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Islas Secas Reserve and Lodge, Chiriqui, Panama
- 1. A M O D E L F O R S U S T A I N A B L E T O U R I S M A P R I L 2 0 1 8 A MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM APRIL 2018
- 2. I S L A S S E C A S : A M O D E L F O R S U S T A I N A B L E T O U R I S M An Elevated Outpost The Islas Secas (Dry Islands) are an archipelago of 14 islands located about 24 km (15 miles) off the Pacific coast of Panama in the Gulf of ChiriquĂ. In 2009, Louis Bacon purchased the islands and their existing resort facility with the intention of reshaping a luxury ecotourism resort that would benefit the environment and economy of the surrounding region. The goal of Islas Secas is to reconcile the complex economic, recreational, and environmental interests of the Gulf of ChiriquĂ by developing a resort community limited in scale, governed by environmentally sound management practices, and supportive of the local economy. The vision for Islas Secas is to create a model for sustainable tourism development that respects the environment and the host community. The challenge of Islas Secas is to develop partnerships with governments, organizations, and other stakeholders that will help accomplish the goals and vision for tomorrow. 2 In a way, the Islas Secas project is an emblem for what the state of Panama is today: a democratic republic participating in the world economic community and sharing the world’s concern with the environment. We are learning to use the tools of economic benefit to accomplish future preservation.
- 3. T H E G U L F O F C H I R I Q U I A N D T H E I S L A S S E C A S A R C H I P E L A G O • 14 islands • Distance from mainland Panama: 24km (15 miles) • Distance from Panama City: 300 km (185 miles) • Total land area: 419 hectares (1033 acres) • Largest island: Isla Cavada: 169 hectares (418 acres) Land allocation: • 25% - Entitled land • 75% - Protected land Total protected land is 315 hectares (775 acres). While Isla Cavada is the site of the resort core, beaches and recreational sites abound in the appropriate zones of other islands. Terrain • Volcanic origin • Low-lying with leafy forest, rolling hills, sandy beaches, and areas of rocky vegetation, surrounded by clear shallow waters. Climate • Tropical wet monsoon:drier in winter and rainier in summer. • Average temperature: 26 degrees Celsius (78 degrees Fahrenheit). Biodiversity The gentle climate of the Secas plays in a role in preserving the Gulf’s biodiversity. As Dr. Juan MatĂ© concludes in his study of the Gulf’s fisheries, “…the marine life is even more enhanced by the presence of archipelagos. These are the habitat for a segment of the fauna of the tropical Eastern Pacific that is unique….They manage to survive since the mountain range of ChiriquĂ, in western Panama, protects the region of the coastal upwelling produced by the trade winds.” “Marine life around the Secas is breathtaking, from sea horses and starfish to giant manta and eagle rays, pods of dolphins, turtles, sharks and vast schools of fish swirling around volcanic pinnacles, with humpback whales arriving to calve from June”. - The Rough Guide to Panama 3 IslaParida IslaLadrones IslaMontuosa Hannibal Banks IslaCoiba P A N A M A G U L F O F C H I R I Q U I P A C I F I C O C E A N C A R I B B E A N S E A Panama City David IslaSecas Archipelago 185 MILES (300 km) Costa Rica L A N D A L L O C A T I O N P L A N 4 T H E A R C H I P E L A G O A T - A - G L A N C E MAIN RESORT ENTITLED LAND (25%) PROTECTED LAND (75%) IslasTres Marias IslaTalia Isla Mono IslaToro IslaCoco IslaRobin Isla Iguana IslaBarracuda IslaCavada IslaPargo
- 4. I S L A S S E C A S ’ V A S T N A T U R A L R E S O U R C E S In 2000, The Nature Conservancy identified the Gulf of ChiriquĂ as a priority area for ecoregional planning, and began to support scientific work there. Much of what we understand about the biodiversity of the Gulf, and of the Islas Secas, derives from those studies. 5 Catch-and-Release: The Islas Secas resort is committed to catch-and- release sport fishing and participation in tagging programs. Coral Reefs: The biologists HĂ©ctor Guzmán and Odalisca Breedy studied threats to coral reefs and communities. (2008) Given the current vulnerability of coastal corals, it becomes important to maintain the healthy and diverse state of coralline communities in the Secas. Reef preservation may also help the recovery of decimated lobster and conch species, and a large percentage of commercially fished species depend on coral reefs and their associated ecosystem. Whale Breeding Grounds: The pacific coast of Central America is unique because, according to Panacetacea’s 2013 report on the Gulf of ChiriquĂ, it harbors the northernmost breeding area of any southern hemisphere humpback whale. (Most of the surveys that generated this map originated from the Islas Secas.) The