Panama Mangrove Conservation Action Request (PAMAR)
PANAMA ACTION REQUEST
Launching PAMAR in Panama
At a kickoff event in Panama, IPOS officially launched the Panama Mangrove Conservation Action Request (PAMAR), in close collaboration with Panama’s Ministry of Environment.
PAMAR is a one-year project that will support Panama in harmonizing its legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of mangroves, critical ecosystems for biodiversity, climate mitigation, and coastal resilience.
Following the launch, IPOS and the Ministry presented PAMAR to the National Wetlands Committee of Panama, fostering dialogue and forming integral connections across institutions.
Field Visit to Bahía de Chame
As part of the launch of the PAMAR, IPOS had the opportunity to visit the mangroves of Bahía de Chame with representatives from the Panamanian Ministry of Environment, including the Directorate of Coasts and Seas (DICOMAR), the Directorate of Climate Change (DCC), the Regional Directorate, and the Sistema Nacional de Areas Protegidas (SINAP).
Located along Panama’s Pacific coast, Bahía de Chame forms part of a vast and highly productive coastal wetland system within the Gulf of Panama.
Its ecosystem creates ideal conditions for mangrove development, supports exceptional ecological richness, and serves as a critical nursery habitat for fish and mollusks that underpin local fisheries. It also provides refuge for a wide diversity of wildlife, including many migratory bird species.
Beyond biodiversity, Bahía de Chame delivers essential ecosystem services. Its mangroves act as natural defenses against coastal erosion, improve water quality by trapping sediments and pollutants, and play a key role in climate regulation through significant blue carbon storage.
At the same time, Bahía de Chame illustrates the broader challenges facing mangroves in Panama, including pressures from coastal development, resource overuse, and pollution, as well as governance and regulatory complexities.
As we work to provide implementation pathways for the PAMAR Action Request, Bahía de Chame will be an ideal field study site and particularly relevant for strengthening collaboration across science, policy, and local communities.
Join PAMAR as an Expert in its Hybrid Working Group
IPOS is assembling a Hybrid Working Group (HWG) composed of leading experts and knowledge holders from different disciplines and knowledge systems or with context-specific experience to prepare and validate the synthesis and outputs of this request.
Apply by May 4th, 2026
For inquiries related to the request or to propose avenues for collaboration, contact us at:
