When a mangrove disappears, so do the stories that live within it, because there is knowledge that is not learned in a classroom; it is learned by walking among the water and the roots, observing the tides, and listening to the elders.

This is a story rooted in legacy; the Bernal family is a family from Chiriquí whose lives have been deeply intertwined with David’s Mangroves. Today, three generations are linked to the mangrove through the tradition of shell collecting.

This craft carries with it memories and also an identity that defines an entire family who declare their intention to continue the legacy of their grandmother: «We would like to continue this tradition because we learned from my grandmother. Just as she learned from her grandparents, we learned from her.» 

Knowledge that is inherited

For many families in Chiriquí, the mangrove forest isn’t just a landscape; it’s part of their family history. From a young age, the Bernal sisters accompanied their grandmother to the mangroves to learn how to collect shellfish. «They took us to the island when we were very little, and thanks to her, we know how to pick up shellfish.»

What seems like an everyday gesture represents tradition, culture and a relationship with the territory built over generations where mangroves are the ecosystem that allows the preservation of life forms.

Sustenance comes from the mangrove

There is a reality shared by numerous coastal communities in Panama: «We find our livelihood in the mangroves, because if we don’t go to collect shellfish, we don’t have a salary, a means of support.» For those who live alongside the mangroves, this ecosystem not only protects biodiversity but also sustains family economies.

The report  Climatic and Ecological Value of Threatened Mangroves in the Province of Chiriquí, PanamaThis relationship is confirmed, highlighting David’s mangroves as they support commercial fisheries and contribute directly to the food security of local communities. Covering approximately 79,686 hectares and representing approximately 25% of all mangroves in Panama,

David’s Mangroves are much more than trees

The human value these ecosystems hold sustains knowledge, skills, and practices that can hardly be recovered once they disappear. When an ecosystem is lost, part of the collective memory of those who have lived in it for generations is also lost.

Science confirms what communities have long known: with intact mangroves, the number of people exposed to flooding decreases significantly. According to the report «Climatic and Ecological Value of Threatened Mangroves in the Province of Chiriquí, Panama,» without this ecosystem, up to 590 people could be affected by flooding. With the mangrove preserved, that number is reduced to 41 people.

Puerto Barú and a decision about the future

While David’s Mangroves, the project continues to be recognized for its enormous ecological and social value. Puerto Barú leaves open questions about the possible impacts that an intervention of this magnitude could have on this ecosystem.

This is just one story; the Bernal family’s story could be that of many other families who have found their home and way of life in the mangroves. Every lesson shared between grandparents, parents, and grandchildren is part of a heritage that doesn’t appear on maps, but that sustains entire communities.

Because protecting mangroves also means protecting those who have learned to live alongside them. What happens next depends on us.

#DefendTheMangroves