1. FINAL REPORT
Inventory of Information and Identification of Gaps for Characterization
and Assessment of the Esquipulas-Ocotepeque-Citalá Aquifer
(Trifinio Aquifer)
PROJECT
GOVERNANCE OF GROUNDWATER IN TRANSBOUNDARY AQUIFERS
Livelihoods and Climate Change Unit-IUCN
Guatemala
March 2013
1

2. PREPARED BY:
Ana Patricia Alvarado Cruz
REVIEWED BY:
Carlos Rosal del Cid
Regional Officer
Livelihoods and Climate Change Unit
IUCN
2

3. ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
ANDA
Administración Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillados
CEL
Comisión Ejecutiva Hidroeléctrica del Río Lempa
CTPT
Comisión Trinacional Plan Trifinio
ENEE
Empresa Nacional de Energía Eléctrica
GIZ
German Agency for International Cooperation
IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency
INSIVUMEH
Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología
ISARM
Internationally Shared Aquifer Resources Management
IUCN
International Union for the Conservation of Nature
MAG
Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería de El Salvador
MARN
Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales de El Salvador
MARN
Ministerio de Ambienta y Recursos Naturales de Guatemala
SANAA
Servicio Autónomo Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillados
SSC
South-south cooperation
SNET
Servicio Nacional de Estudios Territoriales
UES
Universidad de El Salvador
UNDP
United Nations Development Program
UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
3

4. CONTENTS
I.
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 7
II. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................... 7
III. OBJECTIVES................................................................................................................................... 11
3.1. GENERAL................................................................................................................................. 11
3.2. SPECIFIC .................................................................................................................................. 11
IV. METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................... 11
V. PLANNING ACTIVITIES ................................................................................................................... 13
5.1. START-UP ACTIVITIES ............................................................................................................. 13
5.2. WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN THE TRIFINIO REGION FOR
FEEDBACK ON THE PROJECT PROPOSAL ....................................................................................... 14
5.3. TRIPS TO THE FIELD ................................................................................................................ 21
VI. RESULTS........................................................................................................................................ 24
6.1. BIOPHYSICAL INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE AREA OF THE ESQUIPULAS- OCOTEPEQUECITALÁ AQUIFER (TRIFINIO AQUIFER) ........................................................................................... 25
6.2. HYDROGEOLOGICAL INFORMATION FOR THE ESQUIPULAS- OCOTEPEQUE-CITALÁ AQUIFER
AREA (TRIFINIO AQUIFER) ............................................................................................................. 34
6.3. ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION .......................................................................................... 39
6.4. SOCIOECONOMIC INFORMATION VAILABLE .......................................................................... 45
6.5. GENDER INFORMATION ....................................................................................................... 56
6.6. POLITICAL ANALYSIS OF INTEGRATED WATERSHED AND AQUIFER MANAGEMENT
STRATEGIES IN THE TRIFINIO REGION ........................................................................................... 67
6.7.
IDENTIFICATION OF INFORMATION GAPS ACCORDING TO INDICATORS ......................... 77
VII. CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................................. 83
VIII.
RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................................ 84
IX. BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................................. 86
X. ATTACHMENTS ............................................................................................................................ 90
ATTACHMENT 1. Lists of participants in coordination and informational workshops with other
stakeholders .................................................................................................................................. 91
ATTACHMENT 2. Documents Reviewed to Identify Information Gaps ......................................... 95
ATTACHMENT 3. Lithological Profile of a Well Located in the Esquipulas Valley ....................... 119
ATTACHMENT 4. Lithological Profile of a Well Located in La Palma, El Salvador ....................... 122
4

5. TABLES
Table 1 Programs and Projects of the Trifinio Plan ............................................................................. 9
Table 2 Description of Dissemination Activities for the Groundwater Governance in Transboundary
Aquifers Project and Coordination.................................................................................................... 14
Table 3 Observations and Suggestions for the Project Preparation Phase....................................... 18
Table 4 Observations and Suggestions on the Project Implementation Phase ................................ 19
Table 5 Average Monthly Precipitation in the Trifinio Region by Station......................................... 27
Table 6 Description of Soil Groups in the Trifinio Region ................................................................. 29
Table 7 Official Protected Areas in the Trifinio Region ..................................................................... 39
Table 8 Potable Water Coverage by Country in the Area of Influence of Trifinio Plan, Upper Lempa
River Basin ......................................................................................................................................... 42
Table 9 Expected Population by 2015 ............................................................................................... 45
Table 10 Population Data for the Trifinio Zone ................................................................................. 46
Table 11 Stakeholders Identified in the Trifinio Aquifer Zone for Guatemala .................................. 48
Table 12 Stakeholders Identified in the Trifinio Aquifer Zone for Ocotepeque Honduras ............... 49
Table 13 Stakeholders Identified in the Trifinio Aquifer Zone, El Salvador ...................................... 51
Table 14 Programs and Projects Executed or Underway in the Trifinio Region ............................... 56
Table 15 Information Gaps Identified for the Zone of the Trifinio Aquifer Trifinio in Reference to
Project Indicators .............................................................................................................................. 77
Table 16 Documents reviewed to Identify Gaps in Biophysical and Hydrogeological Information .. 95
FIGURES
Figure 1 Location of the Trifinio region in the north Central American triangle .............................. 25
Figure 2 Climate Classification according to Thornthwaite .............................................................. 26
Figure 3 Annual Precipitation in the Trifinio Region ......................................................................... 27
Figure 4 Average Annual Temperatures (°C) for the Trifinio Region ................................................ 28
Figure 5 Relative Humidity in the Trifinio Region ............................................................................. 29
Figure 6 Soil Groupings in the Trifinio Region ................................................................................... 30
Figure 7 Relief in the Trifinio Region ................................................................................................. 31
5

6. Figure 8 Watersheds located in the Trifinio Region .......................................................................... 32
Figure 9 Subwatersheds located in the Trifinio Region .................................................................... 32
Figure 10 Potential Water Recharge Zones....................................................................................... 33
Figure 11 Geology Upper Basin of the Lempa River ......................................................................... 34
Figure 12 Hydrogeology of the Upper Part of the Watershed of the Lempa River .......................... 35
Figure 13 First Approximation of the Delimitation of the Esquipulas-Ocotepeque-Citalá Aquifer .. 36
Figure 14 Protected Areas Located in the Trifinio Zone.................................................................... 40
Figure 15 Strategic Transboundary Environmental Problems .......................................................... 41
Figure 16 Organizational Chart of the Trinational Commission of the Trifinio Plan ......................... 63
6

7. I.
INTRODUCTION
Every day greater quantities of groundwater are used to meet the needs of rural and urban
communities all over the planet in supplying this vital liquid for different uses (domestic,
agricultural, commercial, industrial, tourism, etc.). Despite the increased use, there is still little
study of groundwater dynamics and basic information remains unavailable for local or national
management or planning and implementation of activities to restore, conserve and protect water
recharge zones.
UNESCO’s International Hydrological Program has made efforts to improve understanding of
groundwater resources worldwide, providing guidelines on transboundary groundwater
management.
Within this programme, the “Internationally Shared Aquifers Resources
Management Programme” (ISARM) stands out as a global programme that, in collaboration with
its partners in the national, regional and international spheres, has prepared an inventory of
hydrogeological characteristics, environmental and socioeconomic aspects and legal and
institutional frameworks of transboundary aquifers at the global scale.
In May 2012, within its Strategic Framework 2010-2015 and as part of the initiatives of a global
water program, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) issued an invitation to
present projects for funding with transboundary aquifers as the central theme. The invitation was
accepted by the UNESCO International Hydrological program and IUCN, which presented a joint
proposal on activities in three pilot sites, one being the Trifinio Aquifer (Esquipulas-OcotepequeCitalá). This was accepted by the cooperation agency, thereby initiating preparatory activities of
the project with the objective of conducting an inventory of existing information on the Trifinio
zone and identifying information gaps with respect to a group of indicators enabling a first
characterization of the aquifer, and which would serve as foundation for preparing a final project
proposal on “Groundwater Governance in Transboundary Aquifers”.
To carry out this preliminary phase, a consultant team was contracted, formed of one specialist
each in hydrogeology, integrated watershed management, environmental management and
gender, along with a team coordinator. These specialists have carried out various activities to
achieve the objectives of the preliminary phase. This document presents the results obtained from
compiling information on climate, hydrogeology, environment, socioeconomic aspects and
application of gender perspective in the programs and projects already finalized or currently
underway, along with a preliminary stakeholder mapping for the aquifer zone.
II. BACKGROUND
For more than 25 years, the Central American nations of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras
have joined together in the Trifinio region in a transboundary cooperation effort1 geared toward
1
Lempa River Trinational Border Association of Municipalities. 2012, Tercer Informe Plan Estratégico de Desarrollo
Estratégico territorial Trinacional.
7

8. managing the environment and territory as a means of making improved living conditions possible
for border communities. For this reason, the country governments have tried to drive
“integration of the region, formalized in the Treaty for Execution of the Trifinio Plan, aimed at
cooperation in the solution of common problems and promotion of sustainable development.”
The region is made up of 45 municipalities—8 in El Salvador, 22 in Honduras and 15 in
Guatemala—located around the cloud forest of the Montecristo massif, whose peak is found in
the so-called “Trifinio” where the borders of these three Central American countries converge.
The interventions of the Trinational Commission of the Trifinio Plan (Comisión Trinacional del Plan
Trifinio-CTPT) are upheld in the framework of the Trinational Treaty signed in 1997. This
agreement recognizes the Trinational Commission, formed of the Vice-Presidents of El Salvador
and Guatemala and a designate of the President of Honduras, as the entity responsible for
overseeing execution of the Trifinio Plan and its continuous updating. The commission has
administrative, financial and technical autonomy and its own legal identity.
Another initiative in the zone is the creation of the Lempa River Trinational Association of
Municipalities2 which arose in Guatemala and carried out a process of strategic trinational
territorial planning (1998-2003), setting out first steps for linkage of local stakeholders in a multicountry, multi-level and multi-stakeholder agenda. As time passed a strategic alliance was formed
with other associations of municipalities in the region, thus generating South-South cooperation
between one municipality and another. The basis for this alliance was a broader and more
comprehensive agenda than the one established by the CTPT, with objectives in accordance with
local assessment and strategic guidelines.
In addition to sustainable human development, one of the goals to be achieved through
international work is the creation of public policies through the strategy of inter-municipal, southsouth cooperation to transform trinational public policy projects in which managers, technicians,
mayors, nongovernmental organizations, chambers of commerce and services all participate,
seeking out international partners to adhere to the alliance.
This is an interesting experience in Central America, wherein three countries with the help of
international donors invest in the sustainable development of an international shared watershed.
In this context, the shared challenges have to do with environmental (water and biodiversity)
management of a strategic zone for the region and achievement of the Millennium Development
Goals, given that the Trifinio region has Central America’s highest rates of poverty, illiteracy and
deficiency in access to basic services.
Several exercises in south-south cooperation exist both in the projects set up by the Trinational
Commission of the Trifinio Plan (CTPT) at a macro level, and decentralized cooperation initiatives
by the Lempa River Trinational Border Association of Municipalities in the local arena. The former
is based on institutionality generated by the Trifinio Plan, while the latter arose from local
sustainable development initiatives supported through international cooperation3.
It is important to emphasize the dual nature of cooperation in two spheres of action:
intergovernmental cooperation in the CTPT and municipal cooperation through both associated
and individual municipalities. Both fields of action in the three countries generate local
2
Ayala C., Ambrosio K., 2011. Cooperación en la Región del Trifinio: Un caso de cooperación Transfronteriza de Sur-Sur.
8

