Reforesters and nursery owners from communities of the Panama Canal Watershed trained in the identification of native forest species seedbed trees
Panama City , Panama. June 16, 2009:-Members of eight communities of the Panama Canal Watershed were trained in the identification and harvesting of native forest species seeds with USAID support. Forty two persons exchanged experiences on conservation technologies and reproduction of native forest species and carried out a field practice through the Chagres National Park to learn to identify important forest trees, seed production seasons, and other important biological aspects for conservation.
Community Green Nursery Network presents their strategic commercial alliances with reforestation companies
Panama City , Panama. June 8, 2009:-The Community Green Nursery Network and the reforestation companies Panamá Forest Services, Forest Finance, and the BARCA group, made a public presentation of their joint work agreements to promote the reforestation using native forest species in the Panama Canal Watershed and in other regions of the country. The Community Green Nursery Network project received technical support from USAID which allowed them make technological and organizational advancements in the production of plants and in their businesses.
USAID and ANAM present results of the 2005-2009 Environmental Justice Program
Panama City , Panama. June 2, 2009:-USAID, together with the National Environment Authority (ANAM), presented the results of the USAID-ANAM 2005-2009 Environmental Justice Program. The event was co-chaired by the President of the Supreme Court, the Minister of the National Environmental Authority, the General Secretary of the Attorney General’s Office, and myself. Members of NGOs, law professionals, public servants, and citizens interested in environmental justice, attended the event. The actions of the environmental justice program carried out by USAID in support of ANAM facilitated the creation of legal, normative, informative, and management instruments that enable environmental legal proceedings to be administered in an efficient, transparent, and accountable manner.
Comfort Mission and USAID build dock and rural aqueduct for indigenous communities of the Panama Canal Watershed
Ella Drua Community, Panama Canal Waterhsed Area. June 2, 2009:-Members of the USNS Comfort and USAID worked jointly with the Ella Drúa and Emberá Querá indigenous communities to complete the construction of a dock on the Gatún river and an aqueduct for the residents of Ella Drúa. Both projects will help increase tourism in the area. Eighty members of the crew of the Comfort, eighty members of the indigenous communities, and technical staff of the USAID Conservation of Biodiversity in the Panama Canal Watershed project worked as a team to construct the infrastructure. USAID supports the Ella Drúa and Emberá Querá communities to develop eco-tourism services that promote biodiversity conservation and generate income that helps improve of quality of life of the participant family groups
Community of Ella Drúa Improves Trails to Attract More Tourists
Ella Drua Community, Panama Canal Waterhsed Area. May 29, 2009:-As part of its ecotourism program, the Ella Drúa indigenous community made improvements to the trails located in their settlement to attract more visitors to their community. The trail improvements make the area more secure and scenic. The improved trail starts at the river’s edge and leads to a waterfall whose waters converge with the Río Gatún. These indigenous communities have completed deals with three major tourist operators in the country and the prospects of a better future have motivated the whole community to improve the services and attractions in the area. USAID has been supporting this community to develop sustainable tourism while conserving the biodiversity and natural resources of this area
USAID trains civil society to strengthen its role in environmental supervision processes
Panama City, Panama . May 19, 2009:-USAID and Panama’s National Environmental Authority (ANAM) organized a four-hour seminar to provide information and discuss the tools available for civil society to contribute to environmental supervision and oversight of projects. The objective is to avoid civil society hampering administrative cases presented by ANAM due to lack of knowledge on the process. This initiative is part of USAID’s efforts to strengthen civil society participation in environmental stewardship
USAID trains farmers in good practices for displaying agricultural products
Salamanca, Panama Canal Watershed Area- May 12, 2009:-USAID, in coordination with the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) and the Agricultural Marketing Institute (IMA), organized a workshop on good practices for the display of agricultural products on shelves for 20 farmers. The 20 farmers attending the workshop are beneficiaries of the Promotion of Good Agricultural Practices project, and have participated in the Salamanca agricultural fairs and have organized local alternative markets.
Soberania National Park improves its management information system
Soberania National Park , Panama-May 12, 2009- Thanks to the support provided by USAID to the National Environmental Authority (ANAM), Soberania National Park has internet connection. This initiative is part of the Management Information System program which aims to support the systematization of information in Soberania and Chagres National Parks, so that the park management and ANAM, a well as external users, can have access to the park's statistics and strategic information. The system also allows park personnel to improve their relationship with visitors and tour operators, and submit their reports online in a more systematic manner. USAID provided software and infrastructure to establish the internet connection, including an antenna to capture the satellite signal. The Management Information System is part of the set of USAID strategies to improve the management of protected areas in the Panama Canal Watershed, so as to promote the sustainability of these and to protect ecosystems of great biological and scenic value for Panama.
