Project/activity information

Mangrove forests in Panama account for approximately 5.6 % of the natural forest cover, i.e. some 170,000 hectares, the majority of which are located along the Pacific Coast. These mangrove forests are being subjected to constant pressures that lead to their degradation and destruction, mainly from aquaculture, agriculture and cattle raising as well as forest product harvesting. The proposal builds on the results of the project PD 128/91 Rev.2 (F) “Management, Conservation and Development of the Mangrove Forests in Panama”.

The project aims to ensure the collective conservation and sustainable management of 4,000 hectares of mangrove forests along the Panamanian Pacific Coast and to implement rehabilitation activities on 1,250 hectares of degraded lands to maintain the contribution of this ecosystem to the welfare of the Panamanian society, particularly the communities that directly depend on these natural resources. Major components include mangrove management, rehabilitation and extension and reforestation with other timber species.

The expected outputs may be described as follows:

- 4000 hectares of mangrove forests under sustainable management including a harvesting system based on a management plan;
- Mangrove-dependent communities trained and using sustainable management and harvesting techniques for mangroves;
- 1,300,000 seedlings of mangrove and other multiple-use forest species produced by community nurseries;
- 600 hectares of mangrove forests rehabilitated through enrichment planting and reforestation with mangrove species; and
- 650 hectares of degraded forestlands allocated to agroforestry and reforestation with multiple-use forest species.