9. development activities through differing dynamics—more expeditious and practical in the case of
associated municipalities in the three countries in comparison with top-level governmental
action.
During these years, objectives for the region have been furthered by projects and programs that
have been and continue to be implemented. The table below lists projects and programs in recent
years.
Table 1 Programs and Projects of the Trifinio Plan
PROGRAM OR PROJECT
FINANCER
Program for Planning and
Development of Sustainable
Tourism in the Trifinio Region
underway
IDB-FOMIN
CTPT
3,542,000
Watershed Management in the
Trifinio Region
underway
KwF
CTPT
19,198.000
Forests and Water Program
underway
GIZ/BMZ
GOPA/CTPT
5,000,000
underway
CATIE
CATIE/CTPT
700,000
Innovations in Sustainable Value
Chains
of Specialty Vegetables in the
Trifinio Region
Trinational Sustainable Coffee
Project
Synchronizing Information for
LocalNational Participatory Natural
Resources Management
underway (ICP/ Tim Hortons
EXECUTOR
AMOUNT
USD
STATUS
ICP
1,290,236
finalized
EU
CTPT
441,000
Project for Integrated Management
of the Montecristo Trinational
finalized
Protected Area
IDB
CTPT
4,607,000
IDB
CTPT
940,100
finalized
IDB
CTPT
60,000
underway
IAEA
SNET/INSIVU
MEH/ENEE
634,380
finalized
IDB
NORPLAN
280,000
Promotion of the Administration of
Water as Regional Public Good in
the Upper Watershed of the Lempa finalized
River in the Trifinio Region
Rapid Ecological Assessment in the
Montecristo Trinational Protected
Area
Project for Sustainable
Development of Environment and
Water in the Upper Watershed of
the Lempa River Phase II
Management of the Montecristo
Trinational Protected Area
9

10. Strengthening of Five Salvadoran
Municipal Governments in the
Upper Watershed of the Lempa
River
Operational Plan of Japan in
support to the Trinational
Sustainable Development Program
of the Upper Watershed of the
Lempa River
Regional Program of Participatory
Implementation of Integrated Pest
Management and Agroforestry in
the Trifinio Area
Program of Institutional
Strengthening for Citizen
Participation Entities of the
Trinational Commission of the
Trifinio Plan
Program for Trinational
Development of the Upper
Watershed of the Lempa River
finalized
EU
CTPT
finalized
Japanese Fund
213,300
CTPT
840,000
finalized
NORAD
CATIE
N.D.
finalized
CARE
CTPT
171,000
finalized IDB/NORAD/ GTZ/
Support for Preparation of the
Program for Sustainable
finalized
Development of the Lempa River
Basin
Project for Sustainable
Development of Ecologically Fragile finalized
Zones in the Trifinio Region
CTPT
19,000,000
IDB
EUROESTUDIO S
216,000
BCIE
PTCARL
43,340,000
Master Plan of La Fraternidad
Biosphere Reserve
finalized
EU
Maya Ecosystems
Mayas
630,000
Project for Rationalization of
Energy Use and Environmental
Protection
finalized
Government of
Finland
OAS
2,000,000
Source: Charchalac, S. 2013, Informe Final Consultoría “Gobernanza de Aguas Subterráneas en Acuíferos
Transfronterizos. IUCN
Implemented from 2006 to 2012, the project “Sustainable Development of the Environment and
Natural Resources in the Upper Watershed of the Lempa River” was funded by the International
Atomic Energy Agency of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), through Project RLA
8/ 038. The following activities were carried out3:



Preparation of a geological map of the upper watershed of the Lempa River, harmonized
among the three countries
Inventory of wells, springs, rivers and lakes
Physico-chemical analysis of wells, springs, rivers and lakes
3
International Atomic Energy Agency. 2009 Desarrollo Sostenible del Medio Ambiente y los Recursos Hídricos en la
Cuenca Alta del Río Lempa informe final (primer borrador)
10

11. 





Capacity of rivers and springs
Isotopic analysis of oxygen 18, deuterium and tritium
Geophysical testing
Preparation of a hydrogeological map
Preparation of the preliminary conceptual hydrogeological mode
Integration of data generated by the geographic information system
This project generated highly important information for the Trifinio zone in terms of groundwater.
However, at present there is only a draft report since a final document bringing together all of the
information is still being prepared.
III. OBJECTIVES
3.1. GENERAL
Conduct an inventory of information available on the Esquipulas-Ocotepeque-Citalá aquifer and
identify information gaps for applying the matrix of indicators so that steps can be defined for
designing the “Groundwater Governance in Transboundary Aquifers” project.
3.2. SPECIFIC
Integrate a report with all of the information available on biophysical, socioeconomic,
hydrogeological, environmental, institutional and legal characteristics of the EsquipulasOcotepeque-Citalá aquifer (Trifinio) zone in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador and determine
the current state of the aquifer.
IV. METHODOLOGY
The following activities were carried out for this consultancy:
4.1. COORDINATION OF THE CONSULTANT TEAM: preparation of work plans and scheduling of
activities, face-to-face meetings, field visits, presentations to local stakeholders, induction of
consultant team members, review and correction of progress and final reports, virtual
meetings on Skype and group and individual communication by e-mail as needed.
4.2. COORDINATION OF WORK WITH THE LIVELIHOODS AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION
UNIT: During the consultancy, the IUCN Regional Office acted as direct liaison responsible for
the work of the entire consultant team, maintaining open, fluid and continuous
communication through face-to-face meetings, virtual meetings through Skype and e-mail,
accompaniment on field visits, support and participation in different presentations to local
stakeholders, presentation of consultancy reports and addressing pertinent concerns,
11

12. difficulties or constraints and channeling requests of the consultant team, as well as
coordinating field visits and face-to-face meetings with the consultants.
4.3. FIELD TRIPS: Two trips were made to the field with the consultant team to become
acquainted with the area of the Esquipulas-Ocotepeque-Citalá aquifer, integrate opinions
about its current situation, gather primary information from government agencies,
nongovernmental organizations and other key stakeholders in the zone and meet with the
technical team of the Trifinio Plan.
4.4. WORKSHJOPS AND MEETINGS TO PUBLICIZE THE PROJECT AND COORDINATE FUTURE
ACTIVITIES:
Various meetings and workshops were held with key stakeholders to
disseminate the project proposal, elicit feedback on activities to be carried out and
coordinate possible future actions.
4.5. COMPILATION, REVIEW AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE INFORMATION GENERATED IN THE
TRIFINIO ZONE THROUGH DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS EXECUTED OR
UNDERWAY: The consultant team complied information generated in Trifinio through the
management of the Trinational Commission of the Trifinio Plan, Lempa River Trinational
Border Association of Municipalities, GIZ, CATIE, INSIVUMEH, MAG, MARN of El Salvador,
CEL, and related web pages.
4.6. REPORT PREPARATION: Each consultant prepared a work plan, mid-term progress report
and final report containing the relevant products.
12

13. V. PLANNING ACTIVITIES
5.1. START-UP ACTIVITIES
These activities were carried out by the technical team of the IUCN Livelihoods and Climate
Change Adaptation Unit:
13

14. 
Preliminary timetable of activities and approach strategy

Definition of the consultant technical team needed to conduct the
inventory of available information

Preparation of ToRs for selecting the consultant team

Call for candidates to the consultant team

Selection of professionals in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador to form the team

Consultant team made up of:
o
o
o
o
o
Coordinator (Groundwater Use and Management specialist)
Hydrogeologist (civil engineer with 20 years of experience in the area)
Watershed Management specialist (agricultural engineer)
Environmental Management specialist (agricultural engineer)
Gender specialist (biologist)
5.2. WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN THE TRIFINIO REGION
FOR FEEDBACK ON THE PROJECT PROPOSAL
5.2.1. ACTIVITIES
Various meetings and workshops were held with stakeholders to publicize the project, present
advances in the preliminary phase, receive feedback on the project and coordinate future
meetings. Table 2 summarizes these activities.
Table 2 Description of Dissemination Activities for the Groundwater Governance in Transboundary
Aquifers Project and Coordination
ACTIVITY
Meeting with
INSIVUMEH
director and staff in
Guatemala (focal
point of UNESCOISARM)
PARTICIPANTS
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Eddy Sánchez INSIVUMEH) Two meetings with
INSIVUMEH officials to
present the project and
Fulgencio Garavito
identify activities for
(INSIVUMEH)
coordination between
the two institutions to
Carlos Rosal (IUCN)
further project
implementation.
PRODUCTS
Presentation of the
project and draft memo
of understanding
between
INSIVUMEH and
IUCN to coordinate
activities; signature
14

15. PARTICIPANTS
ACTIVITY
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Patricia Alvarado
(consultant)
PRODUCTS
of the memo is in
process.
Sebastián
Charchalac (consultant)
Meeting with the
Juan Carlos Montufar
Trifinio Plan Technical (Trifinio Manager)
Manager
Carlos Rosal (IUCN)
Consultant Team (IUCN)
Meeting with
Salvador
Environmental
Observatory
El
Meeting with the
Trifinio Management to
make an official
presentation of the
project and introduce
the consultant team in
charge of the first
phase; obtain
suggestions regarding
coordination activities
Follow-up activities
coordinated for
dissemination of the
project, and guidelines
on obtaining
information generated
in the zone by different
projects executed or
underway
Deysi López (MARN)
Carlos Rosal (IUCN)
Patricia Alvarado
(consultant)
Manuel Escamilla
(consultant)
Official presentation of
the project and firstphase consultant team
to the Environmental
Observatory;
agreement on some
follow-up activities.
Agreement on a
workshop to present
the project to the
technical team working
in the Trifinio zone
Information generated
by the Observatory in
the El Salvador section
obtained
Coordination
workshop with the
Trifinio Plan technical
team
Representatives of the
Trifinio Plan, GIZ, El
Salvador Ministry of
Environment and Natural
Resources and IUCN (17
people, see attachment
2)
Presentation of the
project and consultant
team. The Trifinio Plan
gave a presentation on
projects underway and
recently finalized.
Communication
channel established
between Trifinio Plan
technical team,
representatives of
other projects
underway in the zone
and IUCN consultant
team
Preliminary
identification of
15

