Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean (CATHALAC)
CATHALAC is an international organization based in Panama dedicated to promoting sustainable development through applied research, education, and technology transfer in water resources, environmental management, climate change, and disaster risk management. The Center serves countries across Latin America and the Caribbean and collaborates with governments, international organizations, and research institutions.
CATHALAC operates as a Regional Support Office (RSO) of the UN-SPIDER programme, contributing to the use of space-based technologies for disaster risk reduction and emergency response.
CATHALAC has extensive experience in capacity development across the region, including:
Training programs in integrated water resources management, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk management
Specialized courses in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Earth observation, and remote sensing
Online diploma programs in collaboration with international institutions
Capacity-building initiatives for government agencies, technical experts, and decision-makers
Internship and professional development programs
The Center has trained professionals from more than 20 countries and supported institutional strengthening initiatives across Latin America and the Caribbean.
CATHALAC provides multidisciplinary expertise in:
Disaster risk management and emergency response
Climate change adaptation and mitigation
Hydrological modeling and water resource management
Environmental monitoring and ecosystem assessment
Geospatial analysis and Earth observation applications
Land use planning and environmental governance
Hazard-specific expertise includes:
Floods and droughts
Climate variability and extreme weather events
Land degradation and wildfires
Coastal and ecosystem vulnerability (including mangroves and wetlands)
CATHALAC has supported more than 50 disaster events in the region by providing technical assistance for decision-making.
CATHALAC provides access to and develops a wide range of geospatial and Earth observation-based information, including:
Satellite data processing and analysis (e.g., GOES-16 imagery systems)
Climate monitoring and forecasting tools
Hydrological and environmental modeling platforms
Land use and land cover mapping (e.g., Sentinel-based products)
Environmental information systems for decision-making
Regional platforms such as SERVIR, supporting visualization and monitoring of environmental conditions
These tools support early warning systems, disaster monitoring, and environmental management.
