Estimation of water replenishment to nature in forest cover within the Panama Canal watershed
Estimation of water replenishment to nature in forest cover within the Panama Canal watershed
The water replenishment project for nature through the recognition of ecosystem services in forest protection and natural, assisted regeneration, and good practices schemes (2023-2026) aims to balance the water use resulting from productive activities in a watershed through conservation and landscape restoration actions that translate into m³ of water infiltrated per hectare per year. FUNDECOR, together with Coca-Cola FEMSA Panama, have implemented this pilot project since 2023 with a total of 404 ha under forest protection and natural, assisted regeneration, and good practices schemes. The farm owners who protected their forests committed to maintaining the forest cover for a period of four years.
The protected forest cover significantly reduced the erosion and surface runoff processes that would have occurred during rainfall. Under this forest protection scheme, the landowner received annual remuneration per property. The protection efforts translated into constant water infiltration due to the effect of avoided deforestation, which would have been higher than the infiltration that would occur under alternative land use such as agriculture and livestock; consequently, a greater quantity of water is secured for productive processes. FUNDECOR, for its part, provided technical advice and support throughout the process so that the protection activity would generate the highest returns.
possible environmental benefits, without disturbing the integrity of the ecosystem and the landscape. The owners of the farms who committed to letting degraded lands or those that were used for grazing recover naturally over a four-year period assumed the commitment that natural succession would advance to states close to secondary forest.
This activity allowed for increasing infiltration processes, decreasing surface runoff, and minimizing erosion and the transport of materials into surface water sources, thereby contributing to the integrated management of the landscape and the surrounding ecosystems.
Panama
Panama Canal Watershed: Chagres and Gatuncillo Rivers
Partners:
Coca Cola FEMSA
Project progress:
Start: 2023
Ongoing
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