MACHC, MACHC, ECWG Task Group 1ECWG Task Group 1

Status OverviewStatus Overview

Denis FuentesDenis FuentesChair, Task Group 1Chair, Task Group 1

Electronic Chart Working GroupElectronic Chart Working GroupTask Group 1Task Group 1 – – MesoAmerican Capacity Building Pilot Project MesoAmerican Capacity Building Pilot Project Chair:Chair:Mr. Denis Fuentes, PanamaMr. Denis Fuentes, PanamaGeneral DirectorGeneral DirectorNational Geographic InstituteNational Geographic Institute Task Group Members:Task Group Members:BelizeBelizeCubaCubaGuatemalaGuatemalaHondurasHondurasMexicoMexicoNicaraguaNicaraguaPanamaPanamaUSAUSA

MesoAmerican-Caribbean Sea Hydrographic MesoAmerican-Caribbean Sea Hydrographic CommissionCommission

Electronic Chart Working Group, Task Group 1Electronic Chart Working Group, Task Group 1

ECWG TG1 has actively engaged in the preparation of the proposed IADB/GEF Environmental Protection and Environmental Protection and Maritime Transport Pollution Control in the Gulf of Maritime Transport Pollution Control in the Gulf of Honduras ProjectHonduras Project:

• working with IADB, GEF, and the recipient countries to develop elements of the project components on

• Enhancing navigation safety in shipping lanesEnhancing navigation safety in shipping lanes • Improving env. management in the regional Improving env. management in the regional network of five ports within the Gulf of Hondurasnetwork of five ports within the Gulf of Honduras

• serving as a technical advisor for the project implementation

Environmental Protection and Maritime Transport Environmental Protection and Maritime Transport Pollution Control in the Gulf of Honduras Pollution Control in the Gulf of Honduras ProjectProject

DDevelopment objective:evelopment objective:

TTo reverse the degradation of the coastal and o reverse the degradation of the coastal and marine ecosystems within the Gulf of Honduras marine ecosystems within the Gulf of Honduras by enhancing the prevention and control from by enhancing the prevention and control from maritime transport-related pollution in the maritime transport-related pollution in the major ports and navigation lanes, improving major ports and navigation lanes, improving navigational safety to avoid groundings and navigational safety to avoid groundings and spills, and reducing land-based sources of spills, and reducing land-based sources of pollution draining into the Gulf. pollution draining into the Gulf.

Environmental Protection and Maritime Transport Environmental Protection and Maritime Transport Pollution Control in the Gulf of Honduras Pollution Control in the Gulf of Honduras ProjectProject

• ECWG TG 1 involvementECWG TG 1 involvement– Making the case for Hydrography’s

importance for environmental management and protection

– Regional hydrographic capacity analysis and gap assessment

– Input in the project’s Trans-boundary Diagnostic Analysis

– Active involvement in the Puerto Barrio, Belize City, and Tegucigalpa project preparation meetings

– Input in the project’s final design– Commitment to develop and help

execute the implementation plan for all project’s hydrography- related sub-components

• Present status– Pre-approval consultations with

GEF– Expected project approval end

of 2004 – Spring of 2005– Expected effectiveness by the

middle of 2005– Expected funding levels:

• Apprx. $750 000 for hydrographic and cartographic capacity-building (apprx. 1/5 of total GEF funding)

• Apprx. $100 000 for piloting of Environmental Marine Information Objects in ENCs

Major Project Components

Component 3: Enhancing navigational safety in shipping lanes.

Key Hydrographic Elements/Objectives

Component 1: Building regional capacity for maritime and land-based pollution control.

Component 2: Updating the TDA, developing a region-specific SAP, and creating, analyzing and distributing marine environmental information.

National Institutional Capacity Building

Component 4: Improving env. management in the regional network of five ports within the Gulf of Honduras

Regional Institutional Capacity Building

Technical Support

Demonstration

Hydrographic data acquisition for priority ports including updatingsurveys where needed.

Create ENC for priority ports and pilot an inclusion of env. data layers.

Integrate hydrographic data / ENC applications in the project’s env. information management system and facilitate access.

Create institutional arrangement for conducting hydrographic work.

Survey ENC GIS

Project Hydrographic

Support

Establishment of formal training.

1 2 3

4 5

Expectations for Task Group 1

Come to agreement on implementation plan.

Come to agreement on outcome/product of plan.

Identify needs for each activity.

Identify strategies foreach need.

Develop timeline foroverall project.