National Dialogue highlights the need for legal frameworks to protect the Lempa River Basin

San Salvador, El Salvador – On Friday, December 6, 2024, the “National Dialogue on the Importance of National and International Legal Frameworks for the Protection of the Lempa River Basin” was held, organized by members of the Tri-national Network for the Rescue of the Lempa River, including the Tri-national Border Community of the Lempa River.

This event brought together representatives from governments, international cooperation agencies, academia, and civil society to develop concrete proposals to ensure the sustainability and resilience of one of the region's most important water sources.
The dialogue, held at the Best Western Plus Hotel, took place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and provided an opportunity to analyze existing legal frameworks, identify gaps, and explore opportunities to strengthen the management of the Lempa River basin. The day began with a presentation by the “Rescatemos el Lempa” (Let's Save the Lempa) Network, followed by a presentation on the current situation of the basin by Héctor Aguirre, representative of the Tri-national Community.

A panel of experts moderated by Ingrid Hausinger of the Heinrich Böll Foundation provided key inputs for the discussion. Alejandro Iza, from the IUCN, presented an analysis of international frameworks, while Judge Samuel Lizama presented the draft national law. Dr. María Luisa Acosta, from the Center for Legal Assistance to Indigenous Peoples, complemented this with a perspective on the Regional Treaty on Transboundary Aquifers.

The event's methodology included sectoral thematic roundtables that fostered the exchange of perspectives between governments, international cooperation agencies, academia, and civil society. These roundtables worked on prioritizing challenges and opportunities, generating consensus and concrete commitments to strengthen the protection of the basin.

The event closed with an artistic presentation by Carlos Córdova, whose performance, “La Agonía del Lempa” (The Agony of the Lempa), symbolized the challenges facing the basin and deeply moved the audience.

Organized as a joint effort by the members of the Tri-national Network for the Rescue of the Lempa River, this dialogue reaffirms the commitment to work on public policies and legal instruments that ensure the conservation and sustainable management of the basin, which is vital for El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.