16. ACTIVITY
PARTICIPANTS
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
PRODUCTS
information available
at Trifinio Plan
headquarters and
preliminary gaps
concerning
application of the
matrix of indicators
for the IUCN –
UNESCO proposal
Identified the need
for a specific work
meeting with the
Trifinio Plan Technical
Research Team to
learn about results
obtained from the
research project of
the International
Atomic Energy Agency
Coordination
workshop with the
Trifinio Plan technical
research team
Representatives of MARN,
CEL, ANDA, MAG and
University of El Salvador,
Trifinio Plan, INSIVUMEH
and IUCN (14 people, see
attachment 2)
Presentation of the
Groundwater
Governance project
and the consultant
team. The research
team presented the
IAEA project on study
of groundwater in the
upper part of the
Lempa River basin.
Information generated
and gaps identified by
the research team
Draft project
document received
(there is still no final
document).
Communication
channels set up
between trinational
research team and
IUCN consultant team
Technical inputs and
feedback obtained on
the project proposal,
second phase.
16

17. Coordination
workshop with
the Lempa River
Trinational Border
Association of
Municipalities
Representatives of
the Lempa River
Trinational Border
Association of
Municipalities
Representatives of
the Association of
Border Associated
Municipalities
Representatives of IUCN
(17 people, see
attachment 2)
Dissemination of the
Groundwater
Governance in
Transboundary
Aquifers Project by the
IUCN
The Association gave
a presentation on its
work in the zone,
projects executed
and underway and
possible lines of
coordination with the
project.
Lines of coordination
identified between
the project and the
Association for
carrying out
complementary
activities
Important
information identified
for development of
the project’s phase 1
and lines of
communication to
obtain it
Those present provided
suggestions and
observations to be
taken into account in
the project proposal,
second phase.
UNESCO-IUCN work
meeting
Andrea Merla UNESCO
Laura del Vaal IGRAC
Rocío Córdoba IUCN
Carlos Rosal IUCN
Sebastián Charchalac
IUCN consultant
Manuel Escamilla
IUCN consultant
Melany Machado
IUCN consultant
Fernando Samayoa
IUCN consultant
Patricia Alvarado
IUCN
Consultant
Presentation by
Andrea Merla on the
Transboundary Water
Program (TWAP)
study and how the
Groundwater
Governance Project is
inserted in this project
Presentation by Laura
del Val on IGRAC and
the information
management system
to be used during
project
implementation
Observations and
suggestions by UNESCO
and IGRAC officers for
the work of the
consultant team
Follow-up agreements
on preparation of the
final proposal
document
Presentation by
Carlos Rosal on the
process followed
during the project’s
preliminary phase
17

18. Presentation by
the consultant
team on progress
in the preliminary
phase
Observations,
suggestions and
recommendations
were then made on
the work carried out,
concluding with
agreements and
coordination of work
to prepare the final
proposal document.
These activities provided broader criteria about institutional dynamics in the Trifinio zone and
the state of its communication channels, and preliminary detection of local installed capacity
to strengthen project implementation in the zone.
5.2.2. RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS OF LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS ON THE PROJECT
PROPOSAL
5.2.2.1. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE PROJECT PREPARATION PHASE
Table 3 Observations and Suggestions for the Project Preparation Phase
STAKEHOLDERS
OBSERVATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
Hold a meeting with the Trinational Technical Research Team to find
out about their work on the Esquipulas-Ocotepeque-Citalá aquifer
since this is the most recent hydrogeological study made but the
information is not yet available to the general public.
Trifinio Plan Technical
Team and organizations
working in the area
Make a list of information gaps detected thus far and send it to the
Trifinio Plan Technical Manager to confirm with the technical team
whether or not the information exists and if so, how it can be
accessed.
Eight wells have recently been drilled on the Honduras side; they are
being monitored and this is very valuable information. The Honduras
Trifinio Plan TO Coordinator needs to be contacted for this
information.
18

19. STAKEHOLDERS
OBSERVACITIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
Trinational
Technical Research
Team
Lempa River
Trinational Border
Association of
Municipalities
Mancomunidad
Coordinate with MAG in El Salvador to obtain the draft of the final
document on the first phase of the IAEA project
Río Lempa
It is feasible to generate other indicators can be applied specifically to
this aquifer.
UNESCO and IGRAC
Coordinate with their technical team to obtain documents generated
in the zone.
Consultants should link the inventory of information generated in the
aquifer zone with the intermediate list of indicators
Concerning the gender indicators, a special team (United Nations
Development Program and UNESCO) will be responsible for a process
to generate them.
5.2.2.2. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION PHASE
Table 4 Observations and Suggestions on the Project Implementation Phase
STAKEHOLDERS
OBSERVATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
Recommended thorough knowledge of the results of the research
project carried out by the International Atomic Energy Agency and
to follow up since the two projects could be complementary.
Trifinio Plan Technical
Team and organizations
working in the zone
In-depth local work with key stakeholders (private owners of areas
of interest, ranchers, coffee growers, municipalities, associations of
municipalities and others) is important. Based on experience in
other area projects, unless their awareness is raised and these
stakeholders are fully involved in the work for conservation and
sustainable development of water and associated resources,
achievement of the project’s objectives will be limited.
If Payment for Environmental Services activities are contemplated,
be careful that the model chosen is locally acceptable and all
participants obtain benefits.
It is important to contemplate working with the social capital of the
region so that people are empowered about their resources through
the creation of good water governance capacities.
19

20. While there has been work on the gender theme in the zone in some
projects, it is still very weak so needs to be made visible at local,
institutional and governmental levels.
Promote the establishment of agreements with local governments to
regulate use of water resources.
Take advantage of the technical research platform already created
to work with it, the only thing needed is to have a full-time
coordinator who can organize the teamwork and coordinate all of
the logistics for collecting data in field studies.
Trinational
Technical
Research Team
Prepare a map of aquifer recharge zones so that a management plan
for these zones can be jointly developed for the aquifer’s
maintenance.
Do a study on the aquifer’s vulnerability to contamination and
identify the major pollution points.
Evaluate aquifer availability and yield in the face of climate change
effects and climate variability.
Conduct or update the inventory of wells in the aquifer zone, both
artisanal and mechanical (as far as possible, this inventory should
include data on piezometric levels, use type, yield, amount used,
storage coverage and geographic location). It is important to involve
the health sector in each country through the community
promoters.
Lempa River Trinational
Border Association of
Municipalities
Country legislation and will could be a large constraint to achieving
the project objective about transboundary dialogue.
The Trifinio Plan Trinational Commission and Lempa River Trinational
Border Association of Municipalities play an important role in
influencing governments and generating changes in local policy.
It is important that the project include a training component so that
local stakeholders with advocacy and financial management capacity
are part of the process, and also to create local capacities in
transboundary groundwater governance.
Strengthen territorial platforms making it possible for everyone to
access information generated; and also to make a joint effort
towards their sustainability
20

21. Coordinate with and support the Trinational Association of
Municipalities to promote the public policies of “Shared Waters”
and “Forests Forever,” as well as preparation of the Steering Plan for
Integrated Water Resource Management regulating both surface
and ground water
Promote activities for developing sustainable agriculture in the area
and reducing water pollution from this productive activity
Promote interinstitutional and multi-sector coordination to forge
strategic alliances
The ISARM methodology will be used in carrying out aquifer
characterization activities and generation of information for
application to the indicators, in which work is done by local experts
and UNESCO intervention will focus on work supervision and
harmonization issues.
UNESCO and IGRAC
It would be good to have letters of endorsements for the project
from the three countries, as well as letters of cooperation with their
national institutions in order to define coordination and cooperation
commitments.
Define the parameters that will be used for generating geographic
information (scale, rasters, nomenclatures and others); that way the
same parameters are used.
5.3. TRIPS TO THE FIELD
The consultant team made three field visits during the consultancy.
5.3.1. RECONNAISSANCE OF THE ESQUIPULAS-OCOTEPEQUE-CITALÁ AQUIFER AREA
A field visit was made at the start of the
consultancy to tour the aquifer zone under study
for a preliminary determination of biophysical,
hydrological and social characteristics of the zone.
During the tour main rivers and their tributaries
were located preliminarily and geomorphology
was identified, along with some of the
stratigraphic characteristics and a panorama of
current land use, possible limits of the aquifer and
characteristics of the main recharge zones. It was
also possible to determine that prevailing soils are
shallow and highly susceptible to erosion, mainly
on hillsides. The valley is very different since soil is
Field visit for reconnaissance of the Trifinio Aquifer
area.
21

22. very deep and of better quality. Due to their geological characteristics, certain zones appear
to have little water permeability, representing a low water recharge zone.
The aquifer area also has zones where forest cover is still maintained, enabling infiltration of
water. Change in land use is very common and much of the land is used for coffee growing, one
of the major sources of income. Due to the zone’s conditions, it appears that most of the
groundwater used comes from an unconfined or shallow aquifer highly susceptible to
contamination.
5.3.2. FIELD TRIP TO ACTIVITIES EXECUTED BY THE GIZ WATER AND FOREST PROJECT
This trip, in which the GIZ technical team participated, included visits to two experiences
carried out by the GIZ Water and Forest project in the Balanzas and San Juan Buena Vista
microwatersheds located in the upper watershed of the Lempa River in Honduras.
The purpose was to learn about the
activities of the communities and identify
level of capacities as product of the project
currently being executed.
Importantly,
women
have
active
participation in both the agroforestry
project and in monitoring water and runoff
parcels.
They
take
pluviometer
measurements and on the capacities of
some streams. This information is used for
their farming activities. There is a striking
change of attitude in the inhabitants in
terms of valuation of water resources and
carrying out water conservation activities.
Top: Runoff parcels for monitoring
It is evident that the project has created
Bottom: Meeting of a group of project beneficiarie
capacities to negotiate and solve conflicts
over inadequate use of water and contamination actions.
This trip was highly important to learn about aspects described previously and to realize that it
is not a matter of starting from zero with the communities, since there is already a certain local
capacity to do fieldwork and facilitate implementation of new project activities in the zone.
5.3.3. FIELD TRIP WITH UNESCO AND IGRAC OFFICERS
The consultant team and UNESCO and IGRAC members made a visit to the Trifinio area on March
4 and 5, providing opportunity to interview the Manager of the Trifinio Plan Trinational
Commission and technical staff of the Lempa River Trinational Border Association of
Municipalities to inform about the project’s objectives and ascertain their willingness to
coordinate activities as local partners in the zone.
22