whales migrate to Colombia and Central America from feeding grounds off Chile and Antarctica between July and October, known to be the longest migration of any mammal on earth. Whales from California also use the area from December to March, making this the only known wintering area shared by both southern and northern hemisphere humpback whales. MapcourtesyPanacetacea HUMPBACK WHALE SIGHTINGS AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2013 Sighting locations Sightings that included a mother/calf pair Boat tracklines P A N A M A Birdwatching Paradise: The Secas are well known for their bird life— especially Isla Coco, home to Panama’s second-largest colony of soaring frigates (Fregata magnificens] )with their magnificent wingspan. The bright blue red-legged honeycreeper (Cyanerpes cyaneus) is a small songbird species in the tanager family who also makes its home on the islands. The Gulf of ChiriquĂ has also been a locus of activity for the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, not only in STRI’s association with The Nature Conservancy but also through its Panama International Cooperative Biodiversity Group. With additional funding from the US National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and Department of Agriculture, the ICBG has established a new model to promote drug discovery around the world by involving the host country in the research, development, and royalty processes. Over 45 promising compounds for the battles against cancer and tropical diseases have already been identified at nearby Coiba National Park, deriving from corals, sponges, and flora. The World Heritage Committee cited the island’s “high variety” of endemic species, its importance as “the last refuge for a number of threatened species,” and the “extraordinary biodiversity” of its marine ecosystems. Notable Plant Species: A 2003 environmental impact study of the four main Islas Secas listed 128 species of plants. Much of the vegetation is deciduous forest, but there are also shrubs in rocky areas, and mangrove formations. Several plant species exist on the Islas Secas that are unique, scarce or threatened elsewhere in Panama—including some that have simply disappeared. Alicia Ibánez, a biologist familiar with the Gulf of ChiriquĂ due to her extensive work for The Nature Conservancy and the Smithsonian Institution, has noted in her recent preliminary report on Objectives for Conservation in Islas Secas that the islands are in such a healthy state of conservation as to be “an exceptional natural laboratory.” The goal of the Islas Secas management plan is to keep them that way. “The islands are in such a healthy state of conservation as to be “an exceptional natural laboratory.” 6
- 5. Philadelphia Vireo Yellow-green Vireo Scrub Greenlet Lesser Greenlet Mangrove Warbler Yellow Warbler Prothonotary Warbler Northern Waterthrush Bananaquit Scarlet Tanager Blue-gray Tanager Red-legged Honeycreeper PLANTS AND FORESTATION Dry Forest: The predominant vegetation of the Secas is deciduous and sem-deciduous (“dry”) forest, mostly in well- conserved condition except on Cavada, historically the most disturbed locale due to earlier subsistence farming. (Plans for restoration and conservation are underway.) Species, which differ in combination from others elsewhere in the Gulf, include: Pachira quinata (yuco) Erblichia odorata (mapola) Pouteria campechiana (nisperillo) Maytenus schippii Cinnamomum sp. (sigua) Tabebuia rosea (oak) Bursera simaruba (nursery) Plumeria rubra (caracucha) Pachira quinata (hawthorn cedar) Byrsonima crassifolia (nance) Pouteria fossicola (mamey mountain), rare elsewhere Pouteria chaperno (Lonchocarpus chiricanus) Manilkara staminodella (medlar) Cativo Forest: Pure stands of Cativo, as found especially on Cavada and Pargo, are rare elsewhere in Panama due to exploitation by the plywood industry. Other Vegetation: Several species of shrub found in the Secas have been uncommonly observed elsewhere, including Fleishmannia coibensis and Erythroxylum havenense. Mangrove formations on Cavada and Pargo include red, white, and button mangrove and cork oak. Large areas are covered by vines are on several islands. They may be the result of agricultural deforestation over 500 years ago. Scientific Studies: Alicia Ibáñez, preeminent biologist working in the Gulf of ChiriquĂ, concludes in her study of the Secas that the “Islas Secas contain examples of vegetation unique to the region of the Gulf of ChiriquĂ. The importance of the archipelago is also in the excellent state of conservation of its terrestrial and coastal ecosystems, and the natural regeneration taking place on previously deforested areas. This is an area of refuge for species of flora of the Central American Pacific region, which have disappeared from many neighboring regions, possibly due to the intense human exploitation. The island is also an