Natural Resource Management: Chapultepec Peace Agreement

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Natural Resource Management: Chapultepec Peace Agreement

Implementations

Natural Resource Management – 1992

After disputes between peasants and FAES soldiers began the land transfer program on a sour note, the UN Secretary-General’s office became involved and helped the Parties reach an agreement to proceed with land transfers in late October 1992.1 However, ONUSAL received reports that unsanctioned land occupations continued into November 1992.2

The Government submitted its national reconstruction plan on time and began to implement components of it.3 Agricultural training and rehabilitation programs for the disabled ex-combatants were started.4

  1. “Letter Dated 19 October 1992 from the Secretary-General Addressed to the President of the Security Council,” United Nations Security Council (S/24699), October 19, 1992.
  2. “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/24833), November 23, 1992.
  3. “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/23999), May 26, 1992.
  4. United Nations Security Council, (S/24833).

Natural Resource Management – 1993

Despite serious financial difficulties, the program for the transfer of lands proceeded, albeit at a slow pace. Both parties contributed to the delays: FMLN was slow to submit complete lists of land transfer recipients and the Government’s Lands Bank maintained slow and complicated procedures for the legal transfer of land. Both parties also relocated landholders on land whose owners were not willing to sell, further complicating the process.1 Progress fell further behind in October 1993.2 After an appeal to move forward by the UN Secretary-General, the parties reached a new agreement to move forward on 13 October 1993, and the Government developed an Acceleration Plan.3

The distribution of agricultural tools and basic household goods concluded in April 1993, along with the agricultural training program. A lack of available credit hindered the purchase of land and stunted housing and agricultural development.4

  1. “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/25812), May 21, 1993.
  2. “Further Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/26790), November 23, 1993.
  3. “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/1994/561), May 11, 1994.
  4. United Nations Security Council, (S/25812).

Natural Resource Management – 1994

The Acceleration Plan brought progress in the land transfer program, but not nearly at the rate it promised and not in the proportions promised to the FMLN beneficiaries in the 13 October 1993 agreement.1 The Government submitted a new acceleration plan on 18 August 1994, in which it pledged to strengthen the administrative infrastructure necessary to facilitate land transfers to FMLN ex-combatants. The program was stalled by funding shortfalls, however.2 At the two-year mark after the program began, only one-third of potential beneficiaries had actually received land.3 New progressive strides were made in November and December 1994, including improved administrative measures, shifting of responsibilities to the regional level, and increased personnel to measure land and communicate with potential beneficiaries.4

  1. “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/1994/561), May 11, 1994.
  2. “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/1994/1000), August 26, 1994.
  3. “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/1994/1212), October 31, 1994.
  4. “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/1995/220), March 24, 1995.

Natural Resource Management – 1995

The forward momentum in land reform programs created at the end of 1994 was curbed in January 1995, due in large part to personnel turnover in the Lands Bank. As of March 1995, approximately 45% of former combatants eligible for land-transfers had in fact received legal ownership of land. The Government was operating at a pace far too slow to meet the 30 April 1995 deadline for completion of the Acceleration Plan. The delays in land transfer programs, and especially delays in dealing with the relocation of human settlements, was becoming and increasing source of contention. Absent decisive involvement of the Government, lawful landowners and de facto landholders were repeatedly pitted against one another, and confrontations between them threatened to have a broad impact on the Peace Agreement.1 Problems persisted into late 1995. The Government stepped up efforts to get land titles to potential beneficiaries, and indeed the proportion rose to 75% in September, but then it was discovered that only 25% of these had filed with the land registry—a step which was necessary for the title holders to sell the land and complete the transfer process.2

  1. “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/1995/220), March 24, 1995.
  2. “The Situation in Central America: Procedures for the Establishment of a Firm and Lasting Peace and Progress in Fashioning a Region of Peace, Freedom, Democracy and Development,” United Nations General Assembly (A/50/517), October 6, 1995.

Natural Resource Management – 1996

After a number of persons left the program, the total number of potential beneficiaries of land reform fell to 36,550. By 26 March 1996, 32,210 of them had received titles, and about half of those were recorded in the land registry. The program faced an impasse when land-for-sale became scarce and the human settlement relocations left some persons in unsustainable situations.1

By November 1996, nearly 99% of potential beneficiaries had received titles, and 87% of those had filed their deeds in the national registry.2

  1. “Mission of the United Nations in El Salvador: Report of the Secretary-General,” United Nations General Assembly (A/50/935), April 23, 1996.
  2. “Office of the United Nations Verification in El Salvador: Report of the Secretary-General,” United Nations General Assembly (A/51/693), November 25, 1996.

Natural Resource Management – 1997

The land transfer programs remained a challenge, but progress was made on many of the most vexing cases.1

Nearing the completion of the land transfer program, almost 35,000 persons had received titles to a total of over 140,000 manzanas (235,200 acres) of land. Hundreds of persons had not received land titles, however, and the government was still moving rather slowly to resolve the logistical issues preventing the completion of the program.2

  1. “Letter Dated 15 December 1997 from the Secretary-General to the President of the General Assembly,” United Nations General Assembly (A/52/731), December 16, 1997.
  2. “Assessment of the Peace Process in El Salvador: Report of the Secretary General,” United Nations General Assembly (A/51/517), July 1, 1997.

Natural Resource Management – 1998

Outstanding issues preventing the completion of the programs for land transfer and human settlement transfer were not resolved as of the conclusion of official UN observation on 30 June 1998.1

Hurricane Mitch devastated the whole region, killing thousands and setting development back by twenty years.2 A flurry of monetary aid, loans and debt forgiveness came in from international donors.3

  1. “Letter Dated 7 August 1998 from the Secretary-General Addressed to the President of the General Assembly,” United Nations General Assembly (A/52/1008), September 24, 1998.
  2. “The Week’s Top Ten World Stories,” The Guardian, November 7, 1998.
  3. “Central America,” Keesing’s Record of World Events, November 1998, Vol. 44, p. 42608; “Central America and Caribbean,” Keesing’s Record of World Events, December 1998, Vol. 44, p. 42666.

Natural Resource Management – 1999

No developments observed this year.

Natural Resource Management – 2000

No developments observed this year.

Natural Resource Management – 2001

Some significant progresses were made in terms of land redistribution. Nevertheless, two earthquakes struck in 2001, setting economic development back again.1

  1. “El Salvador,” Keesing’s Record of World Events, January 2001, Vol. 47, p. 43940.