Honduras cloud seeding program sparks regional debate with El Salvador

Honduras has initiated a cloud seeding program using silver iodide to combat severe drought, particularly in the Corredor Seco region. The initiative, managed by the Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock, aims to stimulate precipitation over areas spanning between 1.8 million and 2.3 million hectares. The government plans approximately 20 flights over a three-month period, provided atmospheric conditions are suitable.

The intervention has sparked diplomatic and environmental concerns in neighboring El Salvador. Ricardo Navarro, president of the Centro Salvadoreño de Tecnología Apropiada (CESTA), has called for regional dialogue and scientific study to determine if stimulating clouds in Honduras affects rainfall distribution and water cycles in neighboring territories. Navarro urged the Salvadoran government to engage in diplomatic talks and requested that the Central American Commission on Environment and Development evaluate the regional impacts of the practice.