The Regional Symposium on Geospatial Technology Applications in CAFTA-DR countries was held on May 6-7, 2010, in Panama City, Panama. The event was organized in the framework of a project entitled “Expansion of SERVIR in CAFTA-DR countries for Improved Environmental Monitoring and Informed Decision Making,” which is implemented by the Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean (CATHALAC) jointly with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with financing from the United State Agency for International Development (USAID).

More than 50 delegates met in the Symposium to present diverse products developed through different pilot projects implemented in their respective countries of origin. In this context, the participants shared experiences in the use of geospatial technology applications for environmental monitoring, integrating geographic information systems in the tourism sector, forest fire monitoring, institutional strengthening in generating and updating environmental information, and monitoring coastal contamination. Representatives of national and regional institutions such as Environmental Ministries, Tourism Ministries, Meteorological Institutes, Forestry Institutes, Protected Areas Councils, Universities and regional environmental programs, were present to learn about the new developments.

The agenda included presentations by the project implementers as well as a Fair in which participants could interact with the systems and platforms developed.

In the case of Guatemala, a “Geospatial Information System for Fire Management” was presented, which featured a Fire Atlas of Guatemala, a Pattern Analysis and Ignition Cause Model, and a Dynamic Fire Risk Evaluation System.

The pilot project carried out in El Salvador created an online information system that provides notices for harmful algal blooms (HABs) in three coastal conservation sites where red tide causing species of algae are currently monitored.

In the case of Nicaragua, an online Tourism Information Platform was elaborated, which includes data on risk and other geospatial datasets provided though SERVIR. This system will form part of the larger Regional System that was developed jointly with the Central American Tourism Integration Secretariat (SITCA), which consists of an Interactive Map System that facilitates the promotion of Central America as a tourist “multi-destination.”

More detailed information about these and other pilot projects, as well as the Symposium, can be found at the following website: http://www.servir.net/simposio_cafta-dr_2010

For more information, contact Africa Flores, CATHALAC Research Scientist, by e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it