AGP Executive Report

Environmental Crime: An INTERPOL operation across nine Latin American and Caribbean countries, including Guatemala, led to 233 arrests and uncovered about 60,000 hectares of illegally cleared forest, alongside wildlife and timber trafficking networks. Wildlife: Conservationists recorded a jaguar for the second time this year in the Bi-National Corridor linking Guatemala and Honduras, a vital passage for the threatened cats. Indigenous Lands: Organized crime is adding pressure to Indigenous communities in Guatemala, where illicit economies and criminal networks threaten land, ecosystems and local sovereignty. Water and Climate: Guatemala is facing its worst water year in decades, while El Niño-driven drought is wilting crops across Central America and worsening food-security risks. Regional Hazards: Panama’s powerful earthquake briefly prompted tsunami alerts for Guatemala; the warnings were later lifted.

Wildlife Corridor: Conservationists recorded a jaguar for the second time this year in the Bi-National Corridor along Guatemala’s border with Honduras, a key route linking populations. Habitat loss has cut the species’ historic range by about half. Environmental Crime: An Interpol sweep across nine Latin American and Caribbean countries, including Guatemala, led to 233 arrests and identified about 60,000 hectares of illegally cleared forest. Investigators also linked Amazon destruction to 161 companies. Earthquake Alert: A powerful quake in Panama triggered temporary tsunami warnings for Guatemala and other Pacific-facing countries; the alerts were later lifted. Water and Crops: Reports describe Guatemala’s worst water year in decades, as El Niño-driven drought threatens Central American crops and food security.

Regional Disaster Alert: A magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Panama triggered a tsunami warning that included Guatemala’s Pacific coast; the threat was later called off. Environmental Crime: An Interpol operation across nine Latin American and Caribbean countries, including Guatemala, led to 233 arrests, recovered more than 1,000 live animals and identified 60,000 hectares of illegally cleared forest. Water and Climate: Guatemala is facing its worst water year in decades, with wells running dry and crops failing. El Niño-driven drought is stressing Central American farms, with conditions expected to intensify.

Pacific Hazard: A magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Panama prompted tsunami warnings for Guatemala’s Pacific coast; the threat was later lifted, with authorities monitoring the situation. Environmental Crime: Guatemala joined INTERPOL’s regional crackdown, which reported 233 arrests, more than 1,000 rescued live animals and 60,000 hectares of illegally cleared forest identified across nine countries. Climate and Water: El Niño is worsening drought risks for Central American crops, while a report flags Guatemala’s water year as its worst in decades. Marine Protection: Belize will seek public input on an undersea cable linking Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras that would cross Belizean waters and part of the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve; environmental reviewers are assessing its potential impacts.

Tsunami Alert: A powerful earthquake in Panama triggered tsunami warnings for Guatemala and other Pacific coasts; the threat was later declared over. Water and Climate: Guatemala is facing a severe water year, with wells running dry and crops lost, as El Niño-driven drought strains farming across Central America. Environmental Crime: An INTERPOL operation involving Guatemala and eight other countries led to 233 arrests, recovered more than 1,000 live animals and identified 60,000 hectares of illegally cleared forest. Regional Infrastructure: Belize is seeking public feedback on a proposed undersea cable linking Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras that would cross part of a marine reserve; its environmental assessment is under review.

Disaster Watch: A powerful earthquake in southern Panama triggered tsunami warnings for Guatemala and other Pacific coasts; the threat was later lifted. Environmental Crime: An INTERPOL operation across nine Latin American and Caribbean countries, including Guatemala, led to 233 arrests and uncovered 60,000 hectares of illegally cleared forest, along with wildlife and timber trafficking networks. Water Crisis: Guatemala is enduring its worst water year in decades, with wells running dry, crops failing and floods adding to the strain. El Niño: Forecasters expect the climate pattern to strengthen before its December peak, worsening drought risks and pressure on Central American crops and food supplies.

Earthquake and Tsunami Warnings: Powerful 7.7 and 6.6 earthquakes struck Panama, damaging buildings and prompting evacuations. Tsunami warnings included Guatemala; no deaths had been confirmed in Panama by Friday evening as assessments continued. Water Crisis: Guatemala is facing its worst water year in decades, with wells running dry, crops lost and floods arriving. El Niño: The phenomenon is expected to strengthen toward a December peak, raising the risk of drought and floods and adding pressure to Central American crops. Environmental Crime: An Interpol-led operation across nine countries, including Guatemala, resulted in 233 arrests, more than 1,000 live animals recovered and 60,000 hectares of illegally cleared land identified. Investigators targeted illegal logging, mining and wildlife trafficking.

