Like other countries in South and Central America, Panama has had some serious environmental issues. For a lot of the countrys history, money had more importance than conservation, and an ethic of man over nature pervaded the culture. Forests were chopped down routinely to make room for cattle.
However, in the 20th century Panama started to take positive steps in the opposite direction. The country started to create protected areas (including parks and wildlife refuges), write environmental laws, and establish conservation agencies. As Panama watched other countries in the region work to protect their own natural resources, some in the government noticed and urged their country to follow suit.
Panama’s economy has always been linked to its …show more content…
Around 5.4 million acres of important habitat were destroyed, largely for farms and cattle ranches. At the beginning of the 21st century, around 40% of the country was still covered by primary forests. 50 years earlier, it was 70%
Estimates vary, but deforestation is thought to claim up to 123,500 acres of forest a year in Panama – a loss of slightly more than one percent per year. Deforestation is proceeding very rapidly in the Colón, Darién, and Bocas del Toro provinces. Panama is a vital link in the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, which connects the ecosystems of North and South America—122 species of migratory birds pass through the country each year. Of Panama’s estimated 978 bird species, 12 are endemic, 120 are rare, and 20 are globally threatened. Deforestation could potentially interrupt important migratory routes and cause lasting ecological damage to not only Panama but in North and South America as …show more content…
The Panamanian government also continues to allow mining operations and hydroelectric projects into environmentally sensitive areas. Not only do these operations degrade the natural landscape, but they also displace indigenous populations who have lived on the land for centuries.
In the last few decades there have been efforts made to reforest parts of Panama. But the government policy of giving tax incentives for reforestation, critics point out, is faulty. One often-cited flaw is that two-thirds of the trees planted so far are teak, a nonnative species. Teak is a commodity; it is planted at tree farms that harvest the wood and then sell it. Furthermore, birds and animals have little use for teak, so the trees do not create new habitat.
At the start of the 21st century, a total of 46,000 hectares (114,00 acres) of land had been reforested. This is less than is lost annually to deforestation.
How Panama chooses to combat deforestation will be hugely important over the coming century. Protecting its forests will ensure healthy habitat for animals and clean air for humans, as well as give the ecotourism industry the potential to truly take
However, in the 20th century Panama started to take positive steps in the opposite direction. The country started to create protected areas (including parks and wildlife refuges), write environmental laws, and establish conservation agencies. As Panama watched other countries in the region work to protect their own natural resources, some in the government noticed and urged their country to follow suit.
Panama’s economy has always been linked to its …show more content…
Around 5.4 million acres of important habitat were destroyed, largely for farms and cattle ranches. At the beginning of the 21st century, around 40% of the country was still covered by primary forests. 50 years earlier, it was 70%
Estimates vary, but deforestation is thought to claim up to 123,500 acres of forest a year in Panama – a loss of slightly more than one percent per year. Deforestation is proceeding very rapidly in the Colón, Darién, and Bocas del Toro provinces. Panama is a vital link in the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, which connects the ecosystems of North and South America—122 species of migratory birds pass through the country each year. Of Panama’s estimated 978 bird species, 12 are endemic, 120 are rare, and 20 are globally threatened. Deforestation could potentially interrupt important migratory routes and cause lasting ecological damage to not only Panama but in North and South America as …show more content…
The Panamanian government also continues to allow mining operations and hydroelectric projects into environmentally sensitive areas. Not only do these operations degrade the natural landscape, but they also displace indigenous populations who have lived on the land for centuries.
In the last few decades there have been efforts made to reforest parts of Panama. But the government policy of giving tax incentives for reforestation, critics point out, is faulty. One often-cited flaw is that two-thirds of the trees planted so far are teak, a nonnative species. Teak is a commodity; it is planted at tree farms that harvest the wood and then sell it. Furthermore, birds and animals have little use for teak, so the trees do not create new habitat.
At the start of the 21st century, a total of 46,000 hectares (114,00 acres) of land had been reforested. This is less than is lost annually to deforestation.
How Panama chooses to combat deforestation will be hugely important over the coming century. Protecting its forests will ensure healthy habitat for animals and clean air for humans, as well as give the ecotourism industry the potential to truly take