Environment

General Overview

Guatemala possesses very diverse eco-systems, but its natural resources are severely stressed due to population pressures.

Current Issues

Key current environmental issues in Guatemala include the following:

· Deforestation
· Soil erosion
· Water pollution
· Limited sewage disposal facilities
· Decimation of bio-diversity
· Health problems in human populations
· Over-use of certain pesticides

Natural Hazards

Major natural hazards in Guatemala include the threat of volcanic activity, due to the numerous volcanoes in mountains with frequent violent earthquakes, and the threat of hurricanes and other tropical storms on the Caribbean coast.

Regulation and Jurisdiction

Regulation and protection of the environment in Guatemala comes under the jurisdiction of the Comisión Nacional del Medio Ambiente (National Environmental Commission).

Major Environmental Organizations

Major non-governmental environmental organizations and entities include: Asociación Amigos del Bosque (Friends of the Forest Association and Wildlife Preservation Trust International (WPTI).

International Accords

The major international agreements which Guatemala is party to include Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, and Wetlands. The Antarctic-Environmental Protocol and Law of the Sea agreements have been signed, but not ratified.

Guatemala
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
(Millions of Metric Tons)

Fuel	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
Coal	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000
Natural Gas	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000
Petroleum	1.470	1.639	1.706	1.889	1.871
Total	1.470	1.639	1.706	1.889	1.871
% Change	-	11.5%	4.1%	10.7%	-1.0%

Sources:

US Department of Energy