- green-spots
- reforestation
- Panama
- Panama reforestation project
Problems
Deforestation in Panama is a serious environmental issue that affects the country’s biodiversity, climate, and economy. According to the Global Forest Watch, Panama lost nearly 2% of its forest cover from 2012 to 2019, mainly due to the expansion of agriculture and cattle ranching. The government of Panama has taken steps to combat forest loss, such as suspending logging permits, increasing surveillance, and offering tax breaks for renewable energy
Solutions
Panama Reforestation Project – Reforesting a Lost Tropical Rainforest
Author: Carbon Fund.Org
The Panama Reforestation Project is a significant initiative aimed at restoring a lost tropical rainforest. The project is located in the provinces of Chiriquí, Veraguas, and Darien in Panama. It is a shining example of how reforestation and forest conservation efforts can help mitigate the impacts of climate change, restore critical habitats, enrich local biodiversity, and provide numerous benefits to local communities. The Panama Reforestation Project has made significant strides in mitigating the impacts of climate change. By planting trees, the project helps sequester carbon dioxide, a key greenhouse gas contributing to global warming. The project has also been successful in restoring critical wildlife habitats. Sightings of ocelots and Central American spider monkeys, indicative of a healthy ecosystem, have been reported. The project has also contributed to reducing soil erosion and improving soil quality. This is particularly important in maintaining the health of downstream watersheds, including a coastal mangrove forest, which plays a crucial role in reducing the impact of tropical storms. The project has had a profound impact on local communities. It has helped reverse the trend of rural-to-urban migration by creating approximately 60 full-time jobs. These jobs provide alternative income sources for local communities and contribute to the local economy. In addition to job creation, the project has provided training opportunities in nursery operations, project management, and fire prevention. Access to health and literacy programs has also been made available, further enhancing the quality of life for local residents. The Panama Reforestation Project is a testament to the power of reforestation in combating climate change and enhancing biodiversity. It serves as a model for similar initiatives worldwide, demonstrating that with the right approach, it is possible to restore lost tropical rainforests and create sustainable, resilient ecosystems for future generations.
Source: https://carbonfund.org/project/panama-reforestation-project-reforesting-a-lost-tropical-rainforest/
Gallery
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Timelines
2023
Panama offers tax breaks for businesses that use solar and wind power equipment. This policy is part of the government’s efforts to promote renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The tax incentives include a 5 percent discount on income tax, exemption from import duties, tariffs, and charges, and accelerated depreciation for solar and wind power equipment. The policy is expected to boost the demand for clean energy and create new opportunities for investment and employment in the sector.
2021
Panama halts the granting of logging permits and increases surveillance of illegal logging. This policy is part of the government’s efforts to protect forests and reduce deforestation, largely driven by the expansion of agriculture and cattle ranching. The policy is expected to help conserve biodiversity, improve water quality, and mitigate climate change by preserving the carbon stored in the forests
2020
The Panama Rainforest Project partnered with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) to research and monitor the ecological, social and economic services provided by tropical rainforests. The project also collaborated with the Agua Salud project. On this long-term study site, researchers explore innovative land management strategies that could be used to restore and maintain ecosystem services across the tropics in response to global change. The project also experimented with agroforestry and other sustainable silviculture methods that could replace teak with another more eco-friendly, high-value tree.
2015
The project reached a milestone of planting more than 1.9 million trees on over 7,000 acres of land. The project also reported significant results in terms of mitigating climate change, restoring rainforest and critical habitat, enriching local biodiversity, reducing erosion and improving soil quality, and protecting downstream watersheds. The project also created nearly 60 full-time jobs and offered health and literacy programs to local communities.
The Paname rainforest project reached a milestone of planting more than 1.9 million trees on more than 7,000 acres of land. The project also reported significant results in mitigating climate change, restoring rainforest and critical habitat, enriching local biodiversity, reducing erosion and improving soil quality, and protecting downstream watersheds. The project also created nearly 60 full-time jobs and offered health and literacy programs to local communities.
2005
The Carbonfund Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports carbon reduction and climate solutions, initiated the project. The project aimed to reforest nearly 25,000 acres of abandoned cattle pastures along Panama's Pacific Coast, using over 50 native tree species. The project also sought to restore and conserve rainforest habitats, enhance biodiversity, improve soil and water quality, and provide social and economic benefits to local communities.