The governor of Escuintla Aura Palala, the governor of Chimaltenango Axel Figueroa, the governor of Sacatepequez Jacinto Castro, the 5th council of the Municipality of Nueva Concepcion Escuinta, and the president of Coredur Sergio Barrios, participated in a fieldtrip hosted last week, where they learned more about the hydrographic basins Achiguate and Coyolate, to unify efforts to have an integrated watershed management in those basins.
The visit started early in Acatenango, Chimaltenango, where the importance of forest conservation and restoration in the highlands of watersheds was highlighted, since it is an important area for hydrologic regulation, also the ICC’s weather station in Acatenango was visited. This station is managed along with the Environment Management Unit -UGAM- of the Municipality of Acatenango.
Later on, they visited the tree nursery and the dykes in the Coyolate River, Canoguitas Village, Nueva Concepción, Escuintla, where they exchanged experiences with local women, who shared the importance of reforesting the area and protecting the dykes. The visit started early in Acatenango, Chimaltenango, where the importance of forest conservation and restoration in the highlands of the watersheds was highlighted, since it is an important area for hydrologic regulation, also the ICC’s weather station in Acatenango was visited. This station is managed along with the Environment Management Unit -UGAM- of the Town Hall of Acatenango.
Likewise, Nelson Yanes, president of ASOBORDAS, explained about the integral work performed with private enterprises, communities, municipality, and central government to build the dykes, which has protected his community from floods for the last 5 years.
Later on, the governors met at the facilities of the Private Institute for Climate Change Research -ICC- to establish joint actions and efforts for an integrated watershed management in the basins mentioned above, and thus promote wellness in the region.
The governor Palala indicated that the fieldtrip was positive because “only by working together we can achieve wellness”. “I am convinced that the water issues need to be addressed in an integral way and that the only way to do it is in the watershed level”, she stated.
