Environmental Flows and Water reform in Central America: challenges and opportunities for their implementation

Transcription

1 Environmental Flows and Water reform in Central America: challenges and opportunities for their implementation Dr. Alejandro Iza,, IUCN ELC M.Sc. Rocío Córdoba, IUCN ORMA

2 Some facts about environmental flows in Central America A very new concept: not easy to understand Water sectors need figures: concrete data to take decisions and to include the issue into the legislation (ecosystem as an user ) Case studies are expensive and take long time Awareness about ecosystems goods and services Very close relationship between people and nature

3 Some facts about environmental flows in Central America Examples of implementation of ecosystem approach within IWRM initiatives Currently, several countries in the region are developing new water laws and policies, a great opportunity: Inclusion of this subject in draft laws Spaces for political discussion IUCN is considered a neutral facilitator and understands legal and political implications of the concept

4 Some facts about environmental flows in Central America Serious challenges on different levels: need for understanding the concept need to understand the importance of maintaining the health of ecosystems so they continue to provide their goods and services (ecosystems as users ) it is necessary to obtain concrete data which demonstrates that environmental flows are a basic element for Integrated Water Resource Management.

5 Country Water Legislation Water Law, drafts Belice Several sectoral laws Draft in discussion Costa Rica Water law 1942 Several sectoral laws El Salvador IWRM Law (1981) Several sectoral laws Water Law Draft 2005 Several water laws drafts Guatemala Disperse legislation Water Law draft 2004 Honduras Water Law 1927 WaterLawdraft2004 Nicaragua Water Law Approved, May 2007 Panamá Water Law 1966 Water Law draft 2007 Law 1998, Panama Canal Law 44, 2002: Special regime for watersheds

6 Case study 1: Costa Rica Water and Nature Initiative: DGIS-DFID US$80000 Discussions on environmental flows concepts Environmental flows networks Training workshops on FLOWS

7 Case study 1: Costa Rica Case study: Tempisque river Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) IUCN Mesoamerica Ministry of Environment Water Law discussions: IUCN s active participation at national level IUCN s participation at international level: Environmental Law Centre

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9 Case study 1: Costa Rica Tempisque river basin Ha, 10% national territory Tourism, aquaculture, intensive agriculture (90%) Sugar cane, rice, melon Extremely important for national economy

10 Land use changes high and middle watershed

11 Case study 1: Costa Rica Tempisque river basin Only area in the country with frequent droughts dry season Overall water demand for human use 4,782 million m 3 Surface water available 4,327 million m 3 Users concessions 20 m 3 / sec Dry season flows 8 m 3 / sec

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13 Case study 1: Costa Rica Tempisque river basin EFR based on hydrological and bathymetric data from a section of Tempisque river Biometric requirements of Parachromis dovii (guapote) & Crocodylus acutus (crocodile) Caudal en m3/seg Fig. 22. Caudales Ambientales Propuestos para el Río Tempisque en Guardia May Jun Jul Ago Set Oct Nov Dic Ene Feb Mar Abr MINIMOS 3,4 4,6 5,8 6,0 7,6 9,9 8,7 7,4 6,4 5,2 3,6 3,2 MAXIMOS + 95% Conf ianza 13,9 30,0 17,0 17,2 35,9 57,9 50,3 14,9 11,3 8,2 5,9 4,9 NORMAL o 50% confianza 8,6 17,3 11,4 11,6 21,8 33,9 29,5 11,2 8,8 6,7 4,7 4,1

14 Water Law Formulation Efforts Discussions on different versions Legal and technical revisions of the text Integrated efforts IUCN Environmental Law Centre IUCN Mesoamerica Organization for Tropical Studies Meetings with: Different groups Ministry of Environment Environment Comission of Congress

15 April 2005 Positive comm.from env. Commission May-December Water Technical Group Comparative Study Inclusion of new observations 2004 April January 1st Water National Official publication of Forum the proposal January First unified proposal 2003 February-September Consultation process with sectors

16 E-Flows concept included Art 3. The quantity of water required for guaranteeing the sustainability of each ecosystem Art 13. Register of Water Uses Art 50. EFwill not be considered a use, and shall instead be considered as a general restriction to be imposed when using the resource. However, in cases of conflict over use for supply to the population, the latter use will be prevalent.

