Discovering the Panamanian rainforest

Panama is more known for the gaping, strategic canal than its lush tropical rainforests. Taken for granted, these thick jungle covers harbor diverse species of flora and fauna, which present contrasting reminders of an economy in take-off. Panama is increasingly permeated by foreign investment, most of which take interest in the country’s natural resources.

Image credit: everything-panama.com

Panama is also home to Petaquilla Minerals Ltd., one of the world’s leading mining operations. The company’s allegiance to its home base, however, grounds it more than its competitors to ecological realities that threaten to curtail the sustainability of operations, if not approached with the urgency of climate change predictions.

Image credit: domusweb.it

Petaquilla is best-placed to offset its mining activities with sustainable options. Its refusal to mine sites to the hilt allows mining fallow periods where flora and fauna could regenerate. Furthermore, its operations have largely avoided preservation areas, which are studded with tropical cover.

Panama’s rainforests are one of those sites threatened by overexploitation. Resource extraction has been ongoing since the inauguration of the great Panama canal in the 1900s. To recall, the canal’s construction opened up vast networks of maritime trade, and Central America became an important channel for burgeoning colonial empires and world economies.

Image credit: journals.worldnomads.com

At the dawn of increased international trade, the movement for environment preservation has been largely marginalized. Panamanian rainforests that have escaped the designs of capitalism are now preserved for another capitalistic purpose ---- tourism. This, however, cannot be begrudged as a cynical development. By and large, these tours have contributed to growing public consciousness on natural assets left to be preserved.

Learn more about sustainable mining operations from this blog.