Valuation of Ecosystem Services in Development Planning, Guatemala

The project, implemented by the General Planning Directorate (SEGEPLAN) and lead by the Poverty and Environment Initiative

(UNDP and UN Environment), looks to integrate the environmental dimension in land planning policies at the national,

subnational and local levels; it aims to generate and articulate public policies which contribute to the reduction of poverty

through sustainable management of natural resources. To this end, the project led the elaboration of a study on ecosytems and

natural capital valuation in the Chiquimulilla channel.

The methodology used was the Targeted Scenario Analysis (TSA), which

presents two development alternative represented by the scenarios:

It is a biodiverse region in which, through its ecosystem services,

different communities generate their livelihoods, which must be

sustainable to ensure the conservation of the channel. The ecosystems

valuation that was undertaken analyzes the interactions between the

economics activities and the ecosystemic benefits which are received

by productive sectors. It gives policy recommendations for an

improved ecosystem management and reducing the impact by the

beneficiary sectors. In this way, it provides concrete data for the

elaboration of land management plans, and aids decision-making by

public and private institutions.

Chiquimulilla Channel

Overfishing Increase of shrimp

industre

Unsustainable

tourism practices

“Business as Usual” (BAU), in which development goes along

with the current unsustainable activities.

“Sustainable Ecosystem Management" (SEM), the transition to

more sustainable practices.

The study applied INVEST modules, models of natural capital

valuation to identify areas with better habitat quality and

increased vulnerability to climate hazards.

Fishing: Mandatory fishing licence

requirement per boat with a

maximum daily capture for 243 days

in the year

Aquaculture: Define a protocol

for the requirements needed for

the approval of shrimp farm

construction licenses

Tourism: Define zoning

compatible with

sustainable develoment

for state land reserves

For the implementation of the study's recommendations, the Chiquimulilla Channel must have interterritorial coordination

mechanisms at the vertical (national institutions) and horizontal (intermunicipal) levels, which allow a sustainable and

integrated land management based on its ecosystemic capacities to generate sustainable livelihoods. The Poverty and

Environment Initiative has supported this process, in the elaboration of municipal land management plans and supporting

increased coherencia and sustainability of the land planning processes.

Activities which threaten the

ecosystem's sustainability in the

Chiquimulilla Channel

Recommendations:

PEI: UNDP-UN Environment