In 2011, GWP Central America published an updated version of the Status of Water Resources in Central America, a compilation of data on water resources in Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. This publication presents advances and challenges in water resources management at country and regional level.
Central America is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change, so recognising that water is essential to adaptation is crucial to national and regional strategies. To this end, GWP Central America has contributed to the water component in the Action Plan of the Regional Strategy for Climate Change (ERCC) and organised a regional workshop on water and climate change.
Held in Buenos Aires in November, the 12th Conference of Ibero-American Water Directors (CODIA) confirmed the 11 targets and the key political messages initially proposed as part of the Americas' preparatory process for the 6th World Water Forum.
The National Water Law, approved in 2009 (see GWP in Action 2009 Annual Report, p. 24), aims to establish a national framework for water management and stipulates the establishment of watershed councils to improve water governance through stakeholder participation.
The Suriname Water Resources Information System (SWRIS) Project has enhanced water resources management in the country. As well as the online information system, the project has developed a water video, a collection of hydro-meteorological field data, awareness programmes about water resources for primary and secondary schools, training, and academic courses at the BSc and MSc level.
GWP Caribbean has contributed to improving water use efficiency in the agricultural sector in the twin-island state by providing training and a technical resource manual.
GWP Caribbean offered to assist the Republic of Guyana in managing the country's water resources by developing an IWRM policy and roadmap, with the help of a consultant. Guyana has several existing policies which can be applied to water resources management; however, there is no single National Water Resources Management Policy for the country.
Water Ministers representing four Caribbean countries endorsed recommendations for IWRM and water financing at the 2011 GWP Caribbean/Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) High Level Session (HLS) Ministerial Forum.