Action Plan

Developed by

• Global Nature Fund (GNF)

• Living Lakes International network

• Sociedad Amigos del Lago de Chapala, A.C.

• Foundation of the Lerma-Chapala-Santiago Basin, A.C.

• University of Guadalajara.

1. Legal Protection:

Present the lake as a candidate for membership in RAMSAR (Very Urgent)

Ramsar is an intergovernmental Convention on Wetlands which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

The process requires that a technical analysis of the lake and the basin's situation be done. This analysis must be presented to the Mexican government with a request that they make the application to RAMSAR.

Action: The papers are almost ready to submit to the Mexican government.

Present citizen petition before the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). (Very Urgent)

The CEC is empowered to accept and investigate complaints against the governments participating in NAFTA (Canada, U.S.A., Mexico) regarding their refusal to protect their environments, which was a part of the NAFTA accords.

Action: This petition was mailed May 19,2003 and personally delivered to CEC at an international meeting in Washington D. C. in June 2003 by Doctora Rachel Gutiérrez Nájera, attorney from the University of Guadalajara, assisting the Fundación de la Cuenca Lerma-Chapala-Santiago, A.C. and Aida Aguilar, Vice President of Sociedad Amigos del Lago de Chapala, A.C.

Notification of the Council according to article 15(1) about a process of fact finding of the secretariate of the Comission for Environmental Cooperation ( Word document in Spanish)

Petition before the Directors of SEMARNAT (Secretary for the Environment and Natural Resources) for the consult of the lake shore NGO´s about the project of the regulated zone of the  Lerma-Chapala-Santiago-Pacífico basin. (Very Urgent)

Petition to certify Lake Chapala as an official user of the basin's water. With this, Lake Chapala would have an undisputed right to water from the basin.

Petition before the Directors of SEMARNAT for the inclusion and  representation of environmental NGO´s of the shores of Lake Chapala in the Counsel of basin. (Very Urgent)

This would force them to listen to the people who are dedicated to saving the lake.

Review concessions of land around the lake. (Very Urgent)

CNA has these records, and by the new “transparency laws” in place here now must allow the public to see them.

Action: A request for the records was formally made on May 25. CNA legally has 90 days to respond.

Analysis of the legal responsibility for the negotiations of the lake. (Very Urgent)

Determine which public officials have previously been responsible for enforcing the accords passed in 1991 and 1994 regarding the lake. Those who did not fulfill their duties will be held accountable.

Support the initiative of the Regulatory Law of Art. 27 of the Constitution which declares the Lerma-Chapala-Santiago-Pacifico basin a zone of ecological restoration and water reserves. (Very Urgent)

At the present time, there is no law that protects the lake. 

A proposed law is in the Mexican chamber of Deputies (the Senate) now. However, due to errors in the bill and the fact that it is in conflict with other existing laws, it has to be analyzed and re-written to allow for its legal passage. The recent election process has held up this process.

Action: ADL is supporting the timely passage of the bill.

2. Citizen Participation:

Propose the creation of an environmental ombudsman. (Very Urgent)

If accomplished, this could serve as a model for the rest of the states of Mexico.

Action: Proposal is being prepared and will be sent at the end of this year.

3. Environmental negotiation of the lake:

Investigate alternate sources for supply of water for the Guadalajara Metropolitan Zone. (Very Urgent)

Develop an institutional strengthening program for the shore municipalities. (Very Urgent)

Action: Being written now is an information and training manual which will provide information about what projects are being implemented by the government to help the lake, and where and how local officials can get government funding for other projects.

Accomplish a basic diagnosis through the application of the Leopold Matrix. (Very Urgent)

This is basically an environmental impact study that gathers data from personal interviews done with people from all around the lake regarding flora, fauna, weather changes, and numerous of other pertinent information. The purpose of the information is to use it as a guide in the restoration process.

Action: This database has been started by AdL and our partners of the University of Guadalajara.

AdL Secretary, Antonio Manchuca, is the leader for the first phase of the study of flora and fauna. He also heads AdL’s on-going reforestation campaign.

Negotiate with the appropriate authorities the establishment of an international technical advisory by independent NGO´s. (Very Urgent)

4. Water Quality

Negotiate with the National Water Commission (CNA) for the implementation of a satellite based automatic hydrometric and water quality monitoring system. (Very Urgent)

Action: This year the Mexican congress authorized 600 million pesos for hydrologic infrastructure. The money will be used to buy equipment to monitor the quantity of water in the Lerma River, from state to state, as it flows to Lake Chapala. A request has been sent to SEMARNAT that they also test for contaminants.

Continuously verify the water quality through the use of a mobile laboratory. (Very Urgent)

Action: Grant money from international corporations doing business in Mexico is being sought to fund this. Other more economical ways of doing the water testing now are being pursued.

5. Information dissemination and sensitization of the local population

Inform the public about the actions and results obtained from the basic diagnosis. (Very Urgent)

Action: Articles have been and will continue to be placed in the area press and on our website in Spanish and English.

Physically establish markers on the natural boundary ridge of the lake. (Very Urgent)

Action: Prices are being obtained for metal signs and posts marking the water line at 8 billion cubic meters. These signs will be posted at places visible to the public around the shore line of the lake.

6. Establish rules for sustainable use of land

Elaborate a proposition about the degree of agrarian intensity. (Urgent)

Action: ADL recently collaborated in a 2 day symposium in Chapala along with Corazón de la Tierra, A.C. (main organizer), Ayuntamiento de Chapala, University of Guadalajara, Red Jalisciense de Educadores Ambientales, A.C. and the University of North Texas to demonstrate projects using hydroponics, aquaculture as an alternative fishery program, organic agricultural practices, rustic water treatment plants in rural areas, etc.

7. Information dissemination and sensitization on an international level

8th Living Lakes International Conference at Broads National Park in England (9/2003). (Very Urgent)

Action: Luis Aguirre, President of ADL and a representative of the Fundación attended this conference to make the final presentation on behalf of Lake Chapala and returned with the admission as a full partner in the Living Lakes Partnership.

9th Living Lakes International Conference in Canada (8/2004). (Not Urgent)

Amigos del Lago will have a representative there.

Permanent Information about the actual situation of the lake on the Living Lakes, GNF, Amigos del Lago, and Fundación de la Cuenca's Web pages. (Not Urgent)

Regional Conference Ibero-Americana (3/2004). (Very Urgent)

Action: We are in the planing stage for this very special event. Representatives from the Global Nature Fund and Living lakes partners and other environmental groups from North, South America and Central America as well as Spain will come to Chapala.