With the slogan «when one is attacked, all are attacked,» civil society organizations announced to the media that the promoter of the Puerto Barú project, the US investment company Ocean Pacific Financial Services, initiated a civil process to request the preventive seizure of accounts and assets of Adopta Bosque Panamá and Centro de Incidencia Ambiental (CIAM).

This action by the promoters of Puerto Barú is a preventive measure not a sentence or a sanction, which immobilizes resources for a possible future claim blocking the basic functioning of organizations affecting the payment of salaries, labor funds and the resources needed to sustain the free legal defense they provide to communities and ecosystems at risk, as well as jeopardizing the management of protected lands intended for conservation, education and scientific research.

This is a critical moment for the defense of Panama’s natural heritage; it is the first time that such a measure has been used against organizations in the country, raising a red flag about freedom of expression and citizen participation in matters of public interest.

When defending is an emergency

Today’s press conference comes at a crucial moment; these recent legal actions against environmental organizations have raised concerns about the use of judicial mechanisms to discourage citizen participation and informed public debate.

Far from weakening civil society, these events reinforce a shared conviction: Protecting natural heritage is a collective responsibility about thework of the organizations Lilian Guevara Director CIAM comments that “It’s not about individual well-being; all the work we do in our organizations is aimed at the community,” in addition to beinga necessary condition for a country that aspires to lead in sustainability and environmental governance.

The message is clear: the right to express opinions, investigate, and raise awareness about potential environmental impacts is part of everyone’s right to participate in matters of public interest. As Joana Abrego states Legal Manager of the Centro de Incidencia Ambiental (CIAM) “We have the right to defend ourselves, to defend the environment and to defend democratic freedoms. The freedom to denounce any abuse.”

Progress that cares, development that listens

The organizations Centro de Incidencia Ambiental  (CIAM) and Adopta Bosque Panamá are part of a movement from more than 60 national and international organizations, which have been consistent in their position: They are not opposed to development but rather promote a well-located, technically and environmentally responsible development.

The defense of the David Mangroves responds precisely to that vision of the future. Mangroves are not an obstacle to progress; they are natural infrastructure. They support artisanal fishing, nature tourism, biodiversity and climate resilience of coastal communities.

Protecting them is a smart decision from an environmental, social, and economic point of view. As it statesChelina Batista, Director of Science at Adopta Bosque “David’s mangroves don’t just involve the forests, David’s mangroves involve all the channels, all the marine areas.”

To defend to advance

Panama is at a turning point. Defending its mangroves, respecting the role of civil society, and guaranteeing spaces for transparent dialogue is not looking backward: it is moving forward responsibly.

Today’s press conference is not just a response to a specific conflict. It is a statement of principles: that nature has value, citizen participation strengthens democracy, and that progress cannot be imposed. It is built together.

We have the right to defend because defending nature is, ultimately, defend the future of Panama.