Poverty-Environment mainstreaming context

Guatemala has one of the lowest human development indices (HDI) in Latin America (0.560 according to the HDR 2010, ranking 116 out of 169) as well as the highest level of chronic malnutrition of the region (49.3% according to World Bank), occupying the fourth place of countries with chronic undernourishment worldwide.

The country suffers from high levels of inequality from structural causes such big gaps in wealth distribution. According to the National Survey of Living Conditions (ENCOVI), 51% of the population lives in poverty and 15.2% in extreme poverty, affecting people living in rural areas and Indigenous populations the most (75% poor and 27.4% extremely poor). This situation reduces access to the goods and resources necessary for well-being, especially for the most vulnerable people, Indigenous groups, women (who represent 51.5% of the poor), children, and the elderly.

Several reports indicate that, while the country’s natural wealth is considerable, so are the environmental challenges faced by the Guatemalan society. The country is located on three tectonic plates and is exposed to extreme weather events as it is located in the path of tropical storms from both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. In addition, aridification, drought, and desertification undermine the survival potential of poor populations. Guatemala is among the five most vulnerable countries in the world in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with three or more threats, and 83.3% of its GDP generated in risk areas.

Beyond the country’s aggravated vulnerability during extreme climatic events, there are countless indicators showing the “territorial disorder” in which Guatemala lives: 37% of the land is underused and 15% is overused, resulting in ground erosion and pollution of water sources with solids, reduction of water’s capacity to infiltrate, silting of rivers, and floods. It is estimated that forest cover decreased by 58% between 1950 and 2005, less than 5% of the country’s populated areas have sewage treatment plants, and more than 40% of the Guatemala Department’s population lives in slums.

The incorporation of ecosystem services-related information to into planning processes is key to optimizing public investment as the increasing demand for this type of services can result in imbalances (both social and environmental), affecting their provision and the welfare of social groups depending on them.

The mainstreaming of the environmental dimension and the consideration impacts on ecosystems is crucial at all the levels of territorial planning: at the national level, by identifying strategic ecosystems, their valuation and development models associated to a land management rationale within the framework of the formulation of the country’s agenda; at the regional level, by analyzing the relation between ecosystem services (supply and demand) and food insecurity; and at the local level, by seeking to implement local (pilot) initiatives associated to fragile ecosystems, and a land and natural resources management approach within a sustainability framework.

 Main activities

• Identification and characterization of the uses and services of the ecosystems and their contribution to the reduction of poverty of the population, to enhance the development of the country.
• Formation and strengthening of the national inter-institutional commission (SEGEPLAN, MARN, CONAP, INAB, MEM) for the mainstreaming of the valuation of ecosystem services and the incorporation of indicators to the framework of the national development agenda 2032.
• Design of a communication strategy to strengthen the valuation between territorial planning and its link to ecosystem services of the territory.
• Conformation of the regional inter-institutional commission for the formulation of the Regional Development Plan of the Dry Corridor, prioritizing the identification of ecosystem services.
• Gathering of information and creation of the territorial vision for the dry corridor region.
• Elaboration of a regional development plan for the dry corridor, including a group of programmes and projects identified by development axes.
• Conformation of a commission between the different municipalities articulated around the valuation of the coastal ecosystem.
• Gathering of information and creation of a territorial vision for the sub-region including territorial planning guidelines.
• Elaboration of three plans of territorial planning including a group of programmes and projects by development axes and a local regulation with an ecosystem and reduction of poverty approach
• Creation of a methodological guide for the management of territorial planning at local level with an ecosystem and reduction of poverty approach.