It has been consider that the surface that is threatened by the desertification in Guatemala is equivalent to 12% of the national territory of which 4.7% corresponds to zones with High Threat for Desertification and 7.4% to zones with Low Threat for Desertification. In Guatemala there exist natural and meteorological characteristics that determine deficit of moisture in a high percentage of the territory. Consequently, the country presents susceptible zones to droughts. The whole of approximate surface of the zones of the country of high and medium susceptibility to droughts is of 49,430 Km2 (45.4% of the national territory). The population who lives in zones threatened by desertification is more than 1,113.000 persons (what is equivalent to a major percentage of 13% of the population of the country). Of this whole of persons, 387,000 correspond to indigenous population (equivalent to 35% of affected population).

The WAFLA zones of Guatemala are located in the indigenous region Chorti in the east of the country, specifically in Chiquimula's department (with the communities of Conacaste and El Palmar) and Jalapa (with the community Piedras Negras). The climate of this region is characterized by periods of six months of summer (November to May), predominating the sub-humid dry ecosystems with annual average rainfalls of 900 mm in the rainy season. The topography of the area is strongly waved with problems of water and wind erosion. The population of these zones is predominantly indigenous and their principal economic activity is the agriculture combining annual crops with fruit trees and woody species. Also they include the small cattle-breeding, pig and birds for self-consumption. The principal environmental problematic of the zone are the long periods of drought, that as a whole with the bad agricultural practices principally in areas of hillsides have caused processes of soil degradation what puts in danger the capacity to produce foods of the current and future generations.

MARN, Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales

INAB

ACODAPCHI

ASORECH

UTZ CHÉ

Consejo de la mujer

Cooperativa El Bosque

TIKONEL, Coordinadora regional de Comités para el desarrollo Integral Ambiental

COASO

COCODES