Panama has some of the most incredible forested land. That said, a lot of land was cleared hundreds of years ago to make way for pastures and cattle raising. Some areas were left barren and it changed the climate to such an extent that deserts were formed. Reforestation and responsible forestry practices could change a lot of that.
The activity involves large upfront investments with long-term gains, which requires tax incentives and direct government support.
Capital.com.pa reports: “A recent study by the United States Agency for Cooperation (USAID) (…), said that in a scenario in which there was intervention in only 200 thousand of the 2 million hectares of degraded land in the country, at 10,000 hectare per year and for a period of 20 years a cumulative investment of less than $3.065 million would be needed. ” However, the lack of laws to encourage investment in reforestation projects prevents the development of the country’s full potential.
If only 200,000 hectares were reforested, the State would receive revenues of $1.164 billion in 20 years, thanks to the taxes from companies engaged in the activity. It is estimated that when the time frame begins for taking advantage of these reforested areas, from year 20 to year 40, exports of forest products will rise to $656 million a year, 2852.2% more than the $23 million that is currently exported .
According to Marisa Vallarino, president of the National Association of Panama Reforestation and Related Companies (Anarap) in order to realize this economic, social and environmental potential, the State must be a partner to a self-sustaining forestry industry, as has happened in other countries in the region such as Chile, Colombia, Guatemala and Ecuador.
Vallarino added that the lack of incentives has meant that there is little interest from banks in supporting reforestation projects, who consider that it is an investment in which economic benefits can only be seen in the very long term.
Source: Capital.com.pa
Hello,
“FORESTRY” HA, that’s a oxymoron for just rape the forest under the guise of forest conservation! I get your “The Panama Perspective” emails regularly. I thought your most recent one about the 737 landing in David very telling. I have owned property in Panama for over 10 years, so I’m not speaking from lack of knowledge in the area. Woohoo, 737 lands in David, let the developers start salivating more! Why do , do people, not just americans, move to a place of natural beauty and then want it to become just like the place they just ran away from?! Let’s take a place that still has somewhat pristine rain forest and coastlines and fuck them up like everywhere else, to make a buck? I know greed is very important to this species but if you’ve moved to a place because you love the things about it… LEAVE IT ALONE! Make your money some other way, than changing the place that you moved to, because of the beauty of the place. Progress does not mean developing and Americanizing everything we touch. And that’s just two cents from someone who has been traveling to Central America for over 30 years.