Activity Data Sheet

Summary: The economies of Central America are threatened by a deteriorating natural resource base. Under this strategy, USAID's Regional Office for Central America and the Caribbean (located in Guatemala) supports the consolidation of national and transnational systems of protected areas through improved management, enhanced sustainable natural resource use around protected areas, institutional strengthening of natural resource management groups, and the promotion of strengthened regional environmental regulatory and enforcement frameworks. The regional environmental program, USAID's Program Supporting Central American Participation in the Free Trade Area of the Americas (PROARCA), responds to both the 1994 Joint US-Central American Declaration (CONCAUSA) and to the Alliance for Sustainable Development (ALIDES) agreement. PROARCA's principal partner is the Central American Integration System (SICA) and its Environment Division, the unit responsible for promoting and establishing an integrated regional environmental agenda. PROARCA Phase I activities extend through September 2001 at which time activities under USAID's Central American Regional 2002-2006 strategy and PROARCA Phase II will begin. The direct beneficiaries, approximately one fourth of the region's population, live within and around the Central American protected areas. The indirect beneficiaries are the 36 million people of Central America, especially those who depend on the natural resource base for their livelihood.

Key Results: 1) Consolidate the Central American Protected Areas System (CAPAS) by increasing the number of protected and special management areas under improved management; 2) Increase local stewardship of the environment in target areas by helping local communities manage coastal and forest resources; and, 3) Harmonize and strengthen Central American environmental policy frameworks by supporting the drafting and introduction of environmental laws and regulations to national legislatures/executive branches.

Performance and Prospects:   Performance in the year 2000 was strong. The life-of-strategy target number of protected areas under improved management has been exceeded. During 2001, USAID will continue to strengthen those currently being supported. The 2000 target of 20 assisted sites with an effective level of environmental stewardship was met and the target of 22 sites for 2001 is expected to be met. However, the program fell short in reducing local threats to transboundary sites. USAID does not expect to reach the life-of-objective target of 19 sites by 2001. While progress can be anticipated on many fronts, advancement in reducing threats requires assuring political support. More time is needed to consolidate various community group interests. The revised life-of-objective target of 15 "transboundary sites with reduced threats" will include two new 2001 interventions: the Layasiksa forest in the Mosquitia, Nicaragua, and a harmonized tri-national fisheries management strategy in the Gulf of Honduras.

In Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, a solid-waste material recovery facility and a pilot wastewater treatment facility were designed and built. Activities such as this represent the successful conclusion of the process of forming local citizen groups able to identify and devise community-based solutions to local environmental problems. Notably, these groups continue to mobilize themselves to secure funding to solve other environmental problems they have prioritized.

PROARCA activities in and around protected areas in the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (MBC) include institutional strengthening and operational planning for nongovernment organization (NGO) and multisectoral coalitions. NGOs and governments are now disseminating their experiences in the application of models for the design of biological corridors, ecotourism, and reserve management with other partners in other countries in the region. Capacity building for tourism certification in five countries facilitated the establishment of the Mesoamerican Alliance for Ecotourism Development (Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras). As a result of program assistance, Costa Rica's National Ecotourism Consortium and Network have increased member organization occupancy rates from 15% in 1999 to 50% in 2000. In association with other donor agencies, PROARCA helped small producers place 7,819,600 pounds of coffee ($11.6 million) in the specialty coffee market.

During its six years of implementation, PROARCA not only has exceeded quantifiable results, more importantly, it has changed how Central American governments view the environment sector. In 1994, there were no Ministries of Environment in Guatemala, Panama, or El Salvador and the one in Nicaragua was just starting up. All countries now have formed Ministries of Environment, except Panama, where the "National Environmental Authority" plays an equally strong role as the Ministries. In 1994, there were no environmental laws to regulate water quality and air quality standards, pesticide use, and toxic waste disposal in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, or Panama. Today, all Central American countries have internationally recognized environmental laws. National governments still need to be encouraged to make a stronger commitment to environmental stewardship. USAID expects this commitment will be reinforced by the allocation of more resources for the environment in national budgets, the active participation of governments in effective alliances for environmental stewardship, and the application of the rule of the law for environmental protection.

Possible Adjustments to Plans:  The design for the new regional environmental program "Improved Environmental Management in the MBC" has been completed. Procurement actions will come on line during 2001 in order to begin implementation of PROARCA II in October 2001.

Other Donor Programs:  International donor initiatives complementary to those of USAID include: 1) the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) support to the Central American Sustainable Development Fund (FOCADES) for Climate Change, International Waterways, and Manatee Protection; 2) the GEF-funded MBC program; 3) the German International Technical Assistance Agency (GTZ)/World Wildlife Fund Corridor program; 4) the European Union-supported Sustainable Development in Agricultural Frontiers (Frontera Agrícola); 5) the Danish Agency for International Development (DANIDA) support for the Gulf of Fonseca coastal resource management program and its new Programme of Regional Environmental Management and Sustainable Development; and 6) the Inter-American Development Bank support for port contingency activities in the region.

Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies:  Key implementing organizations include: Secretariat for Central American Integration (SICA) and its General Environmental Directorate (DGMA), the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD), the Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Foundation, University of Rhode Island, International Resources Group, Cooperative Housing Foundation, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Central America Program: 596-002

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