The United States Embassy donated a wooden identification system (Xylo Trons) to the Panamanian Government to help combat illegal logging and associated trade, and complete the efforts of the Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) to achieve the traceability of wood.

The United States Embassy donated a wooden identification system (Xylo Trons) to the Panamanian Government to help combat illegal logging and associated trade, and complete the efforts of the Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) to achieve the traceability of wood. The donation is part of more than $1.2 million in assistance from that country to Panama since 2012 under the Environmental Cooperation Agreement between the United States and Panama (ACA).

In addition, the United States will donate equipment to monitor air quality to support Panama in its efforts to create an air quality management program.

One of the most desired species for wood traffickers in Asia is cocobolo, also called Latin American ivory, a product that is acquired by prohibitive figures given the natural characteristics of wood. Recently, the authorities seized more than 200 tucas of cocobolo in the yard of a repeat company. In the operation they found a container ready to be transferred to the port for export.

Identifying the time in which the felling of the cocobolo occurred is one of the most recurrent obstacles for the Environment Prosecutor’s Office when it comes to judicializing traffic, because this wood has the peculiarity of being kept in good condition in spaces with controlled humidity.

The U.S.S. Senior The United States and the Ministry of Environment of Panama.