The defense of the David Mangroves adds a new chapter, this time, from the citizens and before the justice system.On September 15, members of the Citizens’ Coalition in Defense of Mangroves went to the Third Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice of Panama to deliver a citizen’s letter requesting a review of the environmental legality of the Puerto Barú project in David.

The letter, endorsed by 163 citizens, requests the nullity of the resolution that approved the Environmental Impact Study (EIA) of Puerto Barú and the adoption of urgent precautionary measures while the merits of the case are being resolved. Among the requests is a halt to any clearing or construction work that could affect the protected area.

When the damage can be irreversible, prevention matters.

The citizens’ call once again puts at the center What would happen when an infrastructure project is installed in an ecosystem whose loss cannot simply be compensated for later?

Puerto Barú envisions the construction of port infrastructure and a navigation channel that could cut through a protected mangrove area. An independent impact analysis warns that construction and dredging activities could affect these ecosystems, release stored carbon, increase vulnerability to erosion and climate disasters, and impact biodiversity and water flows.

It’s not just about trees

Mangroves are much more than just the landscape we see above ground; they are natural barriers against erosion and extreme weather events, they store large amounts of carbon, and they support activities such as fishing and tourism. Panama has more than 165,000 hectares of mangroves, approximately 85% of which are located on its Pacific coast.

An investigation conducted in Bahía de Los Muertos and Punta Boca Brava identified 209 bottlenose dolphins, 53 were classified as residents. Furthermore, 65% of the sightings corresponded to feeding activities, indicating that the area constitutes an important foraging ground for this population.

163 voices that decided to act

This letter also speaks of something bigger, and it is the right of citizens to participate in decisions that can transform their territory.This is not the first action seeking to bring environmental concerns about Puerto Barú to the attention of the authorities. The campaign’s strategy itself has positioned legal action and raising awareness of these processes as part of the defense of the David Mangroves.

Now it is up to the Third Chamber to consider what has been raised by the citizens. Today, 163 citizens decided not to wait. They decided to go to court to demand that, before moving forward, a review be carried out, before intervening, preventative measures be taken, and before it is too late. Protect the David Mangroves.

Because what cannot be replaced, is protected.