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Cerro Punta, Panama
Cerro Punta, Panama TNC has partnered with the local environmental group FUNDICCEP and the conservation group Rare to create a Rare Pride campaign. © Hal Brindley

Panama

Conservation Milestones

Learn about some of our conservation milestones in Panama.

Coffee beans drying in the sun at a high-altitude
Coffee beans Coffee beans drying in the sun at a high-altitude farm in the Chiriqui Highlands of Panama. © Graham Marsden

The Nature Conservancy has worked in Panama since 1991. Over the years we have built solid partnerships with the public and private sectors, NGOs and community groups to preserve Panama's rich natural heritage.

From brokering innovative conservation strategies (such as debt-for-nature swaps), to strengthening protected areas, to helping communities adopt sustainable practices, the Conservancy has built a substantial track record of conservation successes in Panama.

SOME OF OUR CONSERVATION MILESTONES
  • Brokered two debt-for nature swaps between the United States and Panama in 2003 and 2004. The Conservancy provided $1.6 million for the swap that benefited Chagres National Park, and $1.3 million for the swap that supported Darien National Park. This funding leveraged $21 million in biodiversity conservation investments.
  • Brokered two debt-for nature swaps between the United States and Panama in 2003 and 2004. The Conservancy provided $1.6 million for the swap that benefited Chagres National Park, and $1.3 million for the swap that supported Darien National Park. This funding leveraged $21 million in biodiversity conservation investments.
Volcan Baru
View of Volcan Baru View of Volcan Baru (highest point in Panama), Chirqiqui province © Simon Williams
A woman washes clothing
Cerro Punta, Panama A woman washes clothing in the farming town of Cerro Punta, Panama. © Hal Brindley
  • Supported more than 30 community groups around La Amistad National Park between Costa Rica and Panama in the implementation of ecotourism, wildlife monitoring, and sustainable production projects. Several of these communities are currently producing and selling organic products such as coffee, cocoa and fertilizer. Furthermore, some groups have assumed a more active role in park patrols, fire management, and research activities. These efforts have resulted in a 90% reduction of forest fires within the park.
  • Provided scientific support to identify "conservation gaps" through regional and national analyses that included the development of conservation area plans for Chagres, La Amistad, Darien, and Panama's Occidental Pacific. Results are guiding the Panamanian government's conservation decisions.
  • With the support of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, we completed a study of the biological composition of Panama's Pacific coral reefs, which resulted in the discovery of more than twelve coral species new to science, more than 40 new registries for Panama, and at least three endemic species.