Improving protected area management - LifeWeb

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Despite its small size, Guatemala is one of the so-called megadiverse countries (countries with an exceptionally high level of biodiversity). The department of Huehuetenango, on which the project's measures are focused, is also characterized by an extraordinary wealth of natural and cultural treasures. Guatemala's last remaining mountain cloud forest (ecosystem) is in Huehuetenango. However, this biological diversity is increasingly endangered due to the overuse of natural resources and the destruction of ecosystems, particularly through deforestation, and the irreversible loss of species is imminent (core problem). The project sponsor CONAP (Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas) has set itself the goal in its medium-term strategic planning of protecting at least 15% of the area of all ecosystems nationwide, or the entire area of habitats that are already threatened with disappearance (mountain cloud forest, dry forest), in order to fulfill Guatemala's obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The aim of the project is to establish a network of municipal protected areas to preserve biodiversity and natural resources in the department of Huehuetenango. This will help to close the gap in underrepresented threatened ecosystems in Guatemala. At the same time, it will contribute to the implementation of CONAP's strategic planning. The target group of the project is the predominantly indigenous population of 12 municipalities in Huehuetenango, who belong to the Akateko, Chuj, Mam and Q anjob al peoples. As part of the project, CONAP will establish new protected areas or consolidate existing ones on an area of up to 50,000 hectares. To this end, a system of compensation payments for biodiversity protection will be introduced on a pilot basis in Huehuetenango, which the sponsor later wants to roll out to the whole of Guatemala. Advisory services for the indigenous population, planning work, procurement of equipment and the costs of an implementation consultant are also planned for financing. The total cost of the open programme is estimated at EUR 12.5 million, of which EUR 10 million will be an FC grant.