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Hojancha’s Rainwater Reservoirs Highlighted at Climate Change Summit in Morocco

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A rainwater reservoir project in Monte Romo de Hojancha, Guanacaste, is being featured as one of the global examples of how to adapt to climate change.

That’s how the Adaptation Fund, a U.N. program to finance global initiatives, described it during the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP22), one of the world’s most important summits in the fight against climate change and its consequences, which began on Nov. 8 in Marrakesh, Morocco.

This family in the community of Monte Romo uses water from their ranch to meet some of their hydrological needs. The project was selected as one of the fund’s permanent exhibits on display in one of the large halls at the world event, which is being attended by The Voice of Guanacaste.

The climate summit brings together 195 countries in search of an agreement on how to reduce the effects of global warming and adapt to what already is happening, including floods and droughts.

The Project

Reservoirs store rainwater that can be used during dry periods to irrigate crops.

Monte Romo’s reservoir is part of the program “Strengthening the capabilities and contributions to the rural sector in the cantons of Hojancha, Nicoya and Nandayure for the application of technologies to adapt to and mitigate climate change,” which includes an additional 60 ranches.

The family’s strategy is one of the most recommended, not only for Costa Rica but also other countries, primarily in Africa, that are battling desertification or a general lack of water. In times of crisis, creativity often stands out.

During the summit, representatives from various world organizations have sought cases like this one that take place at the community level, in order to replicate them in similar countries and, above all, so that funds are earmarked for projects created in communities and not at the political realm.

Who Pays For This?

This is one of the crucial points in summit negotiations, as countries must define the source and destination of financial resources for adapting to the new climate reality in order to prevent further consequences.

During an event on Thursday afternoon, the Adaptation Fund announced it had reached its goal of raising $80 million this year to allow them to continue with programs in Costa Rica and other vulnerable countries.

“The fund is dedicated to working with small producers. Vulnerability isn’t only climate-based. If you’re small, with little capacity to adapt, you have fewer opportunities to find funding to adapt,” said Marianella Feoli, director of Fundecooperación, which manages funds for Costa Rica.

Fundecooperación currently manages $10 million divided between 20 projects that work with rural water associations and small-scale farmers.

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