The health of mangroves depends directly on water quality. When the seabed is disturbed, the consequences are real:

Vulnerable ecosystems
Sediment removal clouds the water, damages mangrove roots, and weakens their ability to regenerate, endangering the species that are born and grow there.
Compromised water quality
Dredging and pollution reduce oxygen levels, disrupt natural flows, and accelerate the deterioration of one of the country’s most productive ecosystems.
Irreversible impact
A degraded mangrove means less biodiversity, less coastal protection, and a more fragile future in the face of climate change.

According to the independent technical report by Lynker (2024), dredging would require the removal of more than 9 million cubic meters of sediment, generating dispersal plumes that could extend for several kilometers and reduce the mangroves’ capacity to protect the coast from erosion. Furthermore, Puerto Barú has a depth of only a few meters at low tide, which implies continuous and costly dredging to allow the passage of medium-sized vessels.

The warnings are significant: “Dredging activities in the navigation channel will have detrimental effects on the mangrove ecosystem due to sedimentation, changes in salinity, and disruption of ecological connectivity” (Lynker, p. 6). It also points out that the dispersal model used by the project proponents “did not follow best scientific practices,” which calls into question the validity of its environmental conclusions (p. 7).

Puerto Armuelles, on the other hand, already has naturally deep waters, which “would eliminate the need for costly capital and maintenance dredging” (Lynker, 2025, Executive Summary, p. 1) and reduce risks to sensitive ecosystems.

Panama needs development, but not at any cost.

True progress protects nature instead of sacrificing it.

Raise your voice for responsible development, share, inform, and defend the mangroves of David, Chiriquí.