Panama recognizes ITTO for advancing legal and sustainable timber trade

Mr Carlos Espinosa Peña of MiAMBIENTE hands the plaque of recognition to Dr Gerhard Breulmann of ITTO. Photo: MiAMBIENTE

Panama’s Ministry of the Environment (MiAMBIENTE), through its Forest Directorate, has presented an award of recognition to the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) for its crucial support in strengthening forest governance and promoting the legal and sustainable timber trade in the country.

This recognition was granted within the framework of the ITTO-financed project titled “Strengthening Forest Control in Panama and Expanding the Coverage of the Forest Traceability and Monitoring System (STCF)”, spearheaded by MiAMBIENTE. The STCF is a cutting-edge digital platform designed to track timber from forest to market, ensuring transparency and legality throughout the timber supply chain. Initially applied to commercial forest plantations and areas under assisted natural regeneration (ANR), the system is now expanding into new regions, including Indigenous territories such as the Emberá-Wounaan Comarca, reflecting the replicability and upscaling of ITTO projects.

As part of this acknowledgment, ITTO’s instrumental role in the success of the Legal Timber Network was also recognized. This public-private platform, developed through the same partnership, promotes responsible forest governance, enhances trade transparency, and encourages community engagement. It has fostered knowledge sharing, policy development, and collaboration among forestry stakeholders, while helping to create transparent trade links between producers and buyers. The initiative has also advanced programs supporting responsible trade and strengthened institutional efforts to combat illegal logging. These accomplishments highlight ITTO’s strategic contributions to building Panama’s capacity for sustainable forest management.

At the award ceremony, National Forest Director Carlos Espinosa Peña and key officials presented a plaque of recognition to ITTO representatives Dr Gerhard Breulmann, Director of Operations, and Mr Simon Kawaguchi, Finance and Administrative Officer. Espinosa Peña praised ITTO’s long-standing technical cooperation and its vision in establishing the Legal Timber Network as a model of regional collaboration. “We are deeply grateful to ITTO for its strategic support, which has allowed us to position this initiative as a benchmark in legal and sustainable forestry,” he said.

Through this recognition, MiAMBIENTE reaffirmed its commitment to working with strategic partners like ITTO to promote forest conservation and the sustainable development of Panama’s forestry sector.

STCF in action: strengthening forest governance in the Emberá-Wounaan community

Under the STCF initiative, a recent meeting of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) was held in Panama City, followed by a field visit to the Emberá-Wounaan community of Tortuga. The meeting provided an opportunity to review the project’s progress, including updates on system operations, outreach strategies, and financial management.

During the field visit, stakeholders observed the STCF in action under an annual cutting permit (permiso anual de corta). The tour included inspections of timber harvesting operations, timber yard management, and community reinvestment projects such as nurseries and infrastructure development funded through forest revenues.

Project Coordinator Cristhiam Aizprua emphasized the system’s expansion and the growing involvement of local communities and forest sector actors. “This system enhances our ability to manage forests sustainably while ensuring legality and accountability,” he noted.

Representing ITTO at the PSC meeting, Director of Trade and Industry Mohammed Nurudeen Iddrisu praised Panama’s leadership and the inter-institutional collaboration driving the project. “It is inspiring to see how this project integrates technology, conservation, and sustainable development with a clear vision and responsible execution,” he said. “Forest traceability not only combats illegal logging but also empowers Indigenous communities, enabling them to responsibly and profitably manage their natural resources.”

Mr Espinosa Peña added that the STCF is transforming forest governance in Panama. “This technological tool allows for real-time monitoring of every stage of the forestry process, from permit issuance to timber transport and marketing, ensuring legality and transparency across the entire value chain.”

The project aligns with Panama’s broader national strategies to strengthen forest governance, foster inclusive community participation, and promote responsible timber trade as a means to conserve the country’s rich forest resources. It also supports Panama’s commitments to international environmental agreements, including those related to climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and the protection of Indigenous rights.

ITTO Executive Director Sheam Satkuru congratulated the National Forest Director Carlos Espinosa Peña (who is also the Chairperson of the International Tropical Timber Council 61st Session 2025) and the Panamanian government on its impressive achievements and expressed her appreciation for the honor. “As the STCF continues to expand and gain momentum nationwide, it stands as a powerful example of how digital innovation and stakeholder collaboration can drive sustainable forest management and community development in tropical forest countries. May this serve as an inspiration for other ITTO members to see technology as a key ally in advancing sustainable forest management across the tropics,” she said.