Project/activity information

The aim of this project proposal is to follow up on one of the outputs achieved by ITTO-funded project TFL-PD 044/13 Rev.2 (M) "Strengthening the management capacity of the Ministry of Environment (formerly ANAM) to reduce illegal logging and trade in the Eastern Region of Panama (Bayano and Darien) through monitoring and control mechanisms", which involved the design and validation of a Forest Traceabitliy and Monitoring System (STCF), later adopted through a regulation of the Ministry of the Environment of Panama (MiAmbiente) as a tool to strengthen the responsible management of timber flows from the forest along the various links in the production chain, with a view to its gradual implementation throughout the country.

Thus, the main purpose of this proposal is to stop forest degradation from illegal logging and trade by extending the coverage of the Forest Traceability and Monitoring System to the entire national territory.

Outcomes expected to be achieved at the macro level through the implementation of the proposed project are:

• A robust, nationwide Forest Traceability and Monitoring System applied along all the links of the timber production and marketing chain,


• A new Scheme of Simplified Management Plans, implemented for small forest areas, including evaluation protocols,


• A Tracking and Monitoring Program in place to ensure compliance with forest management plans, including a Forest Information Subsystem articulated with the Forest Traceability and Monitoring System,


• A strengthened Legal Timber Network, acting as a mechanism to raise awareness about sustainable forest management and responsible trade and business.

 The success of this project will depend to a great extent on its implementation strategy, which is based on the active participation of all stakeholders in the production chain, as well as the establishment of partnerships with communication media, in order to ensure that everyone contributes to the achievement of results, including raising awareness among a greater number of stakeholders at the national level regarding the importance of forest management and traceability in the development of responsible businesses, which will contribute to the control of forest illegality and to forest conservation

Panama’s Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) is proposed as the executing agency of this project, mostly because of the experience it has already gained during the development and implementation of the Forest Traceability and Monitoring System under the previous project. In addition, by being the executing agency, MiAmbiente will be in a favourable position to readily adopt the tools developed by the project, while at the same time strengthening its internal capacities.