Water Quality Uses and Stresses Break Out Group Report

Team 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 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 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

Livelihoods 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

Agriculture 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

Deforestation 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 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 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.

Tourism 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 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 - 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 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!