Library

Document Author(s): USAID , Guatemala

What is unique about the document and the indigenous organization it describes is that it has been in existence since colonial times. Both the organization and the forests they are protecting have survived centuries of changes and pressures. This is a situation where all three major principles of NWP are manifest but perhaps over the years, the cultural aspect has become more important and indeed the driving force for the continuing sustainability of the forest and the people who are the 48 Cantones de Totonicapan.

Reviewer: Thomas Catterson

Reviewer Affiliation: IRG

Review Date: 2012-12-13

Document type(s):

• Project overview document/gray literature
• Site-based case study

Star rating: ★★★

Regions:

• Latin America and Caribbean - Central America

Country: Guratemala

State: Totonicapan

Donor: USAID

Project name: 48 Cantones de Totonicapan

Natural resource(s):

• Biodiversity
• Forest

Ecosystem service(s):

• Biodiversity
• Watershed
• Forest Carbon

NWP Principles - Nature

• Promoted local land use planning and appropriate resource tenure systems - [Relevant]
• Improved information and knowledge management systems - [Relevant]
• Promoted cost effective technical advisory and intermediary services - [Relevant]

NWP Principles - Wealth

• Invested in local organizations - [Accomplished]
• Created a framework for better NRM choices - [Relevant]
• Invested in local organizations - [Relevant]

NWP Principles - Power

• Procedural rights for all people, especially vulnerable or marginalized groups - [Relevant]
• Procedural rights for all people, especially vulnerable or marginalized groups - [Critical]
• Natural resource authority and functions distribution - [Relevant]
• Local stakeholder input into public decisions and policy - [Relevant]
• Continuous and inclusive consultations - [Relevant]n
• Natural resource authority and functions distribution - [Accomplished]
• Procedural rights for all people, especially vulnerable or marginalized groups - [Accomplished]

Tools used

• Water harvesting
• Participatory processes for social change
• Land use planning
• Payments for ecosystem services
• Water rights
• Information/knowledge management technology
• Participatory Planning

Constraints

• Governance/empowerment - [Communal]
• Environmental/productivity - [Yes]
• Governance/empowerment - [Yes]
• Economic/income generation - [Yes]

Solutions

• Governance/empowerment - [Yes]

Impacts

• Governance/empowerment - [Communal]
• Environmental/productivity - [Yes]
• Governance/empowerment - [Yes]
• Economic/income generation - [Yes]

Additional Discussion Topics

• Governance - [External or structural policies that influenced success or failure]