exceptional natural laboratory to study the phenomena of formation of species, biogeography of islands, island archaeology, etc.” In addition, “the archipelago of Islas Secas presents a unique opportunity for study of the human impact on both terrestrial and marine ecosystems in the region.” Finally, she recommends that further research and analysis is needed on Secas fauna. S P E C I E S I N V E N T O R Y : I S L A N D S A N D G U L F O F C H I R I Q U I • threatened in Panama • rare elsewhere • endemic to ChiriquĂ and neighboring islands • Exploited BIRDS This inventory includes both migratory and resident birds observed on the three main islands of Cavada, Pargo, and Barracuda in August 2005, April 2007, and January 2008—thus including the summer wet season, the winter dry season, and the spring migration season. Also notable are the significant colonies of frigate birds and brown boobies on Isla Coco. Audubon’s Shearwater Brown Pelican Brown Booby Neotropic Cormorant Magnificent Frigatebird Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture American Black Vulture Osprey Mangrove Black Hawk Great Black Hawk Yellow-headed Caracara Peregrine Falcon Semipalmated Plover Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Pale-vented Pigeon Black-billed Cuckoo Mangrove Cuckoo Squirrel Cuckoo Common Barn Owl Blue-tailed Emerald Garden Emerald Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Green Kingfisher Ringed Kingfisher Yellow-bellied Elaenia Lesser Elaenia Northern Scrub-flycatcher Olive-sided Flycatcher Tropical Pewee Great Kiskadee Streaked Flycatcher Boat-billed Flycatcher Tropical Kingbird Panama Flycatcher Gray-breasted Martin Barn Swallow Swainson’s Thrush Yellow-throated Vireo 7 This section demonstrates the biodiversity of the Islas Secas and the surrounding waters of the Gulf of ChiriquĂ including the Coiba Maritime Protection Zone, but should by no means be taken as a complete listing. Coiba Park was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, joining a handful of other sites, including the Galapagos Islands, in the World Heritage Centre Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape Project. Schooling Rays: Giant Mantas Spotted Eagle Thurston’s Devil Stingrays Game Fish: Barracuda Yellowfin tuna Cubera snapper Roosterfish Pacific sailfish Bluefin trevalley Grouper Snapper, jacks, and mackerel Black marlin Blue marlin Wahoo Dorado Whales: Humpback (which calve here) False Killer Pilot Orca (seasonal) Bryde’s Fin Sperm (seasonal) Dolphins: Bottlenose Rough-toothed Spinner Spotted Common and Short-beaked Sea Turtles: Leatherback Hawksbill (redlisted—critically endangered) Loggerhead Green Olive Ridley • threatened or near threatened • endangered • vulnerable Coiba National Marine Park and Marine Protection Zone: A Last Refuge About 32 km (20 miles) east-southeast of the Islas Secas lies Isla Coiba with its archipelago of smaller islands. Their 507 square kilometers (207 square miles) make up Coiba National Marine Park, while surrounding waters encompass an additional 3,308 square kilometers (1664 square miles) including a UNESCO- designated Special Zone of Marine Protection. It is one of the world’s largest marine protected areas. It is hoped that in future the zone will be enlarged to encompass the entire Gulf including the Islas Secas. Today’s park was created after Coiba Island’s prison closed in 2004. It was the deliberate isolation of the penal colony that preserved the island’s pristine habitat. The park was soon named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for what the nominating committee noted as its “high variety” of endemic species, its importance as “the last refuge for a number of threatened species,” the “extraordinary biodiversity” of its marine ecosystems, and its value as “an outstanding natural laboratory for scientific research [that] provides a key ecological link to the Tropical Eastern Pacific for the transit and survival of pelagic fish and marine animals.” Already, migratory near threatened shark species not seen for years have returned. It is home to scarlet macaw, crested eagle, marine turtles, howler monkey, and the second largest coral reef in the eastern pacific. 8 REEF LIFE Coral reefs, by their nature fragile and sensitive to environmental changes, are under threat in many areas of the Gulf of ChiriquĂ. Therefore maintaining the relatively healthy state of those found in the Secas is a matter of some importance. The 2008 Nature Conservancy study of reefs in the Gulf by HĂ©ctor Guzmán and Odalisca Breedy found in the Secas areas of moderate diversity of hard corals and octocorals, moderate diversity of rare species, and coralline communities with a high coverage of live coral. In addition, the reefs are home to aquatic species including lobsters, crab, octopus, eels, sea stars, blennies, stargazers, sea horse, nudibranches, sea pens, many varieties of schooling reef fish, and exotic creatures such as the harlequin shrimp and frog fish. MARINE LIFE in the Gulf of ChiriquĂ (Migratory and Resident) Over 750 species of migratory and resident fish inhabit the Gulf. The species inventory includes but is not limited to the following: Sharks: The Pew Charitable Trust began its Global Shark Conservation Campaign in 2009, and Louis Bacon’s Moore Charitable Foundation has supported the Trust’s effort, in partnership with MarViva, to secure protection for shark populations in Panama’s waters. The Gulf hosts thirty-three shark species; especially notable are: Whitetip Reef Galapagos Scalloped Hammerhead Whale Bull Tiger Guitar Shark
