The debate about Puerto Barú in Chiriquí it is no longer just a topic of discussion in Panama; it also appears in international human rights reports, United Nations declarations, UNESCO warnings, and political debates related to the protection of David’s Mangroves, one of the most important ecosystems for biodiversity and climate resilience in Panama.

As the conflict escalates, so does concern about why a port project becomes an international discussion about human rights, environmental democracy, and ecosystem protection.

Panama among the most dangerous countries to report corporate abuses

The report Navigating a global crossroads: human rights defenders and businesses in 2025, The Center for Business and Human Rights (Centro EDH) placed Panama within the TOP 10 of countries with the most attacks against human rights defenders who reported abuses related to companies.

The report specifically mentions the case of legal actions against Panamanian environmental organizations such as CIAM and Adopta Bosque in the context of the conflict over Puerto Barú. The alert is especially serious considering that Latin America and the Caribbean accounted for 42% of the attacks recorded against environmental defenders globally.

The UN expresses concern about the Puerto Barú case

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, expressed concern about legal actions targeting environmental organizations in Panama. The focus is not only on the lawsuits themselves, but also on the potential impact of these processes on citizen participation, civic space, and the right of communities to challenge projects with potential environmental consequences.Environmental Impacts for Panama.

UNESCO focuses attention on Puerto Barú and Coiba

The debate about Puerto Barú in Chiriquí it also reached UNESCO, the organization requested a review of the project’s Environmental Impact Study to assess possible impacts on Coiba National Park, declared a World Heritage Site since 2005.

The discussion is no longer limited to port infrastructure or private investment; it now also involves marine biodiversity, global natural heritage, and the protection of ecosystems that are strategic for the Marine Conservation of Panama and the Biodiversity of the Gulf of Chiriquí.

The Puerto Barú case reaches the international press

Legal actions against environmental organizations and warnings about potential environmental impacts also began appearing in international media. The case began to be interpreted as part of a global trend of increased pressure, criminalization, and lawsuits against communities and organizations that question projects with high environmental impact.

There is growing international concern about how the use of lawsuits, economic measures, and disinformation campaigns can weaken public participation and limit democratic debate on environmental projects.

The debate enters the National Assembly

The discussion also reached the Panamanian political debate where Deputy Janine Prado Castaño raised her voice in the National Assembly recalling the warning made by UNESCO and mentioning the risks that the Puerto Barú project could represent for the David Mangroves.

Puerto BarúIt became a symbol of a much deeper discussion about development, human rights, environmental protection, and the future of coastal ecosystems in Panama.

Defending mangroves has consequences

Meanwhile, international organizations continue to express solidarity with Panamanian environmental organizations. The Greater Caribbean Fossil Free Network published a statement supporting CIAM and Adopta Bosque in the face of lawsuits and measures such as the seizure of accounts and land.

Human rights defenders play an essential role in any democracy; they identify risks, denounce abuses, and often warn of environmental impacts before irreversible damage occurs.

The Mangroves of Panama, the marine ecosystems and biodiversity of the Gulf of Chiriquí not only support species, but also communities, coastal protection, and ways of life linked to the economy of Chiriquí and to climate resilience.

The Puerto Barú case has become an international conversation about mangroves, environmental democracy, human rights, and the protection of ecosystems that are strategic for Panama and the planet. As the debate continues to grow, so does international attention to what happens next. because some ecosystems are too important to disappear in silence.