Study of the Impact of Climate Change on the Central American Dry Corridor

Manrique Vindas-Segura
César A. Parral
24. 05. 18

Scientists from the University of Costa Rica (UCR), in collaboration with Universities of Israel, conducted research aimed at establishing the impact of climate change on the so-called Central American Dry Corridor (CSC), both from an ecological and social point of view.

As part of the closing activity of the workshop, a conversation was held with the participation of researchers from different countries of Central America who face drought problems.

Fuente:
G.I.

The Dry Corridor stretches along the Pacific coast from Guanacaste in Costa Rica to northwest Guatemala. In our country and Nicaragua it remains towards the shore of the pacific coast, but in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala it spreads from the coast to the central territory.

The research is called: “Promoting the Climate Change-Resilient Development in the Central American Dry Corridor: bringing science to politics in Guanacaste, Costa Rica: an international interdisciplinary collaboration,” which obtained ₡49 million colones from the UCR Program for Advanced Studies (UCREA).

The project is led by Dr. Hugo Hidalgo-León, researcher and director at the Center for Geophysical Research of the University of Costa Rica (CIGEFI).

The research team states that the Central American Dry Corridor undergoes recurrent droughts and other hydroclimatic threats due to climate variability.

In some sectors, there are indications that the drought is evolving towards more arid conditions, which could be due to global warming, since this territorial strip is very susceptible to climate change, and to the geophysical and socioeconomic impacts of climate variability and change.”

The research draws attention to the fact that ten million people live in the Corridor “where food insecurity and other manifestations of extreme poverty are evident.”

“The inhabitants, usually small families, find threats to their lifestyles. Migration from rural to urban areas and across national and regional borders has resulted in social instability, the possibility of a refugee crisis and social conflict is worrisome.”

Comprehensive Program

This research is the first step to create a Comprehensive Central American Dry Corridor Program (PICSC), for which an “Initial Coordination Meeting and Central American Workshop UCREA-PICSC” was held on September 25 and 29, 2017.

The first part of the workshop took place at the mini-auditorium of the UCR Center for Geophysical Research (CIGEFI) and had the participation of Central American academics and researchers working on this subject in their respective countries.

During the activity, both Dr. Hugo Hidalgo-León, main researcher of the project, and researcher Dr. Yosef Gotlieb of the David Yellin College of Education of Israel, presented the scope of the research project and of PICSC.

Dr. Gotlieb explained that “we have been doing research for five years in all the countries involved in the Central American Dry Corridor. The funds granted by the University of Costa Rica are allowing us to meet with colleagues from all these countries.”  He stressed that there is a collaborative participation of the five countries. “The project is inter-institutional, interregional, it is an international collaboration.”

This Israeli expert added that they intend to create a comprehensive program “that brings together all aspects in terms of natural and social resources, because a change in one, leads to changes in the other.”

 “That's why we work on both levels: human and natural. The winning project of the UCREA fund is the first of the Comprehensive Program of the Central American Dry Corridor,” added the expert.

For his part, Dr. Hidalgo noted that the PICSC begins by increasing the capacity of on-site research to dynamically monitor air, land and water systems to provide early warning operations.

In addition, the use of water and soil must be optimized by means of technologies used successfully in Israel and other arid environments.  In addition, strains of crops and other species adaptable to existing and changing conditions must be developed.

Subsequently, new technologies must be developed together with the adaptation of appropriate existing technologies to increase the efficiency, safety, productivity, and dignity of the agricultural producer.

Workshop Closing 

On Friday, September 29, 2017, at the mini-auditorium of the UCR School of Agrifood Sciences, the project was presented to decision makers of Costa Rican government institutions, private companies, and the general public.

This activity was attended by Mrs. Marcia Montes-Cantillo, Vice Minister for Economy, Industry and Trade, and Mrs. Milena Ross, representative of the Embassy of Israel in Costa Rica.

The workshop concluded with a discussion on the topic of the Central American Dry Corridor with the participation of Dr. Hugo Hidalgo-León, Ms. Jackeline Brinker, of Universidad del Valle, Guatemala, as well as researchers from El Salvador and Nicaragua.

In this discussion, the participants talked about the research they do in their countries and the importance of international collaboration to address an issue that affects several Central American nations and that already is causing serious social problems, particularly in Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua.

Another concern expressed by some of the participants was the continuity of the project. They highlighted the importance of financing by UCREA, but spoke of the need and importance of looking for other sources of financing to maintain the project in the future.

For more information contact the following phones: (506) 2511-2557, (506) 2511-5096, or emails: paula.perez@ucr.ac.cr, cigefi@ucr.ac.cr 

Information updated on Friday September 29, 2017 by César A. Parral at 4:30 p.m.

Dr. Hugo Hidalgo León (left), director of CIGEFI-UCR and main researcher of the project and Dr. Yosef Gotlieb (right), of the David Yellin College of Education of Israel, explained the scope of the research project and the PICSC.

PROJECT RESEARCH GROUP

RESEARCHER

INSTITUTION

COUNTRY

Dr. Hugo Hidalgo- León

Professor at the UCR School of Physics, CIGEFI director and researcher

Costa Rica

Dr. Yosef Gotlieb

David Yellin College of Education in Jerusalem

Israel

Dr. Eric Alfaro- Martínez

Climatology professor at the UCR School of Physics and CIGEFI assistant director and researcher

Costa Rica

Dr. Aliza Fleischer

Professor at the Department of Administration and Environmental Economics of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Israel

Rodrigo Carreras- Jiménez

National University School of International Affairs (UNA)

Costa Rica

The Central American Dry Corridor undergoes recurrent droughts and other hydroclimatic threats due to climate variability.  Photo: G.I.