TRINATIONAL COMMISSION OF PLAN TRIFINIO Plan Trifinio and the Shared Watershed of the Lempa River El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras Mercedes Llort Trinational Executive Secretary

Comprises 7,541 km including 45 border municipalities: 8 in El Salvador, 11 in Guatemala and 22 in Honduras The Region surrounds the Montecristo Cloud Forest The Region is constituted as an indivisible ecological area by a unique Treaty signed by the Governments of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. THE TRIFINIO REGION

THE TRIFINIO REGION THE TRIFINIO REGION l Source of three of the most important water systems in Central America: Lempa, Motagua y Ulua l Diverse natural resources of the Biological Reserve “La Fraternidad” l Encompasses 50% of the Upper Lempa Watershed l l The Trifinio Region and the Lempa River Basin are intimately related: conditions in the Region affect the quality and quantity of water resources

TRIFINIO REGION MAIN INDICATORS Population: 670,000 inhabitants Area: 7,541 Km Density: 89 inhabitants/Km Municipalities: 45 Rural Population: Greater than 70% Extreme Poverty: 53% Illiteracy: Urban 25% Rural 75% Unemployment (Greater than 50% of Economically Active Population)

VICIOUS CYCLE: Poverty and Environmental Degradation

70% of population lives on subsistance agriculture Poor profitability and competitiveness Limited public investment - Non-existent cross-border cooperation - Weak local organizational capacity Increased agricultural activity - Rapid changes in land use - Loss of vegetation - Erosion Contamination of Lempa River and tributaries - Untreated waste water from urban centers - Inappropriate use of agro-chemicals

TRIFINIO IS A PROCESS UNIQUE IN AMERICA Contributes to Central American Integration Promotes participation at the local, national and trinational levels for greater cross-border cooperation Permits the integrated management of shared natural resources

PROCESS RESULTS Constitution of the Montecristo National Park (1971), one of the few remaining habitats for rare and endangered species and a vital source of water, receiving an average annual total of 53.2 million mts 3. Declaration of the Biosphere Reserve “La Fraternidad” (1987) –Management Plan 1997 –Advisory Committee 2003: institutional representatives responsible for consolidating area management and completing the request for inscription into the UNESCO system of biospheres

PROCESS RESULTS Design and approval of Plan Trifinio (1987): – Development strategy, programs and projects – Objective: Contribute to Central American integration through coordinated efforts for the sustainable development of a common region – Water is not a central theme

PROCESS RESULTS Rational Energy and Environmental Protection (FINNIDA-OEA). Trees planted for fire wood and introduction of fuel efficient stoves. –Emphasis placed on environmental conservation rather than active grassroots participation and local cross-border development Trifinio Pilot Project (EU) reforestation to recover degraded areas, emphasis on families that live near Montecristo Park.

PROCESS RESULTS n Signing and Ratification of the Treaty for the Execution of Plan Trifinio l Constituted legal and structural framework of the Institution l Defined the Region as an indivisible ecological unit l Established legitimacy of decisions made by the Institution

PRINCIPLE PROCESS RESULTS  Trinational Program for the Sustainable Development of the Upper Watershed of the Lempa River US$31.3 million 3 IADB loans Counterpart contributions: El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras Donations from NORAD and GTZ, Japan IDB-Fund, Spain Concessionaire funds from NDF Functions as a single operation executed by the CTPT

Respond to needs and problems prioritized by the population of the region in all three countries Respond to local demand and focus on establishing national and trinational participatory processes Respond to the regional integration objectives of the three countries PROGRAM CONCEPTS

Contribute to poverty alleviation and to the reduction of environmental degradation. Natural Resource Management Natural Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Promotion of Economic Diversification Institutional Strengthening BENEFICIARIES: 305,000 inhabitants GENERAL OBJECTIVE COMPONENTS

PROGRAM EXPECTED OUTCOMES 2,500 small hillside producers utilize conservation practices and sustainable technologies 14,200 Hectares of sustainable management of natural resources and reforestation 19 secondary basins protected Civil society and 19 local governments are empowered for risk management by implementing actions to reduce vulnerability 960 small and medium enterprises improve competitiveness and diversify activities

EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS Trinational Program for the Sustainable Development of the Upper Basin of the Lempa RiverWater

PROGRAM EXPECTED OUTCOMES The trinational system: Trinational Commission, institutions, local governments and community organizations promote regional sustainable development Integration is increased and strengthened

CONCLUSIONS AND LESSONS LEARNED Central America is a Region of Borders The border region features marginalized populations largely forgotten by the development process Development is negatively effected by a history of conflict which causes nations to treat borders as territories which must be defended Shared water resource management has been handled at the political and institutional levels

Despite that shared water resources have not been central to the Trifinio process, the experience has laid a strong foundation for the integrated management of an international river basin CONCLUSIONS AND LESSONS LEARNED The Sustainable Development Project of the Upper Lempa River Basin provides the structure necessary to open channels of communication at the local and central levels in the three countries Trifinio’s legal and institutional framework represents a unique opportunity for integrated management which is attractive to donors

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