The project management of the territory in Matagalpa aims to build a regional instance of management of the territory of the watershed of the Rio Grande, Nicaragua.
The region of Matagalpa is located in the center of Nicaragua. It features a rugged topography, and has a network of lines of communication very poor. Its economy is based on coffee growing, cattle breeding and food products (rice, beans, vegetables).
Since 1998, hurricane Mitch), there has been a resurgence of extreme weather events (droughts followed by heavy rains, causing floods (urbanized areas), and landslides accentuating a state of vulnerability, a widespread territory.
The economic situation worsens for a majority of the population, causing an increased migration to the outside (Costa Rica), to the capital (export processing zones) and toward the interior of the country (advancement of the agricultural frontier, causing significant deforestation). The return of the frente sandinista government in 2006 has led to improved system of health and education, as well as the approval of laws in favor of a better management of the territory, and a strengthening of the sector of small and medium-sized producers.
The constitution, in 2007, the association of municipalities AMUPNOR which includes the municipalities in the watershed, is an encouraging sign that shows a willingness to organize, beyond the political divide, to address the major economic and social difficulties that mark this area.
In the absence of regional structures, the municipalities are legally responsible for the management of the territory. The creation of a technical office shared is a first step for the development of the capacities of local actors (municipalities, associations of producers, community-based organisations), as well as for the coordination of actions to be undertaken. The initial approach for the prevention of disasters is also evolving toward a territorial approach to climate change in all its different dimensions.
Place
Nicaragua, the upper part of the watershed of the Rio Grande de Matagalpa, with 15 municipalities. Estimated Population of 600,000 people, area of 12,000 km2, representing 20% of the national territory and covering the 3 main ecological zones of the country (Pacific, Dry Mountains and Central Atlantic Wet)
Diagnosis
A triple observation is shared between local and international actors of the project, namely :
- significant deficiencies in the geographic information visit the efforts of land-use planning including urban very random,
- The weakness of local capacities, in the municipalities, makes it very difficult to both the formulation of policies and projects, but also to the practical implementation of the control measures for the correct assignment of the ground,
- The lack of continuity of public policies, subject to the vagaries of the elections, making it very fragile planning efforts in the medium or long term, including those related to the prevention of disasters and the development of the territory.
Objectives
The first phase (2002 – 2005) has been devoted to the realization of the first master plan of the city of Matagalpa, approved by a resolution of the city council in the time of the mandate of the mayor applicant.
The second phase (in progress) has been established at the request of the association of municipalities (AMUPNOR, Asociacion de Municipios Productivos del Norte). It consists of :
- The participatory development of management plans for municipal (urban and rural) with each of the municipalities, (regulation of land use)
- The construction of a geographic information system, regional, accessible to all the stakeholders of the territory
- , The formulation of strategic projects, inter-municipal, in a perspective of transition agro-ecological.
