Autonomous & Planned Adaptation: in the Low Watershed of the Lempa river El Salvador, Central America

Central America: a multi-risks region  Many hydrometeorological and tectonic events records exist and are well known within the public and institutions.  Climatology is influenced by the extremes of the SO (El Nino /La Nina events) and the hurricanes surge.  Located over regional/local scale tectonic faults and with a dense range of volcanoes. A lot of alluvial valleys close to large torrential hydrographic watersheds.  Damages, losses and human deaths, social and institutional responses have been disseminated through generations.  There are no alternative options to current development models wich have produced additional socio-natural hazards.  Still to be implemented a Regional Plan for Disasters Prevention and Mitigation, endorsed by presidents in 1999.

El Salvador: climatology & development policies Climatology:  Many inter-seasonal and long-term climatic anomalies producing negative socio-economic impacts.  Sometimes extreme events are magnified by their inter-action with other complex fenomena (e.g.: hurricane Mitch). Development Policies:  Environmental legal and policy frameworks are new and still not fully implemented.  Many public services have been privatized, local actors are assuming a large range of policy and planning decisions.  Traditional planning activities, e.g.: sectoral policies or indicative plans or programs have been eliminated.  Current development context could generate additional vulnerabilities (social, environmental or economic).

The Low watershed of the Lempa river:  El Salvador shares the regional central range of mountains- related events of the region.  Impacts of events generated upstream the Lempa river (Guatemala & Honduras) are more severe downstream in ES.  The Lempa watershed determines about 49% of the Salvadoran territory, including the low watershed.  Most of Salvadoran live in tectonic and climate hazards prone areas. Economic activities have generated additional socio- economic risks (landslides, mudslides, floodings).  Alluvial coastal valley has been populated during the 90’s as if it were geologically concluded and stable.  The low watershed is considered a high risk area: a) many communities are located in the area, b) occurrance of frequent disasters, c) most of soils do not infiltrate water when humid & d) agriculture and fisheries are the main economic activities.

Floodings in the Low Lempa  The Low Lempa is the natural flood plain of the river.  There is an hydropower dam upstream the area  Areas prone to floods could be classified according to maximun recorded discharges.  Every year affected by droughts with moderate to severe intensities.  During El Nino event fisheries suffer from temperature increases of the sea water along the Pacific coastline. Droughts

Autonomous and Planned Adaptations (1) Adaptation Adopted (on the part of local actors):  Organization for local development is in place and effective: it encompasses: local NGOs, local agenda, portfolio of projects, international co-operation projects, technical assistance and lobby activities at the national level.  Local early warning systems are adopted and implemented.  Experimental irrigation systems are in place to address droughts and to generate additional incomes.  Demonstrative reforestation, natural forest conservation & agroforestry projects are in place.  Climate-friendly housing are designed and implemented under experimental conditions.  Most of fishermen are farmers to complement their incomes and to overcome increases in sea water temperature during the ENSO event.

Autonomous and Planned Adaptations (2) Adaptation Adopted (on the part of public agencies): After Hurricane Mitch, agreements were reached to:  Flood control dams and drainages construction. (incompleted)  Relocation of three communities to safer sites. (still pending)  Hydrometeorological forcasting centre establishment.  Enhancement of the hydrometeorological network stations.  A tri-national management plan for the Lempa watershed (to be endorsed by the three governments.  Training and development of local GISs for municipalities located in prone to natural hazards areas.  Databasis establishment and updating, and user-friendly maps generated at the national public level.  Design of a Program for Prevention & Mitigation of Disasters in the Low Watershed of the Lempa river.

Autonomous and Planned Adaptations (3) Adaptation Adopted (on the part of public agencies): After Hurricane Mitch, agreements were reached to:  Design of a Regional 5-years Plan for Prevention and Mitigation of Disasters project. Financing for PDF assured.  Disaster-related projects designed and submitted before the CEPREDENAC (regional agency) for financing.  The small grant projects GEF program has been adopted, under which local entities could develop adaptation projects.  The National Sustainable Development Comission has been established but is not active at all.

Autonomous and Planned Adaptations (4) Constraints and Barriers to Adaptation:  Local entities and communities have no the resources needed to develop identified local initiatives at a commercial and large scale.  National climate monitoring do not include local parameters relevant to communities prone to risks.  National climate broadcasting is not disseminated in a user- friendly format nor through direct channels.  Climate-friendly housing is expensive and incomes are too low to afford high costs.  Energy, water supply, communications and financing are private services to be paid at market conditions. Low incomes do not allow communities enjoying those benefits. Thus, there is a lack of such services in that area.

Autonomous and Planned Adaptations (5) Constraints and Barriers to Adaptation:  The quality of local education and health is low due to the lack of qualified personnel and resources on the ground.  Local governments and local institutional framework are very weak: budget, logistics and personnel are not adequate to the huge requirements of local populations.  The five strategic issues of the local agenda, i.e.: organization, disasters prevention, production & environment, peace culture awareness and commercialisation, have no resources to be implemented appropriately.  Local needs are not incorporated in a permanent basis within a local and national development planning process.  Historically, public and private investments have been centralised in the capital, as well as public services. With the recent public reforms, public investments are to decrease.

Strategies to overcome barriers Adaptive Capacities:  Strengthening of national committements concerning sustainable development planning and implementation processes: under Río-related agreements and negotiated decisions (Agenda 21, UNFCCC, etc.), bilateral and multi- lateral co-operation.  Promoting and strengthening participation of local actors, NGOs and communities within the development planning process, viewing the inclusion of their priorities in national plans, programs and projects.  Establishment of relevant programs to finance adaptation local initiatives.  Promoting the involvement of meteorological services in climate change efforts to have them generating information relevant to improve adaptation capacities of users.

Strategies to overcome barriers Adaptive Capacities:  Establishment of institutional arrangements to promote inter- ministerial and inter-sectoral co-ordination, planning and implementation on climate change issues, e.g.: national comissions.  Strengthening and involvement of national universities and research centres in climate change efforts, in order to improve national capabilities in V&A assessments and in the launching of adaptation policy processes.