The Government and the private sector have signed an agreement to promote commercial reforestation, restoration of forest-culture and sustainable forest management.

In order to promote the commercial development of forestry and plant a million hectares in twenty years and fulfill the goal of the National Forestry Plan, an agreement between forestry companies and the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture has been signed.

“…According to data from Ancon in Panama, more than 65% of natural forest area has been lost, an area which to date has not been able to control deforestation rates which are over 20,000 hectares a year.”

Capital.com.pa noticed that “…In the past 20 years, after the creation of the law on incentives for reforestation, 540,000 hectares of forest have been lost and it is estimated that the amount of degraded land adds up cumulatively to 2 million hectares. Up until 2009 barely 75,000 hectares has been generated, corresponding to only 14% of what was destroyed. ”

Source: Capital.com.pa

Editors Note:

There are a number of companies such as Panama Teak Forestry that are FSC certified that have been working in reforestation and sustainable forestry management in Panama.   With the support of the government these companies have helped to stop the illegal deforestation and bring Panama’s Forestry industry to both sustainable and economically productive levels.   Hopefully the government will follow thorough and take some action against the pirate logging operations in Panama and support the legitimate companies that are bringing ecologically beneficial sustainable practices to the timber industry in Panama.  As with our fishery here in Panama rules and laws are great but rarely enforced.