Water Quality Uses and Stresses

Water Quality Uses and Stresses

Break Out Group Report

Break Out Group Report

Team MembersTeam Members• Paul Kirshen, Tufts University, USA

• Rudolph Williams, Nat. Meteorology Service, Belize

• Joseph Villafranco, TIDE, Belize

• Alvin Loredo, SATIIM, Belize

• German Zepeda, SERNA, Honduras

• Ned Spang, Tufts University, USA

• Paul Kirshen, Tufts University, USA

• Rudolph Williams, Nat. Meteorology Service, Belize

• Joseph Villafranco, TIDE, Belize

• Alvin Loredo, SATIIM, Belize

• German Zepeda, SERNA, Honduras

• Ned Spang, Tufts University, USA

• José Robledo, MARN-AMARSURLI, Guatemala

• Ana Carolina Monterroso, Fearless Translator, Guatemala

• José Robledo, MARN-AMARSURLI, Guatemala

• Ana Carolina Monterroso, Fearless Translator, Guatemala

Watershed ApproachWatershed Approach• General Agreement on Approach• Needs to be multidisciplinary: strength and weakness of approach

• Coordination of various govt and NGO actors = greatest challenge (e.g. 104 organizations working in Lago Izabal)

• Lack political will (22 attempts to pass Water Law in Guatemala)

• General Agreement on Approach• Needs to be multidisciplinary: strength and weakness of approach

• Coordination of various govt and NGO actors = greatest challenge (e.g. 104 organizations working in Lago Izabal)

• Lack political will (22 attempts to pass Water Law in Guatemala)

Watershed Approach Interventions

Watershed Approach Interventions

• Need to find case studies for successful watershed approach --> Lessons Learned

• Educational awareness on concept of watershed and watershed approach

• Need to find case studies for successful watershed approach --> Lessons Learned

• Educational awareness on concept of watershed and watershed approach

LivelihoodsLivelihoods

• Important for local ecotourism, farming and fishing operations in Barranco

• Intervention:– Continue appropriate protection of the environment,local customs and livelihoods

• Important for local ecotourism, farming and fishing operations in Barranco

• Intervention:– Continue appropriate protection of the environment,local customs and livelihoods

AgricultureAgriculture• Technical assistance for appropriate pesticide use and management, potential for organic production– short-term

• Train farmers in watershed management– short-term, continuous

• Terracing to reduce soil erosion– medium-term

• Export certification for large-scale farmers - monitoring opportunity– short-term

• Fiscal Incentives and “polluter pays”policy, farmer-to-farmer monitoring

– medium-term

• Technical assistance for appropriate pesticide use and management, potential for organic production– short-term

• Train farmers in watershed management– short-term, continuous

• Terracing to reduce soil erosion– medium-term

• Export certification for large-scale farmers - monitoring opportunity– short-term

• Fiscal Incentives and “polluter pays”policy, farmer-to-farmer monitoring

– medium-term

DeforestationDeforestation• Raise social awareness for protection of forests– short-term, continuous

• Create nurseries of native species for reforestation programs– medium-term

• Introduction of fast-growing trees for fuelwood– short-term

• Alternative livelihoods for loggers: tourism handicrafts, bakeries

– medium-term

• Raise social awareness for protection of forests– short-term, continuous

• Create nurseries of native species for reforestation programs– medium-term

• Introduction of fast-growing trees for fuelwood– short-term

• Alternative livelihoods for loggers: tourism handicrafts, bakeries

– medium-term

Wastewater & Sanitation

Wastewater & Sanitation

• Wastewater Treatment Plants– medium to long-term

• Appropriate technology for Rural Area: composting toilets, gray water systems– medium to long-term

• Monitoring of users– medium to long term

• Management of Septage, including appropriate pumping and disposal– medium to long-term

• Wastewater Treatment Plants– medium to long-term

• Appropriate technology for Rural Area: composting toilets, gray water systems– medium to long-term

• Monitoring of users– medium to long term

• Management of Septage, including appropriate pumping and disposal– medium to long-term

Land UseLand Use

• Respect the soil capacity and slope• Urbanization was a problem, need to enforce housing and zoning codes

• Address problem of slash and burn agriculture

• Respect natural river conditions for infrastructure development

• Education program for disaster awareness: landslides, floods, etc.

• Respect the soil capacity and slope• Urbanization was a problem, need to enforce housing and zoning codes

• Address problem of slash and burn agriculture

• Respect natural river conditions for infrastructure development

• Education program for disaster awareness: landslides, floods, etc.

TourismTourism

• Great potential negative and positive environmental impacts

• Responsible management of tourism industry to respect carrying capacity and cultural values of local area

• Develop ecotourism sector: there is a wealth of biodiversity in the region

• Great potential negative and positive environmental impacts

• Responsible management of tourism industry to respect carrying capacity and cultural values of local area

• Develop ecotourism sector: there is a wealth of biodiversity in the region

Central vs. Local Management of Watersheds

Central vs. Local Management of Watersheds

• Policies and Laws should come from central government, but local groups should manage the watershed directly

• Local groups can mobilize around sense of ownership, role for education and training

• How can this really be accomplished?

• Policies and Laws should come from central government, but local groups should manage the watershed directly

• Local groups can mobilize around sense of ownership, role for education and training

• How can this really be accomplished?

Solid Waste - GarbageSolid Waste - Garbage

• Important role for education to raise awareness for proper waste disposal and recycling - short-term, continuous

• Waste management facilities and systems: landfills, trash bins, collection, etc. - medium to long-term

• Recognize positive benefits/cost-recover of solid waste: biogas, recyclables, composting, employment, etc. - long-term

• Important role for education to raise awareness for proper waste disposal and recycling - short-term, continuous

• Waste management facilities and systems: landfills, trash bins, collection, etc. - medium to long-term

• Recognize positive benefits/cost-recover of solid waste: biogas, recyclables, composting, employment, etc. - long-term

Joint Management of Transboundary

Watersheds

Joint Management of Transboundary

Watersheds• Honduras case: Motagua watershed is not a priority

• Potential for strategic proposal which highlights the benefits of joint management for funding and generate national governments participation

• Honduras case: Motagua watershed is not a priority

• Potential for strategic proposal which highlights the benefits of joint management for funding and generate national governments participation

Thanks Very Much!

Thanks Very Much!