23. A reconnaissance trip was also made to the area where the Esquipulas- Ocotepeque-Citalá aquifer
is located, so that the UNESCO mission could get a clearer vision of surface geology, possible
water recharge zones, productive activities and possible groundwater uses.
UNESCO-IUCN- Trifinio Plan meeting
Visit to a lookout of the Esquipulas Valley
UNESCO-IUCN-Lempa River Trinational Border Association of
Municipalities
Visit to the Lempa River
5.4. REVIEW OF INFORMATION GENERATED IN TRIFINIO
All available information was collected through the Technical Management of the Trifinio Plan
Trinational Commission on projects executed in the zone, websites and government institutions in
each of the countries, and then reviewed and catalogued by the consultant team.
23

24. VI. RESULTS
BIOPHYSICAL AND HYDROGEOLOGICAL
INFORMATION
24

25. 6.1. BIOPHYSICAL INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE AREA OF THE ESQUIPULASOCOTEPEQUE-CITALÁ AQUIFER (TRIFINIO AQUIFER)
While there is almost no biophysical or hydrogeological information specifically for the aquifer,
information on the Trifinio zone in general can be used for the Esquipulas-Ocotepeque-Citalá
aquifer. The main and most up-to-date document on the situation of the Trifinio region is one
prepared by the Forests and Water Project, executed with support from GIZ (Estado de la Región
Trifinio), source of the description provided below.
6.1.1. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STUDY ZONE
6.1.1.1. OVERVIEW OF THE TRIFINIO ZONE
Comprised of the El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala border areas, the Trifinio region spans a
total of 7,541 km 2, 44.7% corresponding to Guatemala, 15.3% to El Salvador, a n d 40% to
Honduras, representing approximately 13% of
Figure 1 Location of the Trifinio region in the north
Central American triangle
the three countries’ total extension and 3% of
their population. In 2010 there were 802,919
inhabitants4.
The region is strategically located within Central
America’s northern triangle. There is land
communication with the most important cities in
the three countries. It is located approximately
140 km from Guatemala City, some 15 km from
Santa Ana (El Salvador), 66 km from San Salvador
and 159 km from San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
Source: Mancomunidad Trinacional Fronteriza del Río Lempa
As for the Trifinio aquifer, a study by Garavito, F. and Guevara, M. generated the following
information.
The Esquipulas-Ocotepeque-Citalá Transboundary Aquifer System extends approximately along
600 km corresponding to the municipalities of Metapán, Citalá, San Ignacio and La Palma, in El
Salvador; Esquipulas, Olopa, and Quetzaltepeque, in Guatemala; and Nueva Ocotepeque, Santa Fe
and Concepción, Honduras. Dominant physiographic elements are represented by the Tertiary
volcanic chain with elevations up to 2700 MASL. Lahars occur.
In the aquifer zone shared by the countries there is a population of approximately 100,000 people
(UNESCO-IHP/OAS ISARM, 2007. Atlas of Transboundary Aquifers). In terms of climate, there is a
moist zone with annual pluviosity ranging from 1200 to 2000 mm, with rains from May to October
and average annual temperatures of 23º to 25º C.
4
Estado de la Región del Trifinio/GIZ 2010.
25

26. 6.1.2. BIOPHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
6.1.2.1. CLIMATE AND LIFE ZONES
The most recurrent climate in the Trifinio region is semi-warm humid, including most of Honduran
Trifinio and the northeast region of Guatemalan Trifinio. Warm, humid climate is located in the
surroundings of Lake Guija and valleys in the zones of San Juan Ermita, Camotán and Copán
Ruinas.
The higher elevations of the territory, such as the Montecristo massif, El Pital, the Guisayote
mountain and Cerro Celaque have a wet climate, whether semi-warm or temperate. The driest
areas (classified as warm semi-arid or semi-warm semi-arid) are located in the Chiquimula
subregion and lower parts of the Ipala Volcano.
Figure 2 Climate Classification according to Thornthwaite
Source: SIG/GIZ 2010
Although there is no specific information on the Trifinio Aquifer, from this map we can deduce
that climate types are semi-warm humid on the plains of Esquipulas and Ocotepeque, semi-warmvery humid on the high parts of Ocotepeque, in Monte Cristo and La Palma, and warm-humid in a
small area in Citalá and San Ignacio.
According to the Holdrige classification, the Trifinio region has the following life zones:
 Tropical dry forest
 Subtropical moist forest
 Subtropical wet forest
 Lower Montane wet forest
 Montane wet forest
Information specific to the Trifinio Aquifer could not be found.
26

27. 6.1.2.2. PRECIPITATION
Average monthly and annual precipitation recorded for the last 20 years (1990 – 2010) is shown in
table 5. The lowest annual precipitation was measured in the stations of Nueva Ocotepeque
(909.1 mm) and La Ceibita (962.1 mm), and the highest in La Palma (2,369.2 mm) and Planes de
Montecristo (2,189.7 mm). There is a clear differentiation in monthly rainfall between the
November-April dry season and the rainy period from May to October. Precipitation declines for
20 to 30 days during July and August (Buch, Jiménez, 2009).
Table 5 Average Monthly Precipitation in the Trifinio Region by Station
Source: Estado de la Región Trifinio, GIZ 2010
Four of the stations shown in the table above (La Palma, Esquipulas, Planes de Montecristo and
Nueva Ocotepeque) are located in the Trifinio Aquifer zone, and the data reported indicates that
average annual precipitation ranges from 909.1 mm at the Nueva Ocotepeque station to 2369.2
mm in La Palma.
Figure 3 Annual Precipitation in the Trifinio Region
Source: SIG/GIZ 2010
27

28. 6.1.2.3. TEMPERATURE
Trifinio is located in the tropical climate belt, recording average temperatures that are similar year
round with minimal monthly variations. The lowest temperatures are in January and December,
and the hottest in March and April.
In proportion to elevation, the hottest temperatures are recorded in the valleys and low parts of
Guatemala and depressions south of Ruinas de Copán in Honduras. Coldest temperatures are
recorded in the mountainous Montecristo and El Pital massifs.
Figure 4 Average Annual Temperatures (°C) for the Trifinio Region
Source: SIG/GIZ, 2010
It can be deduced from the temperature map that average annual temperatures are highly
variable, ranging from 16.5 – 16.9 C in zones such as La Palma and Montecristo, and 24 – 24.4 C in
the plains of Ocotepeque, Concepción and Esquipulas.
6.1.2.4. RELATIVE HUMIDITY
Relative humidity measures the moisture content of air, useful for calculating evaporation and
transpiration and as indicator of the probability of convective rain. The map below shows three
areas with differing levels of relative humidity in the Trifinio region: low (63 to 70%) in the
lowlands of the south with complementing small areas around Camotán and Ocotepeque;
intermediate (70.5 a 81%) in most of the territory and high (81.5% or above) in the upper
elevations.
28

29. Figure 5 Relative Humidity in the Trifinio Region
Source: SIG/GIZ, 2010
According to this map, relative humidity for the aquifer zone ranges from around 70% in
Ocotepeque, to 83% in Montecristo, approximately.
6.1.2.5. SOILS
There is a high variability of parent material distributed in heterogeneous relief and subjected to
highly variable climate and biological conditions, leading to a diversity of soils: entisols, alfisols,
ultisols, mollisols and endosols in different groupings (see Table 6).
Table 6 Description of Soil Groups in the Trifinio Region
Soil Group
Symbol
Characteristics
Inceptisols, entisols
Inc, Ent, Vert Heavy soils with management and productive problems, with little
and vertisols
susceptibility to erosion
Entisols, andosols Ent, And, Alf Moderately-textured soils, thick, susceptible to erosion and of little-toand alfisols
medium productivity
Andosols,
alfisols And, Alf, Ult
Deep, clay-rich soils highly susceptible to erosion and of low-to-moderate
and ultisols
productivity, suited to perennial crops
Alfisols,
entisols, Alf, Ent, Inc
Recent soils, undeveloped, medium-textured and restricted drainage. Little
inceptisols
and
susceptible to erosion, and of medium-to-high productivity with drainage and
andosols
irrigation
Andosols, alfisols, And, Alf, Ent Moderately deep soil of medium to fine texture, moderately susceptible to
and entisols
erosion, of moderate productivity, not suited for annual crops
Andosols, entisols, And, Ent, Alf Stony soils, not deep, susceptible to erosion and of low-to-medium
alfisols
and
productivity, suited to forest or livestock production
mollisols
Source: Estado de la Región Trifinio, GIZ 2010
29

30. Approximately 40% of the zone is highly susceptible to erosion due to a combination of
topographical, edaphic, and geological factors, significantly affecting loss of soil productivity,
increased vulnerability to natural disasters and sedimentation in main water bodies.
Figure 6 Soil Groupings in the Trifinio Region
Source: SIG/GIZ, 2010
Based on the map it can be deduced that soil groups present in Trifinio are alfisols-entisolsiinceptisols-andosols, andosols-alfisols-entisols, andosols-alfisols-ultisols and entisols-alfisolsultisols.
6.1.2.6. TOPOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Trifinio is highly diverse in terms of topography and ecosystems. There are four major types of
relief: mountain areas (higher than 1750 MASL), foothills (1251 to 1750 MASL), intermediary plains
(750 to 1250 MASL) and valley plains (less than 750 MASL).
Mountain zones have shallow soils and rocky outcroppings. They are extremely important for the
hydric network since they constitute the elevated parts of the main watersheds. The highest
points are Cerro Montecristo (2,418 MASL), El Pital (2,730 MASL) and Montaña de Guisayote
(2,310 MASL). Relief at the base of the mountain is not as steep-sloped as in the mountains.
30

31. Extending from mid-mountain to where the plains begin, this zone is formed of alluvia and colluvia
shaped by river currents and movements of soil from gravity. Soils are deeper and more
productive and have a less dense drainage system.
Intermediary plains are distributed throughout Trifinio at elevations under 800 MASL. The greatest
extension of valley plains lies in the southwestern part of the region around Lake Guija. There is
also a plains area in Chiquimula.
Figure 7 Relief in the Trifinio Region
Source: SIG/GIZ 2010
The map shows three types of relief in Trifinio: intermediary plains, foothills and mountain areas.
6.1.2.7. DIVISION BY WATERSHEDS
This region has three of the Central America’s most important watersheds, the Ulúa, Motagua and
Lempa river basins6. The Lempa River runs through the three countries until emptying into the
Pacific Ocean (one of the largest flows in Central America).
31

32. Figure 8 Watersheds located in the Trifinio Region
Source: SIG/Plan Trifinio, 2010
These three large watersheds are divided into subwatersheds: seven in the Lempa River basin, two
subwatersheds that drain into the Motagua River and the subwatershed of the Higuito River that
forms part of the Ulúa River basin. The Trifinio Aquifer zone is located in the subwatershed of the
Upper Lempa River.
Figure 9 Subwatersheds located in the Trifinio Region
Source: SIG/GIZ 2010
32

