Reforesting in Azuero

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The reforestations At the Azuero Earth Project, we specifically seek out hard-to-access areas for our reforestation projects, reforesting on steep slopes and marginal lands distant from roads and close to streams. These areas are often unsuitable for other uses but are very important for protecting watersheds and wildlife. Starting from as early as 7 am until 1 pm, many of the reforestations were undertaken under difficult conditions such as difficult access both regarding distance and significant obstacles, heavy rains, slippery ground, slopes and streams. These were some of the few challenges we encountered during this gratifying task for the preservation of the forest of the peninsula of Azuero.

A GREENER, MORE ALIVE AZUEROBefore the start of the reforestation season, a workshop was organized on March 21st in the AEP office and the ATP/CEFATI building to dialogue among key actors for successful implementation of this initiative. This workshop had the goal of clarifying questions about the 2016 forestry incentives law and Alliance for a Million Hectares, which was created to support potential reforesters with economic incentives. A panel of producers that had reforested with the Azuero Earth Project in 2017 discussed their experiences. Finally, the participants explored different techniques to establish forest conservation parcels on farms and met key reforestation actors such as farming associations, tree growers and other reforesters.

The results Until this moment in 2018, we have planted approx. 1644 seedlings in the areas of Nuario, Venao and Bajo Corral. In doing so, we have benefitted 6 farmers in the area, preserved the ecosystems of unique species in Azuero like the spider monkey of Azuero (Ateles geoffroyi azuerensis), conserved the river basins, mitigated climate change, ensured productive sustainability, and diversified the production of the farms in the future with delicious fruits and other products stemming from the trees. [caption id="attachment_17261" align="aligncenter" width="394"]

Our support All of the reforestations were only possible thanks to the effort and the enthusiasm of diverse entities and institutions such as: Soyuz Bilingual School, Colegio María Manuel Tejada Roca, C.A.D.I Bilingual Academy, Peace Corps Panama ( Cuerpo de Paz ), MEDUCA Herrera, ATP, Colegio Plinio Moscoso, the municipality of Pedasí, Restaurant La Maestra, U.P.M.A. Tonosí, Manada de Capitanes Las Minas, volunteers and the communities of each of the different areas we have reforested. We thank Prince Bernhard Nature Fund, Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund and American Forests for their financial support of this project.

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