- 6. Playa Vidrio Punta Vista Pargo Waterfall IslaCanales Playa Canales Beach Blowhole IslaRobin IslaCavada Punta Pelicano PlayaLimon Playa Pelicano Cedro Grande Dock P A C I F I C O C E A N Punta Buena Vista AIRSTRIP Playa Dos Quebrados Mirador RESORT CORE T H E R E S O R T V I S I O N B E C O M I N G R E A L I T Y Resort Roots and Vision The Islas Secas were sparsely inhabited by subsistence farmers until 2004, when the financier Michael Klein developed the first iteration of the resort. Louis M. Bacon purchased the property in 2009 in order to remake it as an environmentally sensitive and sustainable entity consistent with other projects of his. Belvedere Property Management oversees the day to day operations of all of the Louis Bacon properties, including Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico, Trinchera Ranch in Colorado, and the Islas Secas, Panama. The vision for the proposed Islas Secas resort core improvement and its specific impacts have been described by the ownership this way: The intent of the proposed Islas Secas resort core improvements and their specific impacts have been described by the ownership as creating “…a luxury, adventure destination that provides world class service and recreation. These improvements will allow us to lengthen our season and attract more guests. Chiriquà and Panama will benefit economically via new jobs, increased tax revenues and increased tourism.” After several years of planning, the new community is taking shape: new architecture, more extensive amenities, and, most important, the incorporation of environmentally sustainable features that will make the resort a model of ecological consciousness in luxury hospitality. Access from the Mainland Most guests will arrive by air at Panama City, where their passage and clearances will be expedited by a dedicated agent. From there, they will make their 90-minute direct flight by Isla Secas private aircraft to Isla Cavada’s landing strip. Guests may also choose to arrive by air at the pleasant, prosperous, and historically significant city of David, capitol of Chiriquà Province. There Islas Secas staff will greet them and provide the 30-minute auto ride and 75-minute boat ride to the islands. AIR SERVICE RESORT AIRSTRIP 9 The Islas Secas Promise Lush, largely untouched, and in the midst of one of the world’s greatest marine ecosystems, the Islas Secas Resort will provide guests a secluded, intimate, and luxurious hospitality experience in harmony with its timeless setting. Islas Secas will offer discerning travelers the opportunity to experience exhilarating adventure through a wide array of activities on, under, and off the water, and to learn about the uniquely diverse ecosystems through rewarding conversation and science educational programs. Excerpted from the Islas Secas Resort Vision Book 10
- 7. T H E R E S O R T V I S I O N B E C O M I N G R E A L I T Y CASITA 9 (2 bedroom) LA RESIDENCIA 11 (4 bedroom) CASITA 8 (1 bedroom) CASITA 7 (1 bedroom) SPA, POOL & FITNESS CASITA 10 (2 bedroom) OFFICE RENTAL VILLA 5 (3 bedroom) RENTAL VILLA 6 (3 bedroom) EXISTING WATER TANK PALM GROVE / SCULPTURE GARDEN ARRIVAL LA TERRAZZA ARRIVAL PAVILION & DIVE FACILITY CASITA 1 (2 bdrm) EXISTING MANAGEMENT HOUSING EXISTING STAFF HOUSING & BOH CASITA 2 (2 bdrm) CASITA 3 (4 bdrm) CASITA 4 (1 bedroom) AIRSTRIP P A C I F I C O C E A N PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT - PHASE 1 PHASE 2 PHASE 3IslaCavada Amenities Casitias /Rental Villas / Residences Support Roads Raised Timber Boardwalk Paths L E G E N D B E D C O U N T Site Bedrooms Pillows 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 TOTAL 2 2 4 1 3 4 1 1 2 2 26 4 4 8 2 6 8 2 2 4 4 52 4 8 Development phasing: The proposed development plan is a three-phase process as shown in the map and chart above. 