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Project Scope
The Water Center for Arid, Semi-Arid and Sub-Humid Zones in Latin America and the Caribbean (CAZALAC) has included the preparation of a Map of arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid zones in Latin America and the Caribbean in its Operation Plan. |
UNESCO’s International Hydrologic Program (PHI) and the Flemish Government have committed their support in this project. In addition, this project has the participation of the PHI’s National Committees and Focal Points of the LAC Region, which had previously approved the creation of this Center and the activities to be developed. This decision was ratified in the 16th session of the PHI’s Intergovernmental Committee (Paris, September 2004).
The document presented below is aimed at reporting on this initiative’s objectives, its status, the output to be delivered in the first stage and others that may be produced by each country, whether on an individual basis or jointly by the region.
In this sense, it may be pointed out that there is a wide range of information on arid, semi-arid and sub-humid zones in the LAC Region. However, data are incomplete or come from different sources, which makes it difficult to precisely know the real extension of these territories. Likewise, the region has some indicators regarding global water availability, both at a regional and national level, but these do not provide a reliable view of the existing demands and effective water supply from the climatic point of view, especially at each country level. This is even more important in countries where some territories show several aridity degrees and other zones have an excess of water resources; therefore, when general indicators are estimated, these significant differences are not recorded.
On the other hand, it is widely known that desertification processes are present in the majority of the territories showing water shortage (and the importance of developing actions to mitigate the relevant effects,) as well as the recurrent droughts affecting these areas, which contribute to worsen these negative processes, thus hampering population’s development and the preservation of the ecosystems associated to these environments.
The main problem to delimitate and define the characteristics of arid, semi-arid and sub-humid zones, from the climatic point of view, is assessing and identifying the climatic variables required to create a water deficiency and excess that will account for the relation between the water resources incoming to a system and out coming from it.
Having more information regarding this point will make it possible to better analyze each particular situation and take the appropriate steps for each case, both regarding investments and development projects and improving development and legal regulations, among other aspects.
General objective.
To prepare a map of water regimes that will identify arid, semi-arid and sub-humid zones in the Region of Latin America and the Caribbean, based on standardized and updated criteria.
Specific objectives.
- To prepare thematic maps related to the following:
- Precipitation, evapo-transpiration, temperatures, etc.
- Aridity indexes
- Climatic aggressiveness indexes
- Base map with geographic milestones, like cities, water bodies, political boundaries, etc.
- To prepare a methodological guide and software for data processing purposes.
- To standardize criteria and procedures
Expected results and outputs.
- To form up a group of trained specialists on the project procedures (with a methodological guide and software to process data and generate indicators)
- Orderly, processed and validated climate data in digital version
- National maps of each country and a regional map of LAC in digital version
- Indicators by country and for the region in digital version
- Publication of document in hardcopy and digital format, CD.
Other potential outputs that may eventually be included, whether individually for each country or jointly for the whole region, are:
- Maps of vulnerability to erosion, droughts, social and economic fragility in arid zones.
- Maps of baseline evapo-transpiration (ET0), to define irrigation projects or requirements with respect to several kinds of crops, with cultivation coefficients (Kc).
- Priority definition and/or decision making: Once a reliable SIG is available on these issues, variables or several scenarios may be incorporated, which will represent a useful decision making assistance tool.
First results
As a preliminary demonstrative map, our consultant Fernando Santibañez from Agrimed (University of Chile) prepared, at CAZALAC’s request, a Demo Map of South America with the climate information from databases provided by FAO.
This Demo Map may be downloaded in jpg format from the following link:
Preliminary Map of Arid Zones in South America (jpg file; 1,7 Mb) |
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Project Status Reports