33. 6.1.2.8. RECHARGE ZONES
A bibliographical review found that the GIZ Water and Forest Project prepared a map of water
recharge zones serving as a first approximation. This gives us an idea of the location of potential
areas of greatest infiltration which should be managed so that this is maintained. Due to their
physical, geological and topographical conditions, hydrogeological recharge areas permit
infiltration of rainwater (precipitation) toward zones within the subsoil where they can be stored.
These waters reach the surface via springs or are extracted through wells. Four types of
hydrogeological zones have been identified in the Trifinio region based on capacity to store and
transmit groundwater:
 High infiltration zones or water recharge areas: These need to be protected to ensure both
quantity and quality of water supply. Here it is recommended that forest be maintained or
reestablished and that agricultural or industrial activity be restricted.
 Medium infiltration zones where the water level is very deep-down: Human or agricultural
activities can be carried out as long as fertilizer and pesticide use is restricted. Human settlements
can be established using pit latrines as basic sanitation.
 Medium infiltration zones where the water level is very close to the surface: Because of the
closeness they are medium vulnerable but apt for human settlements with piping system or
compost latrines. Agriculture and livestock activities should avoid use of highly toxic fertilizers and
agrochemicals.
 Low infiltration zones which because of their low vulnerability to water pollution are apt for
human settlements, sites for solid waste disposal and agricultural and livestock activities with
minimal restrictions.
Figure 10 Potential Water Recharge Zones
Source: SIG/GIZ 2010
33

34. The map shows the four categories of potential water zone categories.
6.2. HYDROGEOLOGICAL INFORMATION FOR THE ESQUIPULAS- OCOTEPEQUE-CITALÁ
AQUIFER AREA (TRIFINIO AQUIFER)
Base documents used for the hydrogeological information appearing below were: Informe
borrador del Proyecto Desarrollo sostenible del medio ambiente y los recursos Hídricos de la
cuenca Alta del Rio Lempa, of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Plan estratégico de la
región trifinio 2010-2012, July 2011, GIZ-URBAL-IDB, and Plan de gestión para el desarrollo
sostenible de la región del trifinio. This information is specific to the Upper Basin of the Lempa
River where the Trifinio Aquifer is located.
6.2.1. GEOLOGY
From a geological standpoint, the area corresponding to the Upper Basin of the Lempa River
(hereon abbreviated as UBLR) is one of the most complex5. The rocks in this study zone are of
Metamorphic type, meaning that they are made up of very dense materials with little or
practically no permeability, especially ignimbrites and rhyolite-dacite lava.
Because the
ignimbrites are very compact and welded, they do not make up important aquifers unless altered
by fractures or geological faults. The same occurs with intrusive rocks, which are fractured and
highly meteorized. The watershed has sedimentary rock, including conglomerates, sandstone, red
lutite layers, limestone and marl. There are also sedimentary materials accumulated in the
depressions of the main valleys where the conjunction of fluvial, alluvial and lacustrine sediments
several meters thick can constitute reservoirs of groundwater.
Figure 11 Geology Upper Basin of the Lempa River
5
CTPT, El Trifinio, Los recursos hídricos en la parte alta de la cuenca del Río Lempa.
34

35. Source: SIG/Plan Trifinio 2010
As shown on the geological map, the Trifinio aquifer area contains:
 domes of lava and slag: andesitic and basaltic
 Alluvium and exfoliation domes
 Rhyolite obsidian domes
 Felsic effusives composed of rhyolite dacite lava and acidic pyroclastic flows , ignimbrites and
deposits of fallen coignimbrites
6.2.2. HYDROGEOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION
The hydrogeological characterization of the Upper Basin of the Lempa River has been based on
the integrated geological map (with its geological formations and members), the information
obtained in vertical electric soundings, information obtained from the inventories of water
sources (dug and perforated wells and springs) in the frame of the project and hydrochemical
information obtained from samplings.
Figure 12 Hydrogeology of the Upper Part of the Watershed of the Lempa River
Descripción de las unidades Hidrogeológicas del mapa
Sedimentos aluvionales y coluviales que constituyen las unidades “Acuíferos porosos” (porosida
primaria, detrítico) de edad Cuaternaria
Rocas fracturadas intercaladas con material volcanoclástico de edades Plioceno superior
Holoceno que constituyen la unidad hidrogeológica “Acuíferos fracturados”
Rocas poco fracturadas que constituyen la unidad “Rocas fracturadas de baja porosidad”.
d
En relación al tema de la información disponible de carácter hidrogeológico, para el área de
a
acuífero Trifinio. Existe la demarcación preliminar del mismo, de acuerdo al MAPA realizado po
Fulgencio Garavito, INSIVUMEH, Guatemala. Mario Guevara Retana, SNET, El Salvador. Que podr
servir de punto de partida para profundizar en la caracterización del acuífero TRIFINIO.
Source: SIG/Plan Trifinio 2010
The Trifinio Aquifer area mostly presents fractured rocks of low porosity and porous aquifers in a
part of the territory, along with a small extension of fractured and porous aquifers.
According to the first characterization done by Garavito F. INSIVUMEH and Guevara M. SNET, the
aquifer is a multi-layer, confined and unconfined system, predominantly the latter. It is of porous
and fractured type, made up of sedimentary deposits in Quaternary alluvial valleys and Tertiary
pyroclastics and intermediate-acid and acid lavas. Hydrothermal alteration can be observed in
many areas.
35

36. Figure 13 First Approximation of the Delimitation of the Esquipulas-Ocotepeque-Citalá Aquifer
Source: UNESCO-IHP-OEA ISARM, 2007
The shallow aquifer has an average depth of 20 m while the deep aquifer ranges from 100 to 150
m. There is a hydraulic connection between the rivers and aquifer system. Flow is predominantly
northwest to southeast toward Nueva Ocotepeque, where its direction changes. Dominant
physiographic elements are provided by the Tertiary volcanic chain, with elevations of up to 2700
MASL. Lahars occur. In terms of climate, this is a humid zone with a pluviosity variable of 1200 to
2000 mm a year, rains from May to October and average annual temperature of 23º to 25º C.
6.2.3. INFORMATION ABOUT WELLS
Although wells are known to exist in the aquifer zone, information is difficult to access because
these are private boreholes. During the consultancy access was provided to the lithologic or
stratigraphic profiles of two wells, one in the valley of Esquipulas and the other in Los Pinos. (see
annexes 3 and 4)
36

37. Location of well and research piezometers
on the Honduran side, El Poy. Trifinio
Well-drilling machinery
Some wells have been drilled on the Honduran side for different uses, but have served for
monitoring and obtaining information for groundwater investigations conducted in the area.
Pumping test and water sampling
Geophysical tests
Tests with tracers
Geoelectric sounding
37

38. ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
38

39. 6.3. ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
While there is almost no biophysical or hydrogeological information specifically for the aquifer,
information for the Trifinio zone in general can serve as the basis for generating the necessary
information.
6.3.1. PROTECTED AREAS
A system of official protected natural areas has been implemented as part of the strategy for
conserving the richness of the ecosystems existing in the Trifinio region. Altogether, 15% of the
Trifinio area belongs to one of the following protected areas:
Table 7 Official Protected Areas in the Trifinio Region
Protected Area
Management Category
Trifinio Area
Description / Observations
(km2)
Montaña de Celaque
national park
El Pital
biosphere reserve
266.3
37.9
Erapuca
wildlife refuge
73.1
Guisayote
biological reserve
Lago de Guija
to be defined
Montecristo
biosphere reserve
San Diego La Barra
national park (state)
Volcán Pacayita
biological reserve
Volcán Ixtepeque
definitive closed season zone
18.6
Volcán Suchitán
regional municipal park
25.4
Volcán y Laguna de Ipala
multiple-use area
22.8
Volcán Quezaltepeque
regional municipal park
10.9
Cerro las Cebollas
regional municipal park
N/D
Volcán Las Víboras
definitive closed season area
24.4
Binational area, no legal protection
140.9
13.9
No legal protection
422.7
22.6
102.0
Largest extension of dry forest in El Salvador
Home of the Lenca ethnic group
Source: Estado de la Región Trifinio, GIZ, 2010.
The Montecristo and Guisayote protected areas have water recharge influence on the Trifinio
Aquifer, as can be seen on the following map.
39

40. Figure 14 Protected Areas Located in the Trifinio Zone
Source: SIG/GIZ 2010
6.3.2. MAIN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN THE TRIFINIO ZONE
 Deforestation at a regional rate of 1.7% per year in the last 24 years; the geomorphological unit
of Montaña de Quezaltepeque in Guatemala is the most affected
 Siltation of streams, rivers and lakes with critical scenarios in the Lake Güija geomorphological
unit
 Poor forest management at places like Esquipulas, where forest cover is barely 2%
 Deficient management of protected areas in the Trifinio. Their limits are not well defined; of the
24 areas only eight are supported by technical aspects and some, like El Pital and Lake Güija, have
not been legalized.
 Environmental contamination from high-impact solid residues: for example, open-air dumps in
Esquipulas affecting more than 21 thousand inhabitants, and a dump in Metapán that affects a
population of over 15 thousand people.
 Environmental contamination from residential water, particularly severe in the municipal seats
of Metapán, Asunción Mita and Chiquimula; fecal coliforms average 92.59 NMP/100 ml
 Environmental contamination from wastewater deriving from coffee processing with a high
40

41. impact, especially in the buffer zone of Montaña Montecristo and Montaña de Quezaltepeque
 Risk of flooding, with the most recurrent in Lake Güija and Metapán
 Risk of forest fires, placing 100 thousand ha in jeopardy. In 1998 incidence of forest fires was
concentrated in the Montecristo Massif (south and east of Esquipulas, and northeast of
Metapán).
Main environmental problems for the Trifinio Aquifer zone (see figure 15) are:
 Loss of forest cover from poor management
 Deficient management of protected areas
 Contamination from solid residues
 Risk of fires
 Pollution from coffee-processing wastewater
Figure 15 Strategic Transboundary Environmental Problems
Source: GIS/Trifinio
41