Environmental Crime: Guatemala joined an Interpol-led crackdown across nine countries that made 233 arrests, recovered more than 1,000 animals and identified 60,000 hectares of illegally cleared forest. Guatemalan authorities also seized parrots hidden in boxes. El Niño Threat: The UN warns the phenomenon may intensify before a December peak, raising risks of drought and floods. Guatemala is already facing a severe water crisis: wells have fallen to record lows, rainfall deficits have damaged crops and families in the Dry Corridor are struggling to secure water. Mangrove Conservation: On Guatemala’s Pacific coast, a community honey project is offering families an alternative to fishing while creating an economic incentive to protect mangroves that shelter marine life and buffer coastal storms.

Environmental Crime: An Interpol-led operation across nine countries, including Guatemala, reported 233 arrests, more than 1,000 animals recovered and 60,000 hectares of illegally cleared forest identified. Investigators uncovered industrial-scale wildlife and timber trafficking, alongside illegal mining networks. Water and Climate: El Niño is expected to strengthen through December, raising drought and flood risks. Guatemala has already endured a severe water year: wells fell to record lows in the Dry Corridor, where forecasts projected rainfall deficits of up to 300 millimeters, threatening crops and rural livelihoods. Conservation and Livelihoods: On Guatemala’s Pacific coast, a community mangrove-honey project is offering an alternative to fishing while giving residents an incentive to protect forests that shelter marine life and buffer storms. But access to land remains a challenge. Wildlife: A camera in Guatemala captured a rare jaguar sighting, a once-in-a-decade glimpse of the country’s elusive wildlife.

El Niño Alert: The UN says the Pacific warming event will intensify before its December peak, raising risks of drought and floods. Guatemala is already facing a severe water crisis: wells have fallen to historic lows, while rainfall deficits and years of weak water infrastructure have left communities and farms struggling. Farms Under Pressure: El Niño-driven drought is damaging crops across Central America, threatening rural livelihoods and food supplies. Environmental Crime: An Interpol operation involving Guatemala and eight other countries led to 233 arrests, rescued more than 1,000 animals and identified 60,000 hectares of illegally cleared forest. Guatemalan authorities also seized parrots hidden in boxes. Mangrove Livelihoods: On Guatemala’s Pacific coast, a community honey project offers families an alternative to extractive work while giving them an economic reason to protect mangroves.

Environmental Crime: INTERPOL’s Operation Madre Tierra VIII led to 233 arrests across nine countries, including Guatemala, and identified 60,000 hectares of illegally cleared forest. Guatemalan authorities seized parrots; the operation also recovered more than 1,000 animals. Water Emergency: Guatemala’s Dry Corridor faces deepening shortages as El Niño worsens drought. Wells have fallen to unprecedented lows, while August rainfall was 25% below average across monitored areas. Crop Stress: Prolonged water deficits are damaging crops and threatening rural livelihoods across the Northern Triangle, including Guatemala. Coastal Conservation: On Guatemala’s Pacific coast, a community group is building a livelihood from mangrove-bee honey, giving residents an incentive to protect forests that shelter marine life and buffer storms. Wildlife: A camera in Guatemala captured a rare jaguar sighting, described as a once-in-a-decade snapshot.

Environmental Crime: An Interpol operation across nine countries, including Guatemala, led to 233 arrests for suspected illegal mining, logging and wildlife trafficking. Investigators also traced links between Amazon deforestation and companies across several continents. Water Emergency: Guatemala’s worst water year in decades has left wells unusually low and crops failing, as El Niño drought compounds years of infrastructure neglect and the lack of a national water-governance framework. Climate and Fisheries: El Niño-driven ocean warming is pushing fish away from shore, leaving Pacific coast fishers—including in Guatemala—with smaller catches. Across Central America, drought is also threatening crops and rural livelihoods. Wildlife Corridor: Rare camera-trap images captured a jaguar moving through the bi-national corridor linking Guatemala and Honduras, underscoring the value of protecting habitat connectivity. Mangrove Livelihoods: On Guatemala’s Pacific coast, a community honey project offers an alternative to extractive work and an incentive to conserve mangroves, though access to land remains a hurdle.

