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Speaking so that people understand: integrated
water resources management in Guatemala
Joram Gil, United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization Chair in Sustainable Water Resources, Guatemala
P
oor environmental management is a priority issue in
the Republic of Guatemala. Among its causes is the
widespread indifference of citizens, authorities and insti-
tutions. Inadequate management of the municipal territories
has brought consequences such as illegal logging, irrational use
of natural resources and a passive attitude to their management.
In addition, a conformist culture of inaction and indifference on
the part of citizens and policymakers, combined with a lack of
knowledge and capacities, means that there are limited develop-
ment alternatives for improving living conditions.
Poor land use planning is another problem, caused
by a lack of respect for environmental regulations
and a weakness in the coordinated participation of
organizations and government. Accelerated defor-
estation, degradation and fragmentation of habitats,
unmanaged changes in the use of soil and the loss
of ancestral knowledge complete the problems of
the country.
All this has resulted in increased socio-environ-
mental vulnerability, the contamination and loss
W
ater
E
ducation
and
I
nstitutional
D
evelopment
Educational materials for IWRM in the Naranjo watershed