42. 6.3.3. WATER USES
There is little information about use of the aquifer. The population of Trifinio is thought to
depend entirely on water generated in the region for human consumption, domestic use,
irrigation of pasturelands and agricultural zones, recreation, tourism, etc.
Outside the region the main use of water from the Lempa River is in El Salvador, since San
Salvador alone has 2,260,894 inhabitants (2006). In another part the document indicates that
800,000 inhabitants of San Salvador depend on the Lempa River for proximately 40% of their
water supply. In addition, there are four hydroelectric dams whose waters come from Trifinio
(Guajoyo, Cerrón Grande, 5 de Noviembre and 15 de Septiembre) and two irrigation districts
(Atiocoyo and Lempa – Acahuapa).
According to research conducted in 2002, SNET of El Salvador found that river behavior had
varied over the past 30 years due to several factors, including change in soil use, variations in rain
and evapotranspiration regimes and changes in demand , with more than 70% flow reduction
during the dry season in some cases.
Along with the trend toward reduction, supply of drinking water is deficient in terms of both
quantity and quality. The main cities of the zone (Metapán, La Palma and Esquipulas) report
supply irregularities: rationing, problems of quality and low coverage, and levels of needed
investment to close the gap between supply and demand are very low. This has a significant
impact on the population’s quality of life in terms of health, production and resources (time,
energy and money).
Various conflicts have arisen between communities over the use, availability and ownership of
water sources. While these are not documented, at least three such conflicts have been reported
between border communities in El Salvador and Honduras (personal communication from Héctor
Aguirre, 2008). Additionally, drinking water coverage for the rural area is less than for cities.
Guatemala is the country most affected by this problem, as shown in the table below.
Table 8 Potable Water Coverage by Country in the Area of Influence of Trifinio Plan, Upper
Lempa River Basin
COUNTRY
% COVERAGE OF POTABLE WATER
Guatemala
56
El Salvador
66
Honduras
71
Source: ICI, APESA, NORAGRIC (2000)
42

43. 6.3.4. LOCAL ECONOMY’S DEPENDENCE ON ACCESS TO WATER RESOURCES
According to studies by ISARM, in the dry season agricultural production is 100% dependent on
springs and wells, as is livestock production, small and medium industry, and above all, human
consumption. The dry season can last up to six months of the year.
6.3.5. WATER QUALITY
According to ISARM, in general the natural quality of the aquifer system is good, although there is
pollution that originates in the three countries. El Salvador has the greatest contamination since
it is situated downstream of the aquifer. Contamination from coliform bacteria has been
identified in wells dug on the Guatemalan side. There are few perforated wells making use of
confined water, and there is no information on their water quality. As for chemical
contamination, natural iron predominates, along with high values of calcium, sodium and
nitrates.
In the case of surface water, we detected that availability for industrial and agricultural uses and
human consumption has been reduced due to high rates of contamination in most of the
watershed’s rivers, with a series of effects on human health: a rise in gastrointestinal, parasitic
and skin diseases, proliferation of epidemics and even cases of poisoning and intoxication.
Water quality studies made of the Lempa River and its tributaries show that quality is fair, due to
the presence of fecal coliforms (from 4 NMP/100 ml to 1, 000,000 NMP/100 ml), decline in
dissolved oxygen, high biochemical demand (3.3 mg/l) and heavy metals that at some control
points exceed internationally recommended standards for these parameters (CATIE, 2004;
SHN/SNET, 2003).
Water quality problems in most of the tributaries and in the main course of the Lempa River arise
because domestic, agroindustrial and industrial residual water are dumped completely untreated
into receiver flows. Coverage levels of latrines and rural basic sanitation are also deficient.
Due to this situation, there is greater risk of groundwater contamination from home and
industrial wastewater. Waters contain agrochemicals that accumulate in the soil and are then
carried to aquifers. The greatest problem for the aquifer system is therefore related to pollution
from domestic and industrial activity, especially near the border, and to over-use and loss of
recharge areas as urban development and deforestation proliferate. Coordinated local and
regional aquifer management is needed among the countries to make wiser use of groundwater
in the border region of Guatemala and El Salvador to mitigate current and future impacts.
43

44. SOCIOECONOMIC INFORMATION
44

45. 6.4. SOCIOECONOMIC INFORMATION VAILABLE
This is the type of information that has been generated most in the zone. Different studies have
produced valuable information, albeit generalized for the entire Trifinio region as described
previously. Notwithstanding, it provides a basis for obtaining specific information about the
aquifer area.
Summarized below is socioeconomic information that will be useful for executing the
Groundwater Governance in Transboundary Aquifers project.
6.4.1. POPULATION DATA FOR THE TRIFINIO REGION
In 1986, when the Trifinio Plan commenced, the region had a population of approximately
450,000 inhabitants. Twenty-five years later, the population is about to double; each year it
increases by 14,000 people on average.
Table 9 Expected Population by 2015
Source: Estado de la Región del Trifinio/GIZ 2010.
The population of the Trifinio Region is made up of a high percentage of youth and children:
25.8% are under 7 years of age and another 25% are between 7 and 17. Both groups (under 18
years of age) together make up 51.9% of the entire population. Those over 18 and under 59
represent 41.7% and just 6.5% are older than 60. 48.6% of the population are men and 51.4% are
women. The ratio of men to women changes according to age group. In those under 15, the ratio
is 1.05:1, and for the population as a whole is 0.94 to each woman. The variation in distribution
between age groups has to do with different rates of mortality and migration 6.
6
Estado de la Región Trifinio 2010 Datos socioeconómicos y ambientales de los municipios. GIZ November 2011.
45

46. Table 10 Population Data for the Trifinio Zone
N° General Data
Socioeconomic Characteristics
Municipal Infrastructure
1 Communities with electric service
Data
2 Drinking water service coverage
3 Piping services
4 Municipal markets
5 Kilometers of dirt roads
6 Kilometers of paved roads
Education Sector
1 Students at pre-school level
2 Students at primary level
3 Students at basic level
4 Students at secondary level
5 Students at higher level
6 Pre-primary-level education centers
7 Primary-level education centers
8 Basic-level education centers
9 Secondary-level education centers
10 Higher-level education centers
11 Illiteracy rate
Health Sector
1 Health centers
2 Hospitals
Economic and Productive Sector
1 Human Development Index
2 Percent in absolute poverty
3 Percent in extreme poverty
4 Number of banks
5 Number of cooperatives
53 %
30 %
17
1,416
417
58 %
27,291
122,090
32,240
15,004
1,000
812
1,654
516
102
5
40
78
3
0.55
68%
42%
53
23
Source: Plan Estratégico Territorial 2008-2023
6.4.2 ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
Main economic activities in the Trifinio region are agricultural production and artisanal and
tourism activities. The first is small-scale since most producers cultivate less than five hectares.
Throughout the region, including urban areas, are homes that participate in the agricultural
sector, mostly related to the production of basic grains and coffee. Vegetable growing is an
interesting option for some rural families because of the high prices and extensive markets, like
nearby San Salvador. Soils are apt and there is enough water for cultivating vegetables. (Estado de
la región Trifinio 2010).
Grown on approximately 24,000 ha at elevations from 900 t o 1600 MASL , coffee is an important
source of income for campesino families, and also contributes to the economy because of the
46

47. high demand for temporary labor that cannot be met in the zone, requiring that workers be
brought in from other parts of Central America.
There is a great deal of tourism potential in the Trifinio region, which at present is receiving an
estimated 1.7 million visitors. Each spends USD 31.50 on average, altogether generating USD
53.55 million a year (CATIE, 2005). The major center of attraction is La Basilica de Esquipulas in
Guatemala, drawing more than a million visitors a year. Other tourist attractions include the
Montecristo Trinational Protected Area, crafts in the Salvadoran towns of La Palma and San
Ignacio and Ruinas de Copán, in Honduras.
Of the sectors mentioned, tourism, coffee, vegetables and avocado especially offer potential for
economic development in the region and a way out of the current situation of poverty. However,
many residents decide to leave in search of a better life. It is estimated that 10% of those in the
three Guatemalan municipalities of Agua Blanca, Esquipulas and Ipala have migrated to the
United States. (CATIE, 2005)
On this theme, Alwang, Elias 20087 concluded that:
 Secondary education has a very large positive effect on wellbeing. Income of homes where the
head of household has secondary schooling is over 60% higher than in the others.
 The size of family parcels determines the type of life strategy and also has a very large impact
on family wellbeing. Elasticity of household income with respect to the size of the parcel is 0.9: if
a family increases its parcel by 1%, income will rise 0.9%.
 The closer a household is to the market, the greater the wellbeing of homes in urban zones,
although this result is not statistically significant for households in rural areas. Location also has
an influence on wellbeing: it is more likely that a household in Guatemala and Honduras will be
less poor than in El Salvador.
 Probability of finding a poor household declines as altitude rises, but only up to 1100 meters
above sea level; at that altitude the probability decreases.
6.4.3. MIGRATION
Migration of the population to other national territories or to other countries (mainly the United
States and Spain) is a phenomenon that in recent years has impacted significantly on the
economy and structure of families in Central America’s northern triangle. 25% of the total
population of the three countries has family members who have migrated (Programa Estado de la
Nación 2011). In Trifinio municipalities the annual migration rate (per thousand inhabitants)
ranges from 0 to 4%. The municipalities with higher rates are Chiquimula, San José la Arada and
Concepción Las Minas. The rest maintain rates under 2%. For the specific case of the aquifer
zone, the migration rate ranges from 0.1-2.0.
7
Estado de la región Trifinio 2008
47

48. 6.4.4. MAIN SOCIOECONOMIC PROBLEMS
According to the integrated appraisal made by Mancomunidad Trinacional Fronteriza del Río
Lempa, the region’s primary socioeconomic problems are8:
 Important migratory movements in the northwest and Corazón de Trifinio subsystem
 High illiteracy rates in the subsystem of Copan Chortí and Erapuca
 Sparse coverage of university centers in the trinational region of Honduras
 Elevated malnutrition rates en los subsystem of Copan Chortí and Erapuca
 Insufficiency of sanitation infrastructure in the Honduran trinational region
 Scarce drinking water coverage in rural areas
 High poverty rates in the Copan Chortí and Erapuca subsystems
 Lack of technical, productive and financial assistance in the trinational region
 Use of inadequate cultivation technologies in the Copan Chortí subsystem and throughout the
trinational region
 Low use of technified practices in the trinational region
 Scarce industrial coverage in the trinational region
 High cost of commercial transactions in the trinational region
6.4.5. PRELIMINARY STAKEHOLDER MAP IN THE TRINFINIO AQUIFER ZONE
Table 11 Stakeholders Identified in the Trifinio Aquifer Zone for Guatemala
CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
CIVIL SOCIETY
Cooperativa
Integral Trifinio
PRIVATE SECTOR
PROGRAM
PROJECT
Departmental
Government of
Chiquimula
Municipal
Mayoralty of
Esquipulas
Esquipulas Chamber PREVES
of Commerce
MAGA
Municipal
Cooperativa
Mayoralty of
COOSAJO
Concepción Las
Minas
ANACAFE
DDM
MARN
Mancomunidad Cooperativa
Trinacional
Chiquimuljá
Fronteriza Río
Lempa
Asociación
Ganaderos
Esquipulas
de PRODERT
de
8
Tercer informe integral de desarrollo estratégico territorial Trinacional, Mancomunidad Trinacional Fronteriza de Río
Lempa.
48

