PROCUENCA SAN JUANPROCUENCA SAN JUAN
Formulation of a Strategic Actions Program for the Integrated Management ofthe Hydrological Resources and Sustainable Development of the San Juan RiverBasin and its Coastal zone
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY
THE THIRD BIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL WATERS CONFERENCE
Salvador de Bahía, Brasil, Jun 2005
It is a binational project that promotes the integratedmanagement of the hydrological resources of the SanJuan river basin and its coastal area. It is executedby the governments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica,through their respective ministries of the environmentin each country.
THE SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN PROJECT
PROJECT LOCATION
SOUTHERN NICARAGUA AND NORTHERN COSTA RICA
NICARAGUA
COSTA RICA
PROJECT AREA
AMÉRICA CENTRAL
DESCRIPTION OF THE BASIN
• It represents thelargest reservoir offresh water in CentralAmerica and second inLatin America.
•The flows in San Carlosis 475 m3/s whichincrease in Sarapiquíriver to 1308 m3/s
•Shared between Nicaraguaand Costa Rica.
•There are 36 municipalitiesin Nicaragua and 7 in CostaRica.
- Cocibolca Lake
- San Juan River
- Coastal area
• Subsystems:
•The extension is 38 569 km2and it includes the coastal areaof the Caribbean
24 684 km2 (64%)
in Nicaragua
13 885 km2 (36%)
in Costa Rica
NICARAGUA
COSTA RICA
Great biological diversity inprotected areas
The total population in the basin is 1 250 000inhabitants approximately, of these 73% reside inNicaragua and 27% in Costa Rica.
In Nicaragua the population density in the basin is 46h/Km2 (55 rural%) and in Costa Rica is of 22 h/Km2(85% rural).
The annual population growth is 4,1% in Nicaragua and3,7 % in Costa Rica.
The economical growth is 3,4 % in Nicaragua and 4,5 %in Costa Rica.
Socioeconomic data
Within the basin area there are 51 protected areas,totaling 8812 km2 in both countries.
Of these, the most important are TortugueroNational Park-Barra del Colorado (939 Km2) inCosta Rica and Indio-Maiz (3500 km2) in Nicaragua
growing pressure due to the expansion of theagricultural frontier.
Threatened by over exploitation of timber and
Income
By and large the population within the basinexists at subsistence levels.
Levels of per capita income andunemployment differ greatly in the basin ascompared to the countries as a whole.
Ecosystems
•In 1992 at a CA Presidents’ meeting in Panama, to discusstransboundary issues, the first expressions of interest in the SanJuan river basin occurred.
•In 1995 the first phase of the project began with support fromUNEP and the OAS. This phase covered the environmental andsocio economic diagnosis of the basin.
•In 2001, began the second phase which included the formulationof the strategic actions program.
•In the present phase we are entering into a medium size project,with support from GEF-UNEP and OAS, which serves as a bridge totide us over into the stage of implementation of SAP.
History
Definition of the environmental and socio-economic characteristics of the basin.
Identification of main problems relating tohydrological resources.
Basic Studies carried out to complement theenvironmental transboundary diagnosis
Diagnosis Phase
Formulation of SAP phase
Based on the diagnosis, the SAP is designed to:
•Assure the availability of hydrologicalresources
•Conserve the natural ecosystems
•Promote sustainable economic and socialdevelopment.
It consists of 31 projects in both countries. Theapproximate cost is US $50 millions with aduration of five years.
The bases for the SAP were:
A.Seven Basic studies:
•Batimetry in lake Nicaragua and San Juan river.
•Analysis of critical aquatic habitats.
•Qualitative and quantitative analysis of hydrological resources.
•Analysis of coastal and marine resources.
• Sedimentation analysis in the coastal area.
•Transboundary migration and settlements
•Analysis of social behavior by gender.
Basic Studies Location
Batimetry in the lake of Nicaraguaand San Juan river.
Determination of the sedimentation plume inthe coastal area in San Juan river basin
Coastal and marine resources inthe Colorado Wildlife Refuge inCosta Rica and Rio San JuanWildlife Refuge in Nicaragua.
Information for the sustainable management ofcritical aquatic habitats in the San Juan riverbasin.
Transboundary migration andcolonization areas
Hydrometeorologicalmonitoring (flows) and waterquality in San Juan river basin.
N
PROJECT AREA
NICARAGUA
COSTA RICA
PROJECT AREA
B. Demonstrative projects
13 demonstrative projects, five in Nicaragua and eight in Costa Rica.
•Designed to illustrate environmental sound technology and
methodology.
•Promote inter-institutional cooperation.
•Establish costs and determine replicability and viability.
•Promote stakeholder participation.
Rio de Oroenvironmentalrestoration
Fund for agroforestryactivities in the municipalityof Cárdenas, Rivas
Project of organizationand communityeducation
Wildlife Refuge LasCamellias Conservation
Sustainable use andrehabilitation of Rio Frio basin
Environmental educationin San Carlos' canton
Recovery of riperian habitat of Araambigua and Dipteryx panamensis
Recovery andmanagement in theriperian areas of riversSarapiquí and Sucio
Support to the localenvironmentaladministration
Integrated managementof rural properties incommunities of Guatuso
Environmental education in themunicipality of San Carlos, RioSan Juan
River TepenaguasapaBasin Restoration
River Oyate BasinRehabilitation
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Demonstrative Projects location
13 projects (5 in Nicaragua and 8 in Costa Rica)
NICARAGUA
COSTA RICA
PROJECT AREA
C.Public participation workshops
•5 Public participation workshops in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. 3binational and 2 national.
•Included different sectors such as: productive sector, tourist sectorand municipalities.
•Approximately 2000 individuals (stakeholders) participated from atotal of 221 organizations.
•Workshops facilitated the binational exchange of information.
•Developed stakeholder commitments.
•Most important, the participants generated input was formallyincorporated into the SAP.
LESSONS LEARNT
•High level government participation is essential forproject success.
•Participation of local level authorities (municipalities andcantons) is essential for sustainability.
•Interaction and creation of strategic alliances withother institutions: Universities, NGOs, Associations isalso essential for success.
•Incorporation of large scale producers remains achallenge.
PROCUENCA SAN JUAN
a binational effort for the protection ofhydrological resources
Formulation of a Strategic Actions Program for theIntegrated Management of the Hydrological Resources andSustainable Development of the San Juan River Basin andits Coastal zone
Thank You