Guatemala Strengthens Air Quality Monitoring with SERVIR-Central America Training

• The workshop provided the Ministry of Environment of Guatemala with tools to improve climate resilience by utilizing satellite-based air quality monitoring.

The SERVIR-Central America regional center, in collaboration with Guatemala’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN), conducted an intensive A three-day workshop centered on air quality monitoring using satellite technology.

This training aimed to strengthen MARN's technical capacity, especially at a critical time when the country is implementing a new regulatory air quality network to monitor PM2.5 particulate matter and improve air pollution surveillance._2.5 para mejorar la vigilancia de la contaminación atmosférica.

The event, held from November 19 to 21, was supported by NASA’s Scientific Coordination Office and included specialists from SERVIR-Central America, a project powered by NASA, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center).

Experts from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) also collaborated, bringing their expertise in air quality monitoring practices and their adaptation to specific contexts. Representatives from Guatemala’s National Meteorological Service (INSIVUMEH) and various universities in the country also participated, promoting a multisectoral approach to environmental management in Guatemala.

The objectives of the training included familiarizing participants with freely accessible Earth observation data and tools, understanding the current state of air quality monitoring in Guatemala and its link to climate resilience, as well as exploring successful monitoring practices implemented in other regions of the world.

This training represents an important step for Guatemala on its path toward effective environmental monitoring, contributing to climate resilience and public health protection.