ENVIRONMENT: The reality of climate change in Panama

The effects of climate change is a reality in Panama and a report prepared by the Ministry of the Environment identifies  the areas of greatest vulnerability are the province of Bocas del Toro, the Ngäbe Buglé region, the north of Veraguas, the southwest of Darién, and the Guna Yala region.

Also on the list are the south and east coast of the province of Los Santos, the eastern coast of Herrera, the Gulf of Montijo in Veraguas, the south coast of Coclé, the south coast of the province of Panama, and some townships of Chiriquí.

It is specified that Bocas del Toro, the Ngäbe Buglé region, Panama, Guna Yala, and Darién present “high exposure” conditions due to a higher frequency of floods.

Logging in reserves
The report also qualifies as a “sensitive area” the border between Bocas del Toro and Chiriquí, since it has one of the most important protected areas, such as La Amistad International Park, which has a certain degree of deforestation.

The north of Coclé, Veraguas, and the west of the province of Colón, has a valuable percentage of the protected area, but deforestation is gaining momentum.

Likewise, reference is made to the loss of forest cover of other ecological reserves, such as the Chagres National Park, in the canal basin, Coiba in Veraguas, the wild area in Narganá de Guna Yala, Darién and the Emberá region.

For ecologists, in the case of Panama, it is vital to conserve forest cover since tropical forests are home to most of the planet’s biodiversity and where adaptation strategies against global warming must give top priority, to ensure the land and water.

A setback
This week, organizations such as the Center for Environmental Advocacy and the Alliance for Conservation and Development described Executive Decree 141 of October 26, as a “setback”, through which land use certifications in protected areas will be granted. —To those who prove they were there before being declared a reserve—, considering that it will accelerate the destruction of the country’s ecological reserves.

“The modern international trend entails an expansion of the coverage and standards of environmental protection, however, here we are in the presence of a not very encouraging scenario in the face of these regressions with the new regulations,” said Susana Serracín, of the Alliance for Conservation and the development.

One of the aspects raised by the study is that the regions with the greatest poverty have a “reduced” capacity to respond to the adverse effects of the climate.