Reforestation

Walking through the forest in Panama is a magical experience. The songs and sounds of monkeys, birds, frogs, and insects melt into a wonderful serenade as you walk through the tall trees in the shade of the forest. The closer you look, the more you see: a colony of army ants marching across the trail, beautiful Heliconia flowers visited by hummingbirds that look like flying jewels, a troop of spider monkeys in the canopy above.

But Panama's forests are rapidly disappearing, endangering many species - including us.

As Panama's communities develop, the forests seem like an attractive source of resources or as an obstacle to be cleared for construction. Even protected areas, where forests cannot be legally cleared, have been degraded by the invasion of exotic species and illegal activities.

The Alianza por El Millón, a group of private and public organizations, was created to combat this loss of forests by restoring a million hectares (2.5 million acres) of forest over the next 20 years to protect Panama's forests, contribute to carbon sequestration, establish Panama as a low-carbon country and generate the additional benefits to society, the environment, and the economy related to healthy forests.

As a dedicated member of this initiative, ADOPTA focuses on education and active reforestation in degraded areas in Camino de Cruces National Park, the Cerro Chucantí Private Nature Reserve, the community of La Marea, and other sites throughout Panama.

Deforestation in Panama

Panama's forests are disappearing due to logging and agriculture, but these activities are vital to the local economy. Is there a way to balance the needs of people and the environment?

Deforestation in Panama

Panama's forests are disappearing due to logging and agriculture, but these activities are vital to the local economy. Is there a way to balance the needs of people and the environment?

Our Approach

It takes a lot of work before a planting event: plants need to be sourced and taken care of, sites need to be cleared of exotic species and prepared for volunteers... and even when the planting is done, the sites have to be maintained to ensure that the new trees can grow safely.

Natural Regeneration

Many believe that forests don't need any help to regrow, "just leave them alone and they'll be fine". However, the plants don't do all of the work by themselves. Forests have their own helpers - and they may be our most important partners in this project!

Natural Regeneration

Many believe that forests don't need any help to regrow, "just leave them alone and they'll be fine". However, the plants don't do all of the work by themselves. Forests have their own helpers - and they may be our most important partners in this project!

Acknowledgements

In addition to the organizations below, we want to give a special thanks to all of the volunteers who have prepared and planted trees for this project. ¡Gracias!