49. MINEDUC
Trinational
ATRIDEST
Commission of
the Trifinio Plan
MSPAS
Asociación
Ganaderos
Concepción
Minas
de OIRSA
de
Las
ADEMI
FONAPAZ
ADIPE
ADISO
INAB
ADEGO
CONRED
ASIAPACTRI
Source: Informe final consultoría Acuífero Trifinio/Charchalac S. IUCN 2013
Table 12 Stakeholders Identified in the Trifinio Aquifer Zone for Ocotepeque Honduras
CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
CIVIL SOCIETY
PRIVATE SECTOR
PROGRAM
PROJECT
Government of
Ocotepeque
Municipal
Mayoralty of
Ocotepeque
Club de Leones
Micro Empresa
de Mujeres
(OMM)
Mancomunidad
Trinacional
Fronteriza Río
Lempa
Secretariat of
Health
Municipality of
Sinuapa
Colegio de
Abogados de
Ocotepeque
BANADES
Forests and
Watersheds
Project
TCTP
ATRIDEST
ADESCOS de
Ocotepeque (45)
Colegio de
Peritos de
Ocotepeque
Banco de
Occidente
AMVAS
Trinational
Colegio de
Commission Trifinio Médicos de
Plan
Ocotepeque
Trifinio
Banco Atlántida
Ocotepeque
Transparency
Commission
Sociedad Civil
Plan del Rancho
Chamber of
Commerce
PRONADEL
Jóvenes sin
fronteras
Centro
Empresarial de
Negocios de
Ocotepeque
Human Rights
Tourism Committee COPAOL
49

50. District Education
Department
Women’s
Commission
Cooperativa de
Transportes San
José Ltda.
Departmental
Education
Department
Women’s
Organization
Radio
Etnia Chortí San
Andrés
Television channel
10
Etnia Nuevo
Renacer Chortí
Sinuapa
Television channel
50
Grupo de Mujeres
Chortí un nuevo
Amanecer
COPEM
PRICMAH
Cooperativa
Mixta Ocotepeque
Ltda.
SIMPRODOH
ASONOG
ASOMYPE
AGAO
Catholic Church
Evangelical
churches
Source: Informe final Consultoría Acuífero Trifinio/Escamilla M. UICN 2013
50

51. Table 13 Stakeholders Identified in the Trifinio Aquifer Zone, El Salvador
CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT
San
Ignacio Local Risk
Roundtable
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Association of
Municipalities of
Cayaguanca
CIVIL SOCIETY
Asociación
Agropecuaria de
Citalá
ASAGROCITALA
PRIVATE SECTOR
PROGRAM
PROJECT
Parque Ecológico
el Manzano
Riego
Sostenible
para la
producción de
hortalizas CATIE
La Palma Local Risk Municipal
ACOPASI
Roundtable
Mayoralty of Citalá Cooperativa la
Semilla de Dios
Centro de
CLUSA El
Atención turístico Salvador
La Palma CAT-LA
PALMA
General Bureau of Municipal
the
Forest Mayoralty of San
Planning,
Fernando
Watersheds
and
Irrigation Agency
Asociación
Agropecuaria
Apícola Monte
Tabor Caballero,
Colegio Cristiano
Lic. Arturo
Cabrera
La Palma
ASAMOTAC
General Bureau of Municipal
Forest Planning,
Mayoralty of La
Watersheds and Palma
Irrigation
Dulce María Agency
Asociación
Colegio
Cooperativa de
Evangélico
producción de
Amigos
servicios múltiples y
productores
orgánicos ACOPO RL
National
Asociación
Tienda Carolina
Municipal
Agricultural
Mayoralty of Dulce Agropecuaria de la
Technology Center
Nombre de María Palma
La Palma
ASAGROLAPALMA
National
Municipal
Agricultural
Mayoralty of San
Technology Center Ignacio
San Ignacio
Cooperativa De
Cafetaleros
COOPALMA
Farmacia Larisa
51

52. Women’s
Multisectoral
Roundtable
San Ignacio, Sexual
Exploitation
Lempa River
Trinational
Association
(associated
municipalities)
Asociación
Hotel y
Agropecuaria El
Restaurante El
Zarzal. ASAEZLAPA Roble
Basic Education
Trinational
Asociación de
Hotel y
Commission Trifinio Ganaderos San José Restaurante La
School Center Dr.
Salvador Mendieta
Sacare
Palma
ASAGROSACARE
National Institute
of Citalá
ADESCONLO
National Institute
of San Fernando
ADESCOPLAN
San Fernando
School Center
School Center
Canton of
Los Planes
Asociación de
Productores de
Palillos de San
Ignacio APROPASI
Caja de Crédito
La Palma
ACASIPAC, R.L.
Asociación de
Caja de Crédito
Regante El Carmen Dulce Nombre de
María
Empresarios de
Citalá Intersectoral Asociación
Agropecuaria
la ruta 119
Committee
Nueva visión
ADESACOS de
San Fernando
Asociación de
Regantes Las
Aradas
ADESCOS La
Palma (5)
Asociación de
Ganaderos El
Pinar AGAPIR
National Institute
of San
Ignacio
ADESCO San
Ignacio (10)
Asociación de
Regantes de El
Rosario
National Institute
of the Canton of
Las Pilas
ADESCOS Dulce
Nombre de
María (5)
Asociación de
Cooperativas
Agropecuarias de
Hortaliceros El
Rosario
San Ignacio
School centers (11)
Cada de Crédito
San Ignacio
52

53. National Civil Police Los Llanitos Water Asociación
Force
Comunal de
Board
agromercadeo,
servicios turísticos y
ambientales
ACANCERTA
Armed Forces
Los Llanitos Water Asociación de
th
4 Infantry Brigade Committee
Mujeres Unidas por
la Paz
Peace Tribunal of
San Fernando
Asociación de
desarrollo integral
de la zona alta de
Chalatenango y
grupo de acción
territorial ADIZALCAT
Peace Tribunal of
La Palma
Comité
Sociocultural de
La Palma
National Civil Police
Force
Dulce Nombre de
María
subdelegation
Parroquia
Inmaculada
Concepción Citalá
Court of First
Instance Dulce
Nombre de María
Iglesia Asambleas
de Dios
Tourism police
POLITUR-CAT San
Ignacio Río Chiquito
Iglesia Filadelfia
Asambleas
National Civil
Police,
Environment
Parroquia La
Palma
53

54. Health units of
Citalá, San
Fernando, La
Palma, Dulce
Nombre de María,
San Ignacio, Cantón
Las Pilas
Iglesias
Evangélicas
Asambleas de Dios
Dulce Nombre de
María
Cultural Centers of
La
Palma, Dulce
Nombre de María
and San Ignacio
Parroquia Dulce
Nombre de María
El Salvador Postal
Service
La Palma branch
San Ignacio de
Loyola Catholic
Church
Source: Informe final Consultoría Acuífero Trifinio/Escamilla M. IUCN 2013
.
54

55. GENDER INFORMATION
55

56. 6.5. GENDER INFORMATION
6.5.1. GENDER PERSPECTIVE IN PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS IN THE TRIFINIO ZONE
To analyze the incorporation of gender perspective in the different projects and programs
implemented and those underway in the aquifer zone, a review was made of the information
provided by the Trinational Technical Unit of the Trifinio Plan, institutions and organizations
working in the zone and documentation on the website of the Trinational Commission of the
Trifinio Plan.
In 72% of the project documents or summaries analyzed (16 of 22), no qualitative or quantitative
information was reported to indicating any sign that gender perspective had been incorporated
in the components and activities of the projects and programs. Some documents include
numbers on beneficiaries, but data are not disaggregated by sex.
These projects were related to biodiversity conservation, institutional strengthening for citizen
participation entities, and sustainable development of the upper watershed of the Lempa River,
among other themes.
Table 14 Programs and Projects Executed or Underway in the Trifinio Region
No.
Name of the Project
Incorporation of Gender Perspective
1
No gender information found
Master Plan of the
La Fraternidad Biosphere Reserve (1987)
European Union
2
Program for Institutional Strengthening of No gender information found
Citizen Participation Entities of the
Trinational Commission of the Trifinio
Plan
(2002-2005)
CARE El Salvador, Guatemala and
Honduras
3
Operations Plan of Japan in support to the No gender information found
Trinational Program of Sustainable
Development of the Upper Watershed of
the Lempa River (2002-2005)
IDB Japanese Fund
56

57. No.
Name of the Project
Incorporation of Gender Perspective
4
Management of the Montecristo
Trinational Protected Area
(2004-2005) Norwegian Funds- IDB
No gender information found. Total population is
20,000 but there are no details on number of
men and women.
5
Project Sustainable development of the No gender information found
Environment and Water Resources in the
Upper Watershed of the Lempa River
(2005-2007)
International Atomic Energy Agency
6
Rapid Ecological Assessment in the parts No gender information found
that would form the Montecristo
Trinational Protected Area in Guatemala
and Honduran Territory
(2005) GEF
/ IDB
7
Promotion of Water Administration as Revision of the logical framework showed no
Regional Public Good in the Upper gender indicators. It mentions only that project
Watershed of the Lempa River (ABPR) beneficiaries are the 305,000 inhabitants of the
(2006-2009)
Trifinio region composed of 20 municipalities, 8 in
El Salvador, 7 in Guatemala, and 5 in Honduras.
IDB
8
Integrated Management of the
Montecristo Trinational Protected Area
No gender information found
IDB
9
Project on Creating Local Capacities for the No gender information found
Promotion of Local Economic
Development in Central American Zones
(2010 – 2011)
Austrian Cooperation
10
Program of Planning and Development of
Sustainable Tourism in the Trifinio Region
Shared by El Salvador, Guatemala and
Honduras
No gender information found, only data on
number of beneficiaries; direct: tourism MSMEs
and indirectly 2000 MSMEs carrying out their
activities in the Trifinio region
57

58. No.
Name of the Project
Incorporation of Gender Perspective
(PROTUR_TRIFINIO) (2010-2013)
Distributed in 6 associated municipal groups that
bring together at least 25 governments in the
region
IDB - FOMIN
11
Project rla/8/045. Pilot Area:
Olopa – Ocotepeque Subwatershed
12
Characterization of Water Resource
No gender information found
Contamination in the Upper Watershed of
the Lempa River/8/045).
No gender information found
Pilot Area: aquifers in the Güija –
Metapán area
Only six of the 22 project and program documents consulted (27%) refer to the theme of gender,
whether mainstreamed or through sex-disaggregated data. In other cases they include indicators
on the participation of men and women in the activities and benefits generated by the program.
It should be emphasized that some projects took youth participation into account as part of the
process of men’s and women’s empowerment . Data indicate that no specific gender strategies or
budget existed for this theme in the contexts of the different groups or communities worked
with.
It is worth noting that in the Forest and Water program a situation analysis was prepared on
gender in the eight communities of program intervention, resulting in a profile of activities,
control and access to resources for each to achieve genuine integration of gender perspective in
program activities. The need for more detailed description and analysis of gender relations in
each community was also recognized. Activities focus on the productive, reproductive and
community area. Some activities showing incorporation of gender perspective in projects where
information was found are described below.
6.5.1.1. Synchronizing Information for Local-National Participatory Natural Resources
Management –SINREM (2006-2008)
The project’s objectives were to form a permanent network between public Central American
and European universities and research centers and prepare a strategic plan to administer
natural resource use and contribute to sustainable development in remote transboundary areas
of Central America, including target groups that are local stakeholders and public sector
organizations at several levels.
58