17 E-Flows concept included Art 51. The Hydrological Unit Water Plans shall determine the required environmental flow for each body of water, in order to satisfy the minimum permanent requirements of the ecosystem Art 53. In case of water deficit: to guarantee proportional use between all users, respecting the following order of priorities: a) supply to the population; b) environmental flows; c) other essential public services; d) all other uses, to be reduced by a pro rata amount, until the situation is resolved.

18 E-Flows concept included Art 70. concession for use of hydraulic power to consider environmental flows ARTICLE Administrative infractions on environmental flows, concessions or authorizations Big challenge: water law hasn t been approved yet

19 Case study 2: El Salvador Most vulnerable country in terms of water resources. Per capita water availability in El Salvador is far below the rest of the region (2876m 3, average in C.A m 3 ). Ministry of Environment is interested on producing information for discussions Preparation of a water law draft Case study US$12000

20 Case study 2: El Salvador This nation is also the smallest and most densely populated (297 inhabitants / Km²) The least forest coverage (5.8%). Only 0.3% of the forest cover is under some sort of protection.

21 Case study 2: El Salvador Cara Sucia Watershed -4,100 Ha inhabitants -Basic agriculture -Husbandry -Irrigation systems -Basic information -Communities involvement

22 Cara Sucia Watershed Figura 2. Ubicación de los sitios de muestreo en la cuenca.

23 Case study 2: El Salvador Cara Sucia Watershed -Participatory approach -Meetings with stakeholders -Involvement in sampling -Water quantity and quality

24 Case study 2: El Salvador Cara Sucia Watershed -Recording the importance of the watershed for people Figura 5. Vista panorámica de un bautismo evangélico, Sitio de muestreo 1 (Los Encuentros).

25 Case study 2: El Salvador Cara Sucia Watershed -Collecting basic socio-economic and bio-physical information and uses -Existing data Figura 4. Pesca y extracción de especies para consumo y venta. -GIS Figura 3. Ganado abrevando en el río Cara Sucia en el sitio de muestreo 2.

26 Case study 2: El Salvador Challenges -Not very open discussion on water law -Look for political will -Ministry of Environment, draft includes: Water balance and water quality Watershed based management Economic, social and cultural values of water Protection, ecosystem approach, E-FLOWS Resource sustainability for country develop.

27 Other cases: Two watersheds in Costa Rica US$ Norway, Oslo Univ. Three year study Multidisciplinary team Resources from the Electricity Institute (ICE) Political Will Commitment?

28 Project Components Biological Biologicaland and socioecon. socioecon. indicators indicators Hydraulic Hydraulic Model Model Determine Determine the the minimum minimum acceptable acceptable flow flow Compenstion flow flow methodology (minimun (minimunflow flow acceptable) acceptable) Software Software Rana Rana

29 Other cases: Panama Interest from the Ministry of Environment Training sessions on enviromental flows for authorities Revision of law proposal by experts from CEL and ELC IUCN Inclusion of environmental flows as a result of political will Starting discussions in the country

30 Env. Flows concept included Art 7. Full definition including water regimes, quantity and quality Art 34. procedures and methodologies to Eflows determination and ecosystem needs must be established Art 53. Concessions and uses must take into account Eflows and ecosystem needs Art 91. Eflows one of the main elements to be included in discharges permissions

31 Conclusions How much water should be preserved in order to maintain natural ecosystems depends of many factors It is a choice made by the society Based on consensus building among the different users A big challenge: how to implement legislation (after law is approved the regulations come )

32 Conclusions Multidisciplinary effort from science to local language: study cases help to take decisions From science to decision makers language Need $$$, need time but it is more important Awareness raising Participation of stakeholders Political will Open discussions

33 A big challenge Almost 45% of the C.A. territoriy in shared watersheds

34 I m also part of the I m also part ecosystem of the ecosystem Gracias!