In Brief
Conservation Value:
Wounaan Indigenous territories harbour intact forest and species already extirpated outside this region. They lie within the Majé Mountain range, which extends 60 km and has some of the highest biodiversity in the world, from its mountain tops to the Pacific coast. The landscape is the winter home to at least 65 Neotropical migratory bird species, including the Prothonotary and Canada warblers and support globally threatened species such as the Great Green Macaw, Harpy Eagle and Great Curassow. Research in the eastern-most highland of the range, the Chucantí Reserve (established with support from ICFC), indicate a high level of endemism and has uncovered new species, including: a staghorn beetle, a lungless salamander, a centipede snake, Anthurium (a plant), a Heliconia plant, a Pierid butterfly, a climbing rat and a beetle.
Threats:
Outside Wounaan territories, forests are being logged and cleared for cattle ranching and farming at one of the highest rates in Panama and there has been widespreaddestruction of coastal mangroves. With access from the Pan American Highway, settlers have cleared 40% of the land in eastern Panama. The remaining forest - starkly seen from satellite imagery – is found in national parks and Indigenous territories, including Indigenous territories still without legal recognition like Rio Hondo, Platanares and Majé.
Actions & Results:
This project is helping the Wounaan establish and protect their boundaries using satellite analysis, drone surveys, community-based monitors and signage, while they work to gain legal title to their lands. Work plan info is outlined in the In Depth section below.
Location:
Eastern Panama from the Pacific ridge of the Majé Mountains (1,432 m elevation) down to the mangrove forests of the Panama Bay Wildlife Refuge (Refugio de Vida Silvestre Humedal Bahía de Panamá).
Goal:
To conserve species and habitats within the forested and riparian habitats of three Wounaan Indigenous territories totalling 22,326 hectares.
Project Field Partner:
Cost:
2022 budget (ICFC portion): US $55,002
Since 2021: US $84,262
Size of Area Involved:
22,326 hectares (223 km2)
Gallery
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In More Depth...
Territorial Monitoring and Enforcement:
- Employ next generation technology and support community-based monitors and local authorities to defend their territories from encroachment, deforestation and degradation.
- Wounaan territorial alerts, map updating and coordination with community-based monitors.
- Community-based monitoring in 3 communities
- The purchase of drones, trap cameras, telecommunications and other equipment that will enable faster and Covid-19-safe gathering of evidence to substantiate legal complaints.
- Shepherding legal complaints by Wounaan authorities and lawyer.
- Putting in place permanent boundary demarcation (cairns and signs).
Community Ecotourism and Conservation Agreement:
- Align conservation and ecotourism development; outline benefit sharing agreements and natural asset protection.
- Conduct up to 6 workshops in Rio Hondo and Platanares to develop community agreements on plan future bird conservation and ecotourism.
- Complete legal review of the community agreements.
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