We are proud of Panama and its international leadership in protecting nature worldwide. But while it is pushing for recognition from the United Nations, the David Mangroves face a threat from a port project called Puerto Baru within its own territory.

During the United Nations General Assembly, President José Raúl Mulino announced that Panama will promote the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Nature inviting other countries to join this international initiative.

“We are a country that protects 33% of our land and 54% of our oceans. Today I announce that Panama will lead an international effort to recognize the universal rights of nature,” declared José Raúl Mulino at the United Nations General Assembly.

This announcement positions Panama at the center of a global movement seeking to recognize ecosystems as subjects of rights, not merely as resources available to humankind. The question isn’t about Panama’s role, but rather about how its proposals are being implemented globally.This is reflected in the country’s own environmental decisions.

From Panama to the world: The Rights of Nature

In 2022, Panama approved the Law 287 which recognizes nature’s right to exist, persist, regenerate, and maintain its life cycles. Four years later, the country seeks to bring that recognition to the UN, promoting a Universal Declaration for 2030 and advocating for the creation of a Coalition of States for Nature.

This progress is also the result of decades of work by Indigenous peoples, environmental organizations, and citizen movements that have advocated for a new relationship between people and the planet. However, recognizing rights is only the beginning; the real challenge lies in ensuring their fulfillment.

Puerto Barú: The Contradiction Facing Panama

While Panama promotes the Rights of Nature to the world, in the Gulf of Chiriquí controversy over the project continues.Puerto Barú which includes port infrastructure and dredging in the vicinity of theDavid’s Mangroves.

Independent studies have warned of its potential impacts on biodiversity, carbon sequestration, coastal protection, and marine ecosystems. Environmental organizations have appealed to the Supreme Court to challenge the approval of the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment.

So, if nature has the right to maintain its life cycles, how are those rights guaranteed in the face of projects that could disrupt them? The Puerto Barú controversy tests the practical application of the principles that Panama seeks to promote internationally.

Environmental leadership is also demonstrated at home

The push for a Universal Declaration of the Rights of Nature represents an opportunity for Panama and the world. But international commitments need to be translated into concrete decisions, supported by scientific evidence, citizen participation, and effective ecosystem protection.

The David’s Mangroves are part of that challenge because defending the Rights of Nature is not just about recognizing them before the United Nations. It also means ensuring that they are respected in the territories where nature needs protection.

Rights don’t end when they are proclaimed. They begin when they are enforced. Panama wants the world to recognize the Rights of Nature; the great challenge is demonstrating how these rights are protected within its own borders.

#DefendTheMangroves #NoToPuertoBarú #RightsOfNature