freshwateraction.netFramework for documentation of Local Action experiences/success stories on Water, Food and EnvironmentUlew Che` Ja`Guatemala, 2003Outline for documentation of Dialogue experiences/ best practices on use and management of Water for Food and Environment Ulew Che` Ja` Guatemala, 20031. What was the problem and its context? 1.1 Introduction to the problem/issue The potable water service is supplied in a 70% for urban areas and in a 90% for rural areas by surface water and the rest by underground sources. Out of 329 municipalities in the country, 66% use gravidity systems, 19% pumping and 15% mixed systems. The forecast regarding potable Water demand (urban and rural) based on forecasts will reach for the year 2010 a total of 835 millions of cubic meters per year, in global terms represents only a 1% of the surface territorial caudal. The water use for irrigation systems operated by the state varies from 3 to 140 millions of cubic meters a year, but it is unknown the extracted by private irrigation systems. Some areas of the country however have obvious differences in terms of water, specially regarding the potable water supply in the main urban centers, this fact creates conflicts of irrigation practices. and also in coastal areas among the large and small users of irrigation, since they use the same sources. An inventory about water sources in the protected forests of Totonicapan shows 1200 permanent springs which supply the nearby communities as well as a hot spring. They are all protected and they have planted spices and some in natural state, for instance pine, cypress, pinabete, aliso, madron, ayacahuite, white pine and colorado. The main subject in this experience is to keep and strengthen local organization as main actor for protection and management of these forests. 1.2 Background The millenary Totonicapan forest extents 21.172 hectares and it is mainly covered by coniferous forests, specially pinabet ( Abies Guatemalensis). The legal character of the forest is of community own and it is considered having the best conservation conditions in Guatemala. Ulew Che` Ja` ( Land, Tree and Water in Mayan kiche language) is a community organization that involves and promotes farmers participation in naturalresources management. This organization gathers 63 potable water committees, a total of 32.604 people from different communities in Totonicapan. The strength engine for this farmers organization process is the management of the water resource and natural resources that come from the forests. Hey have also conduct efforts without state support and have planted 100:000 trees with their own resources. 1.3 Socio-economic, ecological and political context The experience of community water management covers 1061 square km and 205.000 people. It has a hydrologic situation determined by the Samala River and the Chixoy River. The association Ulew Che` Ja` has set as its main objective to promote the committees in terms of use and management of the forests, from a spiritual perspective transmitted through generations, that way it is focused on finding a balance between society and cosmogony. Totonicapan is considered as primary forest and it is covered by pine (Abies guatemalensis) which is endangered since it is a very popular tree that people use specially in Christmas times. Altitude: 2495 a 3300 sea level Weather: 13-17 degrees Celsius Population: 204,419 inhabitants within the Department 1.4 Key Challenges and obstacles • Continue the ancestral management of forests • Supply water to population keeping in mind that there are not new water sources • Educate the population on use and conservation of natural resources • Eliminate pressure towards the forest • Conserve the primary forest and renew it without damaging the one that already exists • Environmental services fees1.5 Organization (about the organization involved) The association Ulew Che` Ja` is a community base group, created in 1994. Presently it represents 80.000 members, the headquarters are located in the Totonicapan Department, in the west of Guatemala. This organization is actively involved in all 48 districts from that Department. 2 How was the issue addressed? 2.1 Key strategies adopted to address the challenges Finally, after a long process of organization, politics and defense of community forest, a widely recognized and dynamic protection structure has been consolidated. The ownership of the communal forests has caused and will always cause a problem. However the organization has skillfully managed the spaces that are open by the state laws and every day practices. For the State it is considered municipal Land and among the municipality functionaries it is defined as municipality property, however, outside municipality walls, they all know and understand that it is communal property. 2.2 Process • The communities organized the operation and maintenance committee of the project. General Assemblies take place and work groups are created to evaluate the regulations, sanctions, implementations, etc. • Rotating and non paid services in the committee (participation of most part of the community members expected). • Through a new rule a minimum contribution was set, the amount would depend on specific needs. • $25 yearly contribution • The maintenance of tubes and pipes including the fixing is done by the community, They are technically trained and transfer that knowledge to other projects.2.3 Methodology • The community decides to install an aqueduct. • They identify the water spring that could supply them. • Negotiate with municipal authorities the right of usufruct, this is evaluated during summer to see if the spring is rich enough. • A technical study is made to verify the feasibility of the spring: the Government does it or they hire private services. • Seek economic support through the Government, NGO´s and the community itself. 2.3 Stakeholders The stakeholders are basically the organizations and communities that intervene in the conservation processes and water supply in the area of Totonicapan 3. What were the major outcomes? 3.1 Key achievements • Beneficiaries: 52 communities • Communal forest:: 21,000 Hectares • Total forest in the municipality: 42,000 Hectares • 32 Km of pipes and tubs for each of the following projects: Chotinimit y Pujacar,