USAID delivered 2009-2014 Environmental Agenda to the Alliance for the Environment of Panama
Panama City, Panama . May 5, 2009-USAID delivered the 2009-2014 National Environmental Agenda to the Strategic Alliance for the Environment of Panama, an association of diverse organizations dedicated to the protection of the environment, and advocacy of environmental issues. The document presents an environmental agenda based on priority environmental issues defined by the Alliance. The Agenda’s action plan focuses on four integrated central themes: Environmental Governance, Society and Sustainable Communities, Biodiversity as Key Factor for Competitiveness, and Environmentally Sustainable Economy. The Environmental Agenda was developed using a highly participatory process led by the Alliance and supported by USAID who provided technical assistance. The Environmental Agenda will now be presented by the Alliance to key policy stakeholders and decision makers, including the new administration elected on May 3, 2009
USAID/Panama, representatives of indigenous communities of Rio Gatún, and the Director of the Chagres National Park, visit water bottling plant in Cerro Azul
Cerro Azul -Panama . April 30 , 2009. USAID/Panama, representatives of indigenous communities of Rio Gatún, and the Director of the Chagres National Park, visit water bottling plant in Cerro Azul: At the invitation of the Panama Blue Bottling Company, General Manager Jaime Ortiz, the USAID Mission Director in Panama visited the plant located in Cerro Azul in the Chagres National Park buffer zone. As part of the visit, the participants discussed ways in which all parties could cooperate on future conservation activities for the Chagres National Park and support economic development initiatives with Emberá Querá and Ella Drua communities. During the visit, Panama Blue expressed their interest in receiving USAID support for a longer term alliance to collect all the revenues from the recycled bottles in Panama and the U.S. for direct investments to protect the Chagres National Park.
of native forest species seeds with USAID support. Forty two persons exchanged experiences on conservation technologies and reproduction of native forest species and carried out a field practice through the Chagres National Park to learn to identify important forest trees, seed production seasons, and other important biological aspects for conservation. .JPG)
s, Forest Finance, and the BARCA group, made a public presentation of their joint work agreements to promote the reforestation using native forest species in the Panama Canal Watershed and in other regions of the country. The Community Green Nursery Network project received technical support from USAID which allowed them make technological and organizational advancements in the production of plants and in their businesses. 
tional Environmental Authority, the General Secretary of the Attorney General’s Office, and myself. Members of NGOs, law professionals, public servants, and citizens interested in environmental justice, attended the event. The actions of the environmental justice program carried out by USAID in support of ANAM facilitated the creation of legal, normative, informative, and management instruments that enable environmental legal proceedings to be administered in an efficient, transparent, and accountable manner..JPG)
for the residents of Ella Drúa. Both projects will help increase tourism in the area. Eighty members of the crew of the Comfort, eighty members of the indigenous communities, and technical staff of the USAID Conservation of Biodiversity in the Panama Canal Watershed project worked as a team to construct the infrastructure. USAID supports the Ella Drúa and Emberá Querá communities to develop eco-tourism services that promote biodiversity conservation and generate income that helps improve of quality of life of the participant family groups 
s located in their settlement to attract more visitors to their community. The trail improvements make the area more secure and scenic. The improved trail starts at the river’s edge and leads to a waterfall whose waters converge with the Río Gatún. These indigenous communities have completed deals with three major tourist operators in the country and the prospects of a better future have motivated the whole community to improve the services and attractions in the area. USAID has been supporting this community to develop sustainable tourism while conserving the biodiversity and natural resources of this area
-USAID, in coordination with the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) and the Agricultural Marketing Institute (IMA), organized a workshop on good practices for the display of agricultural products on shelves for 20 farmers. The 20 farmers attending the workshop are beneficiaries of the Promotion of Good Agricultural Practices project, and have participated in the Salamanca agricultural fairs and have organized local alternative markets.
well as external users, can have access to the park's statistics and strategic information. The system also allows park personnel to improve their relationship with visitors and tour operators, and submit their reports online in a more systematic manner. USAID provided software and infrastructure to establish the internet connection, including an antenna to capture the satellite signal. The Management Information System is part of the set of USAID strategies to improve the management of protected areas in the Panama Canal Watershed, so as to promote the sustainability of these and to protect ecosystems of great biological and scenic value for Panama. 
nt of Panama, an association of diverse organizations dedicated to the protection of the environment, and advocacy of environmental issues. The document presents an environmental agenda based on priority environmental issues defined by the Alliance. The Agenda’s action plan focuses on four integrated central themes: Environmental Governance, Society and Sustainable Communities, Biodiversity as Key Factor for Competitiveness, and Environmentally Sustainable Economy. The Environmental Agenda was developed using a highly participatory process led by the Alliance and supported by USAID who provided technical assistance. The Environmental Agenda will now be presented by the Alliance to key policy stakeholders and decision makers, including the new administration elected on May 3, 2009 
e conservation activities for the Chagres National Park and support economic development initiatives with Emberá Querá and Ella Drua communities. During the visit, Panama Blue expressed their interest in receiving USAID support for a longer term alliance to collect all the revenues from the recycled bottles in Panama and the U.S. for direct investments to protect the Chagres National Park.