Remote Sensing and GIS, Management Tools for Adaptation to Climate Change, Cuenca Alta del Río Goascorán, Honduras

Abstract

Honduras is the country with the largest area in the dry corridor, 42% of the territory and 213 municipalities are located in it, being classified the intensity of drought in degrees low, high and severe. In the particular case of the Goascorán river basin in Honduras, the largest area is affected by high drought, with the municipalities of Aguanqueterique, Goascorán and Mercedes de Oriente being potentially affected by severe drought. In the country there is only the classification with the Pfafstetter method of hydrographic units of basins and sub-basins at levels 1 and 2, which makes it difficult to incorporate into new policies and trends in the management of water resources in a standardized regional form. So the establishment of policies for the management and management of natural resources and particularly water resources for adaptation to climate change, is necessary. To implement a methodology with techniques of spatial analysis (remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems), which generates a contribution to the country by presenting an orderly classification of multiscale basins, in sub-basins and micro-basins, but also as interbasins and closed or endorheic basins, classified by the size or length of the main water body, establishing different levels (8 levels) each with established management uses. At the same time, it contributes to the generation of water supply and sanitation alternatives as measures to adapt to climate change.