As flood risks rise, Latino landscapers and residents learn to fight back with green infrastructure

As climate change brings more intense rain to many parts of the country, people’s yards and gardens provide an often-overlooked opportunity to help reduce the risk of flooding.

So to educate more people about so-called green infrastructure techniques, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit called EcoLatinos created a Spanish-language training program for Latino landscapers and local residents.

Abel: “I wanted to learn more on how to make a difference, especially in my own community.”

Fredemir Abel participated in the program last fall.

He says he gained hands-on experience in techniques for managing stormwater. For example, he learned to build rain gardens – sunken areas planted with deep-rooted perennials that help absorb stormwater.

Participants also learned about tree planting, minimizing non-permeable surfaces, and how to install rain barrels. And they got tips for starting or expanding sustainable landscaping businesses.

Abel: “So what I would like to do is to apply these skills to support green jobs and help design healthier and more sustainable neighborhoods.”

Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media

This article first appeared on Yale Climate Connections and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.