cause.”
The El Rodeo community was the first to plant trees, beginning the action with a thanksgiving service. Photo: LWF/E. Albrecht
Indira José Díaz López, theology student of ILFE, leading the liturgy before the start of the reforestation campaign. Photo: LWF/E. Albrecht
The reforestation campaign is promoted by the LWF's Climate Justice Forum in Latin America and the Caribbean. Photo: LWF/E. Albrecht
Trees that bring shade, life, and a future
In the Dry Corridor, where high temperatures and water scarcity make daily life increasingly difficult, trees are more than just part of the landscape – they are symbols of resilience, hope, and action.
“At ILFE, we integrate climate justice into our community development projects,” said Alberto Javier Granados Robles, ILFE campaign coordinator in Somoto. “Families here are extremely vulnerable to climate change, which threatens access to food and clean water. That’s why we implement strategies like mass tree planting to restore ecosystems and support livelihoods.”
These trees help improve soil quality, slow desertification, restore biodiversity, and create microclimates that reduce extreme heat and conserve water.
Animals must search for the little green grass that remains after months without rain in Nicaragua's Dry Corridor. Photo: LWF/E. Albrecht
Native, medicinal, and fruit trees were given to the communities with the aim of reforesting at different levels (near houses, but also in the fields). Photo: LWF/E. Albrecht
Living without shade: A daily challenge
For residents like Exequiel Viscay Vásquez, a community pastor in La Carbonera, the climate crisis is deeply personal: “It’s unbearably hot. Plants, animals, and people are all suffering. Without trees, even breathing becomes difficult.”
His community has dug four deep wells to access water, but without vegetation to retain moisture, the challenge grows.
“We’re planting trees around the wells to raise awareness. Climate change affects us in many ways – sometimes with intense heat, other times with long rains. We want shade, so the water doesn’t disappear,” he said.
In the center of the image is the Mayor of Somoto, Dania Sujey Martínez Mondragón, who participated in the planting and highlighted ILFE's commitment to working with communities and those most in need. Photo: LWF/E. Albrecht
In the sweltering heat of the Dry Corridor, the shade of a tree may seem small, but here, it is an act of resistance, faith, and hope.
Alberto Javier Granados Robles, ILFE campaign coordinator
A regional movement for global impact
The “Sowing the path to COP30” campaign is active across Latin America and the Caribbean, uniting churches, social organizations, and communities in climate action. Its goal is to arrive at the next United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) with tangible evidence of grassroots contributions to protecting our Common Home.
In Nicaragua, the trees are already taking root. And beyond the numbers lies the unwavering commitment of families who, despite adversity, are investing in a more just and sustainable future.
“Through this work, we hope to inspire daily commitment to climate justice and build a more compassionate world for future generations,” Javier said. “In the sweltering heat of the Dry Corridor, the shade of a tree may seem small, but here, it is an act of resistance, faith, and hope.”