59. Information for the gender situation analysis done by the project was obtained through
workshops with focus groups in each of the eight communities. Generic profiles were generated
of productive, reproductive and community activities, along with generic profiles on access and
control of goods and resources.
6.5.1.2. Trinational Project on Sustainable Specialty Coffee (PROTCAFES)
The objective was to strengthen sustainable coffee production through socio-environmental and
economic improvement in the Lempa River trinational region, promoting environmentally
responsible coffee production and helping improve producers’ quality of life.
The project has two components, business and productive, with crosscutting actions in the areas
of rural tourism, gender, youth education and community relations. Four hundred fifty coffeegrower families were directly benefitted and 400,000 people indirectly, with no details on gender
disaggregation.
Small and medium coffee growers involved in this experience were organized and legally
constituted—while groups already legalized were strengthened—in first and second-degree
business figures which are now commercializing specialty coffees as a block in market niches of
North America, Europe and Asia through Neumann export companies in each country or other
important exporters. Some have optional certification seals such as Rainforest Alliance or organic,
differentiated according to quality or attitudes of social-environmental responsibility, but most
with more profitable productive operations than before the project and interesting signs of
sustainability.
6.5.1.3. Rural Sustainable Development in Ecologically Fragile Zones in the Trifinio Region
(PRODERT)
Gender perspective was incorporated in one of
the program’s five objectives, which was to
“Promote, diversify and rationalize the
economic and social participation of women and
youth” to ensure the project would incorporate
the goal of gender equity in strategic planning,
expected outcomes, project activities and
monitoring and evaluation indicators. For
example, credit to support entrepreneurship
was mainly awarded to women, inducing that
Preparation of pickled vegetables as part of project
the benefits of these activities improve food activities (PRODERT).
patterns and those of their family.
59

60. In addition, incorporation of equity and gender aspects was considered, not only disaggregating
information by sex but also encouraging gender analysis as feedback for planning, and linking
mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation of effects and impacts on men and women.
Monitoring and evaluation also contemplated prior definition of differences and inequalities
between men and women in relation to:
a.
domestic, agricultural and rural tasks
b.
workload
c.
Access to resources and development opportunities
Other aspects incorporated were changes in gender differences, self-esteem, personal
development opportunities and other qualitative changes in the conditions of men and women,
which helped determined whether the project has contributed to increasing or reducing gender
inequalities.
The program made it possible to attend more than 20,000 families in the three countries,
through sustained and sustainable use of renewable natural resources and income-generating
activities and support infrastructure for populations located in vulnerable areas to minimize
desertification of the Trifinio.
6.5.1.4. Program of Sustainable Development for the Watershed of the Lempa River
Gender perspective was used with this program through training workshops specifically for
women to build their capacities and foster their active participation in relevant stakeholder
groups. It had a participatory approach stressing community and local organizations, integrating
communities and women in the selection and execution of projects. Gender and equity
perspective was also integrated in all activities.
For example, goals of the promotion of economic diversification component included facilitating
women’s incorporation in economic activities to raise family income through women’s business
groups. The institutional strengthening component included strengthening of existing social
organizations maintaining a gender perspective to foster citizen participation, especially of
women and youth, as well as their empowerment in decision-making on prioritization and
solution of their problems in the near, medium and long term.
6.5.1.5. Forests and Water Program
Although gender equity is mainstreamed in all of the program’s activities, during the AOP 2011
planning process it was recognized that conceptual guidelines needed to be established to help
staff make incorporation of gender perspective in their activities viable. In practice, they were
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61. finding it difficult to achieve genuine implementation of gender perspective in field actions since
each of the communities has its own specific sociocultural construction, which had not been taken
into account until that time.
he program’s area of action covers eight
communities with great cultural, social and
economic diversity in the Trifinio region, to help
them achieve real integration of gender perspective
in their activities. The need to describe and analyze
each community’s gender relations in greater depth
was recognized, resulting in a profile of activities,
control and access to resources for each. Activities Figure 17. Group of men and women in
focus on the productive, reproductive and work to protect soil as part of the actions
of the Forests and Water Program.
community area.
6.5.1.6. Innovations in Sustainable Value Chains of Specialty Vegetables in the Trifinio Region
(MAP)
This project is currently underway as part
of the Mesoamerican Agro-Environmental
Program. In keeping with the program’s
governance principle, all activities must
ensure that gender equity problems are
integrated in all decisions on action
promoted and supported by the project,
and strategies and actions in turn must
promote and reinforce integration of
gender equity perspective.
Figure 18. Women cleaning vegetables for local sale.
In order to tackle this approach, the
expected outcomes of the project take the following aspects into account:
Outcome 1. Strengthening of innovation capacity in producer organizations. Proposes to
include agricultural households and their members in this process. Rather than being limited to
heads of families, the participation of rural women is promoted to strengthen their leadership
and the economic benefits of productive activities such as worm composting, development of
biological control agents and/or local sale of products. Spaces of discussion with equitable
representation of men and women are also being promoted inside producer organizations,
especially for decision-making.
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62. Outcome 2. Promotion of multi-sectoral platforms of innovation. This outcomes aims at
assuring gender balance in project participants who also make an effort to create an environment
of discussion sensitive to gender equity.
Outcome 3. National programs and policies. Work is being done on opening opportunities to
improve gender equity through balanced participation in national political policies and forums.
Processes of curricular design are also being fostered so that training and human development of
national professionals is creative, critical and comprehensive in the approach to themes related
to gender equity.
Outcome 4. Promotion of information systems and learning, Wherein producers, field
technicians and specialists are not seen as passive recipients of learning, but active members,
providing feedback on the content of information with gender equity perspective.
Furthermore, analysis of sustainable livelihoods of households participating in the program will
enable a detailed evaluation of the participation of the different family members in the costs and
benefits of the changes promoted by project actions. This will in turn provide feedback for the
decision-making process of the producer organizations and their service suppliers on how to
orient project interventions to achieve gender equity.
6.5.1.7. Program on Watershed Management in the Trifinio Region (Forests and Watersheds)
The “Forest and Watershed” program is currently underway. According to the logical framework,
one of the ends proposed is that by 2026, women will constitute 30% of participating
beneficiaries that develop technologies or initiatives supported by the program. Indicators
include the women’s integration in management of agroforestry and sylvipastoral systems, and
6000 families in a situation of poverty will be benefitted in 90 rural communities, 20
municipalities and seven state institutions.
A preliminary training plan has been formulated to strengthen environmental management by
municipal governments, local organizations, producers, associated municipalities, and leaders in
themes related to the program objective, such as integrated water resource management and
risk management. It should be noted that in this training plan, the participation of women
producers and leaders has been made visible.
In this sense, the most significant on-the-ground actions up to 2012 have been the collection of
1,316 investment application forms by the producer families for a coverage area of 2,204 ha.
Division by gender of those presenting investment application forms in the 63 communities and
cantons of the three countries show that 79% are men and 21% women.
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63. The program’s annual operating plans
mention that they are based on fundamental
principles governing all parts of their
implementation. These
are horizontal
cooperation,
co-investment,
facilitator
program, environmental awareness, gender
equity, respect for the customs and beliefs of
social groups, solidarity and accompaniment,
and quality and prudence of expenditure.
Figure 19. Training for women and men in the frame
of the Forest and Watershed program
6.5.2. GENDER PERSPECTIVE AT THE INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL
Currently at the level of the Trinational Commission of the Trifinio Plan (TCTP) there is no gender
equity policy to orient its work with respect to women’s needs and problems. Nor does its
organic structure contain any entity representing gender in the institution, or a budget line for
specific activities on gender equity such as promotion, awareness-raising, gender training,
production activities or strengthening of organizations with gender work.
Because gender perspective has not been internalized within the commission’s institutionality,
most of its programs and projects likewise have not integrated gender in their actions. In most it
has only been approached as “crosscutting theme,” but with no qualitative or qualitative
visualization of the actual benefits to which women have had access. In other cases there is no
mention of whether gender perspective has been considered in project formulation and
implementation, so women’s participation and role in the different spheres of social and
economic life are totally invisible.
Figure 16 Organizational Chart of the Trinational Commission of the Trifinio Plan
Source: www.sica.int/trifinio
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64. To date, cooperation agencies and executing institutions are carrying out gender work at their
own initiative, but not in response to a commission policy or intervention strategy as there is no
institutional promotion and convocatory strategy to promote joint work with the different
institutions and stakeholders contemplating rural women’s and men’s participation in relation to
gender equity perspective.
6.5.3. GENDER PERSPECTIVE AT LOCAL LEVEL
Efforts have been made in municipalities to incorporate gender equity perspective in their policies,
considering it a strategic crosscutting theme of human development. This has been mainstreamed
at all levels of the Mancomunidad Trinacional Fronteriza del Río Lempa and in local planning
processes for all its project actions and coordination. This initiative arose from the population’s
identification of priorities, coordinated by local institutions that have facilitated the theme’s
incorporation among the different stakeholders.
As example, the General Ordinary Assembly of Mancomunidad Trinacional Fronteriza Río Lempa,
held in December 2012, in Ocotepeque, Honduras, included signature of the “Declaration on
Gender Policy” as part of the interinstitutional commitment to incorporate gender perspective in
all current and future activities of Mancomunidad Trinacional Fronteriza Río Lempa and the
municipalities comprising it.
The activity was carried out with the participation of the mayors and members of councils and
municipal corporations and delegates from the three countries, who lent their endorsement
through validation and signature of the declaration promoting the following:
 Establishment of institutional gender policy in both Mancomunidad Trinacional Fronteriza Río
Lempa and the municipalities comprising it
 Incorporate gender perspective in strategic plans, programs, projects, work units, annual
operating plans and institutional budgets
 Design an institutional strategy for implementation of this declaration of indefinite duration,
which includes training in gender equity themes for the board of directors, local authorities and
staff of the individual municipalities and the associated municipal entity
 Design a system for monitoring and evaluating actions with gender perspective deriving from this
declaration on gender policy
 Strengthen and forge strategic alliances with specialized entities to drive formal and horizontal
cooperation to help put this declaration into practice
 Spread information and knowledge resulting from this declaration
 Raise the declaration to national governments in order to inform about efforts undertaken and
secure their support for different initiatives
This commitment assumed by Mancomunidad Trinacional will make it possible to promote gender
equity and equality as fundamental element for improving the quality of livelihoods of the
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