Download - The Trifinio Plan
The Trifinio Plan
Shared Management of Transnational Basins in Central America
Haley BornFebruary 2012
Location
Statistics• 3 countries • Area = 7,500 km3
• Population = 670,000• Population Density = 89 ppl/km2
• 70% of population live in rural areas• 53% of population live in extreme poverty• 75% of land cover is mountainous
Municipalities by Country
GuatemalaHondurasEl Salvador
Motives• Preservation of the
Montecristo National Cloud Forest
• Protect endangered species
• Lay the groundwork for international cooperation and development
TreatiesDelimitation of
Boundaries
• 1938• Guatemala
and El Salvador
• Water quantity and border issues
• Lempa and Paz Basins
Esquipulas Peace
Agreements• 1987• Nicaragua,
Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador
• Settled military conflicts
The Trifinio Plan
• 1998• Guatemala,
Honduras, and El Salvador
• Joint management
• Lempa Basin
Management• Primary
o Trifinio National Commission
• Secondaryo Environmental committees
•Supporting organizationsoGeneral Secretariat of the
Organization of American States (OAS)oInter-American Institute for Agricultural Cooperation (IICA)oInter-American Development Bank (IADB or BID)
Four Components of the Program
Management of Natural Resources
Economic Diversity
Physical Works
Risk and Vulnerability Management
Shortcomings• Has no established its own coordinating inter-
sectoral planning mechanism• No focus on integrated management of water• Lacked social management component
o No community ownershipo Not sustainable
• Lack of mandates for national representatives creates confusion and conflict
• Balance between national and tri-national representation is precarious and complex
Successes• Approved and adopted financing plan• Achieved reforestation of 4,500 hectares of land• 10 infrastructure projects
o Benefitting over 80,000 inhabitantso 9 municipalitieso 3 countries
• Environmental committees created in each country• New programs geared towards support
Lessons Learned• “shows the limits to processes that are stimulated
from above”• Political will of participating countries is essential• Local participation is lacking
o No funding at local or national levelo Lacks efficiency and sustainability
• Regional units should be created
Questions
?1. How do you think the Trifinio National
Commission can encourage participation of local environmental groups and municipalities?
2. What can be done to integrate water resource management into the existing agreement?
3. How can the balance of power between the countries be stabilized? Do you think this is the best way to minimize conflict in international negotiations? What else might be done?