VZCZCXYZ0010
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSN #0433/01 1381304
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181304Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1088
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 0046

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 000433 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID SENV EAGR SV
SUBJECT: SERVIR PROJECT SUPPORTS DISASTER RELIEF AND ENVIRONMENTAL 
MONITORING IN CENTRAL AMERICA 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: The SERVIR project has closed a successful two-year 
global development alliance with USAID that created innovative 
geographic imaging tools to help manage disaster relief operations, 
monitor environmental trends and study the effects of climate change 
in Central America.  In its next phase, SERVIR plans to join with 
the Central American Integration System (SICA) to improve 
data-sharing with partner agencies, develop better user interfaces 
and expand the application of SERVIR tools to agriculture, food 
security and other areas. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. Drawing on information provided by USAID and NASA, this cable 
aims to inform other US agencies about the SERVIR project and the 
diverse applications of its geographic imaging tools.  SERVIR 
welcomes support from U.S. missions and counterparts throughout 
Central America in finding new ways to use its decision-making 
tools. 
 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
¶3. SERVIR - Spanish for "To Serve" - is a Regional Visualization and 
Monitoring System that integrates earth observations (e.g., 
satellite imagery) and forecast models with in-country information 
sources for timely decision-making to benefit society.  SERVIR was 
developed in 2004 by NASA, USAID, and other partners, at the request 
of Central American governments, as an innovative way to use 
space-based assets and geospatial technologies to analyze the 
effects of climate change.  SERVIR currently provides critical 
information for Central America, the Dominican Republic and East 
Africa, addressing nine societal benefit areas of the Group on Earth 
Observations (GEO): climate, disasters, ecosystems, biodiversity, 
weather, water, health, agriculture, and energy.  SERVIR maintains a 
website (www.servir.net) offering interactive maps, 3D 
visualizations and open-source sharing of scientific data. 
 
¶4. SERVIR operates a Coordination Office/Prototyping Facility at the 
NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and two 
Regional Operational Facilities - one for Latin America and the 
Caribbean (LAC) and one for East Africa.  The SERVIR regional 
operational facility for LAC is based at the Water Center for the 
Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean (CATHALAC) in 
Knowledge, Panama, and has been in operation since 2005.  A second 
SERVIR regional operational facility was opened in 2008 at the 
Regional Center for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) in 
Nairobi, Kenya. 
 
DIVERSE APPLICATIONS 
-------------------- 
 
¶5. To date, the SERVIR team at CATHALAC has responded to over 20 
natural disasters and 10 environmental threats in Central America 
and the Dominican Republic.  To help decision-makers respond to 
natural disasters, SERVIR tools have been used to show areas 
affected by flooding and used weather observations and geographic 
information to forecast vulnerability to flooding and mudslides.  In 
one example highlighting the economic benefits offered by SERVIR 
tools, Salvadoran officials estimated that SERVIR saved $14 million 
by helping to manage fishing during a 2004 "red tide" event.  With 
support from CAFTA-DR environmental funds, SERVIR developed a 
detailed study of the potential impacts of climate change on 
biodiversity in Central America, published in 2008. 
 
¶6. Currently, NASA and USAID are teaming with other US government 
agencies (e.g. NOAA, USGS, USEPA) to integrate additional capability 
into SERVIR, such as data through GeoNETCAST (NOAA), land-cover 
change monitoring tools (USGS), and air quality monitoring (USEPA). 
In addition, SERVIR is currently implementing pilot projects in 
CAFTA-DR countries involving government agencies, universities, and 
NGOs that use satellite data to address areas such as tourism, 
forest fires, and harmful algae blooms. The SERVIR project has also 
developed a geospatial portal to provide improved/free and open 
access to data and metadata throughout the region.  The new 
SERVIR-Africa facility is initially focusing on establishing a 
geospatial portal to provide searchable and viewable earth 
observation data, as well as offer improved products to address 
flood forecasting and Rift Valley Fever using unique NASA 
space-based assets and models. 
 
FUTURE EXPANSION 
----------------- 
 
¶7. SERVIR is planning to expand its activities after completing its 
first two project phases under a Memorandum of Understanding among 
NASA, USAID, the Central American Commission for Environment and 
Development (CCAD) and CATHALAC.  Originally a non-governmental 
organization, CATHALAC was converted in 2008 to an intergovernmental 
organization and granted land from the Panamanian government to 
build a new SERVIR facility.  To expand the application of SERVIR 
tools beyond its environmental focus, CATHALAC, USAID, and NASA plan 
to negotiate a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Central 
American Integration System (SICA). 
 
 
¶8. Following its study of the effects of climate change on 
biodiversity in Central America, SERVIR plans to undertake a similar 
study of the effects of climate change on agriculture.  Pilot 
projects in the Dominican Republic highlight potential applications 
for SERVIR tools in management of environmental complaints.  USAID 
notes that SERVIR tools may also be useful in monitoring of air 
quality, and providing agricultural and meteorological information 
useful to insurance companies. 
 
¶9. As it expands its applications, SERVIR is also working to improve 
data inputs from CAFTA-DR countries and develop user accessibility 
for its online tools.  At the same time, SERVIR is working to ensure 
the long-term sustainability of its system by developing revenue 
sources to replace donor funding. 
 
 
BLAU