Water Crisis: Guatemala’s worst water emergency in decades is unfolding as El Niño conditions and long-running infrastructure neglect push shallow wells in the Dry Corridor to record lows, with INSIVUMEH warning of major rainfall deficits and families in eastern departments reporting wells dropping to unseen depths. Climate Threat: A developing “super El Niño” is forecast to be among the strongest on record, raising risks of hunger, heat deaths, and cascading impacts across Latin America and the Caribbean, including millions of children facing El Niño-related threats. Wildlife & Habitat: New camera-trap photos captured a once-in-a-decade snapshot of jaguars using a bi-national wildlife corridor linking Guatemala and Honduras, offering hope that connectivity still holds despite human pressure. Governance & Justice: Guatemala’s September anti-money-laundering overhaul shifts focus toward tracing assets and strengthening verification capacity, aiming to disrupt the financial structures behind transnational organized crime. Policy & Accountability: A Guatemalan-led teach-in highlights how investor protections can limit climate and environmental justice, with speakers calling for an ISDS-free world.

Wildlife & Biodiversity: Camera-trap photos in Guatemala captured a once-in-a-decade snapshot of a male jaguar, suggesting the Bi-National Corridor linking Guatemala and Honduras is still functioning despite habitat pressure. Climate & Agriculture: Bananas in Guatemala and across Latin America face mounting strain from extreme weather, disease pressure, and water challenges as El Niño develops and could intensify drought in some areas and flooding in others. Water & Food Systems: The National Mango Board highlights applied research aimed at boosting productivity, cutting post-harvest losses, and improving fruit quality and safety—efforts meant to help growers adapt to climate-related shocks. Forests & Livelihoods: At FAO’s Committee on Forestry meeting in Rome, forest advocates stress “forests for food, resilience and prosperity,” pointing to long-running conservation benefits for communities. Housing Pressure: A Habitat for Humanity report says 75% of people in Latin America and the Caribbean cut other expenses to afford housing, with impacts reaching food, healthcare, and savings. Guatemala Policy & Trade: Guatemala’s phytosanitary push with the U.S. continues, while El Niño-related drought reduced avocado shipments to Europe and the country seeks access to new markets like Chile and South Korea.

Wildlife & Biodiversity: Camera traps in Guatemala captured a rare, once-in-a-decade snapshot of a male jaguar, highlighting that the Bi-National Corridor linking Guatemala and Honduras is still functioning despite habitat pressure. Climate & Food Security: UNICEF warns El Niño’s drought and flooding are putting 25.8 million children across Latin America at growing risk, with Central America facing harvest losses that can worsen malnutrition and unsafe water access. Water & Pollution Tech: The Ocean Cleanup is expanding plastic-eating “interceptors” to remove debris from rivers and waterways, aiming to cut the flow of plastic into oceans and reduce harm to marine life. Agriculture & Trade: Guatemala’s phytosanitary push with the U.S. continues, with producers reporting El Niño-related weather stress and forecasting fewer avocado shipments to Europe while seeking new market access. Housing & Social Resilience: A Habitat for Humanity report finds housing costs are forcing 75% of people in Latin America and the Caribbean to cut essentials like food and delay medical care, deepening vulnerability. Local Environment Economy: A regenerative farming model led by a Guatemalan-born agronomist in Minnesota is gaining attention for reducing chemical inputs while improving land diversity and resilience.

Housing Pressure: A Habitat for Humanity report says 75% of people in 22 countries cut back on essentials to afford housing, including 33% spending less on food and 13% delaying medical care. Wildlife Connectivity: Guatemala camera-trap photos captured a once-in-a-decade jaguar snapshot, suggesting jaguars still use a bi-national corridor linking Guatemala and Honduras despite habitat pressure. El Niño Fallout: UNICEF warns 25.8 million children across Latin America face rising drought and flooding risks, with Guatemala among the Central American countries where harvest losses could worsen malnutrition. Energy Subsidies Strain: A UNDP study says governments are running out of room to cushion higher energy prices, with fuel subsidies potentially topping $1 trillion this year as El Niño and borrowing costs squeeze budgets. Guatemala Trade & Climate: Guatemala’s avocado exports face El Niño-linked drought impacts, while producers push forward on U.S. phytosanitary accreditation to keep market access. Local Environment & Industry: A Guatemala-based textile expansion aims for “eco-friendly” production for the U.S., while a separate analysis highlights Guatemala’s shift toward tracing criminal finances as organized crime adapts through front firms and informal channels.