On August 7 and 8, 2023, the Second National Water Resources Congress was held in Guatemala City to promote hydric security through the integration of knowledge, intersectoral dialogue and the exchange of best practices.
This event had not been held since 2003 and this year, in its second edition, it was conceived as a vehicle to catalyze actions to help Guatemala achieve water security; that is, the ability to protect sustainable access to water for the sustenance of livelihoods, well-being and socioeconomic development.
This edition's main promoter was the Water Partnership (Alianza por el Agua), which is a 21-member network launched in 2020 to promote water security in Guatemala. Other networks that supported the management of the congress were the Guatemalan Climate Change Science System (SGCCC, for its acronym in Spanish), the Guatemalan Environmental Research and Training Network (REDFIA, for its acronym in Spanish) and the Global Water Partnership (GWP). The organizing committee of the Congress was composed of representatives from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Foundation for Water Conservation of the Metropolitan Region of Guatemala (FUNCAGUA, for its Spanish acronym), the Climate Change Institute (ICC, for its Spanish acronym), the National Institute of Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH, for its acronym in Spanish), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG, for its acronym in Spanish), the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN, for its acronym in Spanish), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC, for its acronym in Spanish).
The opening event was attended by representatives of the partner organizations: Luis Rodolfo Castro, Vice Minister of Water of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN, for its acronym in Spanish); Alex Guerra, ICC General Director; Fernando García, Energy and Environment Program Officer of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP); Oscar Núñez, Director of the Five Forests Project of WCS; and Teresa Calderón, Freshwater Officer of WWF Mesoamerica.
During the two-day congress, keynote speeches, thematic sessions, forums and discussions were held to address the issue of water resources from different perspectives, such as legislation, proper management, governance, science and technology, education and financial mechanisms, among others.
Teresa Calderón, WWF Mesoamerica's Freshwater Officer, referred to the importance of facilitating spaces for dialogue and exchange such as these in the country: "keeping water resources issues on the public agenda is of utmost importance due to the relevance of water for populations and nature". She emphasized that "WWF is working to protect freshwater ecosystems and improve access, efficiency and allocation of water for people and the environment.
The event concluded with a series of conclusions that will encourage the promotion of joint work, allow for further discussion on the subject and encourage the participation of more stakeholders in an upcoming national congress on the matter.
This event had not been held since 2003 and this year, in its second edition, it was conceived as a vehicle to catalyze actions to help Guatemala achieve water security; that is, the ability to protect sustainable access to water for the sustenance of livelihoods, well-being and socioeconomic development.
This edition's main promoter was the Water Partnership (Alianza por el Agua), which is a 21-member network launched in 2020 to promote water security in Guatemala. Other networks that supported the management of the congress were the Guatemalan Climate Change Science System (SGCCC, for its acronym in Spanish), the Guatemalan Environmental Research and Training Network (REDFIA, for its acronym in Spanish) and the Global Water Partnership (GWP). The organizing committee of the Congress was composed of representatives from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Foundation for Water Conservation of the Metropolitan Region of Guatemala (FUNCAGUA, for its Spanish acronym), the Climate Change Institute (ICC, for its Spanish acronym), the National Institute of Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH, for its acronym in Spanish), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG, for its acronym in Spanish), the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN, for its acronym in Spanish), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC, for its acronym in Spanish).
The opening event was attended by representatives of the partner organizations: Luis Rodolfo Castro, Vice Minister of Water of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN, for its acronym in Spanish); Alex Guerra, ICC General Director; Fernando García, Energy and Environment Program Officer of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP); Oscar Núñez, Director of the Five Forests Project of WCS; and Teresa Calderón, Freshwater Officer of WWF Mesoamerica.
During the two-day congress, keynote speeches, thematic sessions, forums and discussions were held to address the issue of water resources from different perspectives, such as legislation, proper management, governance, science and technology, education and financial mechanisms, among others.
Teresa Calderón, WWF Mesoamerica's Freshwater Officer, referred to the importance of facilitating spaces for dialogue and exchange such as these in the country: "keeping water resources issues on the public agenda is of utmost importance due to the relevance of water for populations and nature". She emphasized that "WWF is working to protect freshwater ecosystems and improve access, efficiency and allocation of water for people and the environment.
The event concluded with a series of conclusions that will encourage the promotion of joint work, allow for further discussion on the subject and encourage the participation of more stakeholders in an upcoming national congress on the matter.
