LAND USE STUDIES
 
 
Project Name and Description
Relevant Information
Petén Integrated Development Plan. Phase 1
APESA consultants were charged with the responsibility of starting the first GIS service used in the Central America area as well as train local personnel in its use. A full and very complete mapping database of the Petén was created, as the base of information for a regional development plan. (See Regional Studies).
Location:
Santa Elena, Petén 		Starting date: August, 1989
   Contractor:
AHT - APESA		 Ending date: February, 1992
Contractee:
KfW 		Total personnel: 19 (APESA)
Land Use Analysis of the Baja Verapaz Area
The work covered an area of 3,000 km². The maps were digitized from an interpretation made from 1:65,000 aerial photography and field work verification. Maps produced were: basic geography, slope classification, forest stratification, land use, agrological classification. A report on conflicts and suggested land use was also produced.
    Location:
Salamá,, Baja Verapaz		 Starting date: May, 1992
Contractor:
APESA		 Ending date: February, 1993
Contractee:
GTZ 		Total personnel: 10
Land Use Study of the Trifinio Pilot Project Area (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras)
Land use interpretation was done from 1:30,000 aerial photography and Landsat TM. This was complemented with field work in which GPS assisted verification was used for the first time. Twelve thematic maps were produced and a study covering land use description, potential and recommended programs and projects were delivered
   Location:
Esquipulas, Guatemala 		Starting date: May, 1994
Contractor:
APESA		 Ending date: October, 1994
Contractee:
European Commission		 Total personnel: 9
Land Use Study for an Extended Area of the Trifinio Pilot Project.
This area extension of the first study (see above) had as a purpose the creation of agricultural development areas that should minimize pressures on a protected rain forest. The study had to suggest possible areas based on a predetermined set of criteria, which led to the mapping of a land management potential stratification.
   Location:
Esquipulas, Guatemala 		Starting date: March, 1995
Contractor:
APESA 		Ending date: December, 1995
Contractee:
European Commission		 Total personnel: 7
Land Use and Water Sources Inventory of the Atitlán Lake Northern Watershed
A complete mapping of land use was produced using Landsat TM and GPS supported field work. An inventory of close to 600 water sources (rivers, springs and wells) were measured and georeferenced. Its quality for human consumption was also established. Micro watershed areas were geographically defined.
   Location:
Sololá, Guatemala 		Starting date: June, 1995
Contractor:
APESA		 Ending date: January, 1996
Contractee:
European Commission		 Total personnel: 8
Sustainable Development Program for Petén
This regional program (see Regional Studies) provided the creation of a data base to manage and monitor the Maya Biosphere Reserve, aid in managing core zones, forest protection through tourism activities, community forest management and an EIA of the whole Program .
   Location:
Santa Elena, Petén		 Starting date: January, 1996
Contractor:
Interconsult-Scanteam- APESA 		Ending date: September, 1996
Contractee:
IDB 		Total personnel: 14 (APESA)
Land Use Study in the Barillas Region.
A 1987 aerial photography at 1:20,000 scale was used to interpret land use and 1997 Landsat image for the same purpose. Both were used to establish land use change, with quantitative changes from forest areas to agriculture and qualitative changes in forest coverage. The same analysis was made in land used for agriculture.
   Location:
Barillas, Huehuetenango		 Starting date: September, 1997
Contractor:
APESA 		Ending date: December, 1997
Contractee:
CECI - USAID 		Total personnel: 6
Land Use Study and Ecological Appraisal of the Ixcan and Northern Verapaz Area
The study was based on Landsat Image interpretation, over-flights with video recording and extensive ground verification, all to register present land use. The physiographic conditions of the area were also studied to build a geomorphologic scheme that might suggest a territorial management plan.
   Location:
Playa Grande, Quiché		 Starting date: June, 1998
Contractor:
APESA 		Ending date: August, 1999
Contractee:
CHF - USAID 		Total personnel: 12
Land Use Study of the Totonicapán Department
based on Landsat TM interpretation, 1:20,000 aerial photographs and very extensive ground verification, a complete mapping including basic geography, hipsometry, slope and land use was produced at 1:50,000 scale. These were used to compose land use / slope relationship and to determine erosion potential
   Location:
San Cristóbal, Totonicapán 		Starting date: January, 1998
Contractor:
APESA 		Ending date: September, 1998
Contractee:
European Commission 		Total personnel: 4
Trinational Program for the Sustainable Development of the Upper Lempa River Watershed
The mapping part of this regional study (see additional information in Regional Studies) was performed with Landsat TM image and detailed ground verification. Maps produced were: basic geography, land use, slope classification, erosion potential, watershed priorization.
   Location:
Esquipulas, Guatemala		 Starting date: January, 2000
Contractor:
Interconsult-APESA- Noragric		 Ending date: January, 2001
Contractee:
IDB 		Total personnel: 11 (APESA)