11 center for the resort’s water- based activities, including scuba diving, snorkeling, sea boating, paddle boarding, and kayaking. A professional staff ensures that gear, attire, and training are all properly addressed. Sport fishing expeditions, under the auspices of the resort’s experienced guides, also depart from the Arrival Pavilion, and, in fact, sport fishing alone is one of Isla Secas’ greatest appeals. Architectural Goal: Eco- Sustainable, Holistic Design With its roots in authentic Canal Gamboan Style, this organic design vernacular developed by lead architects Hart Howerton aims to live lightly on the land through Resort Amenities The Terrazza will be the heart of the resort adventure: a main gathering place (with bar) where like-minded guests who share the resort’s philosophy of combining luxury with sustainability can gather and share the day’s adventures. Guests dine here indoors, outdoors, or optionally in-room, from a sophisticated gourmet menu focused on a fusion of international and regional cuisine. For those venturing further into the Islands and their waters, picnics and box lunches may also be arranged. Overlooking the bay, the Pool and Spa Pavilion offers fitness and exercise machines, yoga sessions, even stand-alone treatment rooms. A variety of wellness treatments are available here, in-room, or at locations like the pool or sunset deck. The owners share a passion for the enjoyment and preservation of the outdoors, a deep appreciation and respect for local culture and its history, and a strong desire for experiences that provide fulfillment on a multitude of levels (including, of course, the finest takes on traditional Panamanian cuisine). In line with this philosophy that education and uplift should part of their guest’s experience—and that the young folks matter as well— hiking and nature trails are easily accessible and a Children’s Center and Learning Pavilion is planned. The adventures and expeditions include game fishing, water sports, hiking, biking, boating, and birding. The Arrival Pavilion and Dive Facility is the The Terrazza – the heart of the resort, and main gathering place with a bar, and indoor and outdoor dining featuring international and regional cuisine.
- 8. 13 incorporating environmentally- friendly principles and deeply embracing natural resources. Each element, from the Casitas, to the Casa Grande, to the Terrazza plays a role in creating this seaside sanctuary. Casitas Carefully placed casitas offer seclusion, spectacular views and cooling ocean breezes. Gently nestling in between existing trees and hovering above lush landscape, the casitas balance a modest ecological footprint with comfort. During construction, walls, louvres and roofs were built off-island and then shipped in and crafted by a small, specialized team to minimize impact and preserve this T H E R E S O R T V I S I O N B E C O M I N G R E A L I T Y fragile habitat. Surfaces are made breathable through ingenious single wall construction. The casitas take their design inspiration from tropical Gamboan Style while adding a contemporary twist; Broad louvred openings allow hot air to rise and move through overhead roof vents. Generous overhangs protect from the elements while fans softly circulate air, creating a comfortable refuge to the surrounding prospect. Casa Grande Casa Grande, the house on the peninsula, perches on a cliff outcropping surrounded by breaking surf, an organic form gliding down the hillside above rich vegetation. Its roof undulates, held up by a sustainably harvested eucalyptus structure, tracing the topography and rooms below, creating calm shade and protection from the sun and rain. The Terrazza The iconic shelter and gathering house floats on a sweeping, wooden deck above the beach edge at the heart of the resort. Hart Howerton conceived it, along with the waterside arrival pavilion, as a set of intriguing open-air gabled roof structures – ideal forms for Simon Valez, the bamboo master-builder, to lovingly bring to life. Together, they bridge between land and ocean and welcome visitors to this remarkable place. 14
- 9. C O M M I T M E N T T O S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y 15 Commitment to Sustainability—Thinking Small and Thinking Big, When it comes to making the Islas Secas resort a model of sustainable luxury, attention to detail is as important as major infrastructure improvements. Building Materials: Favored building materials are sustainable and well as consistent with the overall architectural vision: teak, stone, and wicker abound. Recycling: An organic farm, with water recycled for agricultural use, is projected, along with a composting program. Increased efficiencies in the water supply systems are in the works. Guests are even supplied with a reusable water bottle, to avoid waste. The resort is actively eliminating plastic from the resort and operations, searching out hard-to-find alternatives for plastic straws, snack packaging, and shampoo bottles. Solar Array: Particular pride of place goes to the big thinking (and investment) in the resort’s commitment to solar power. Located near the airstrip, a 1424-module photovoltaic solar array (designed by CivicSolar of San Francisco) powers all the electric systems on the island from dawn to dusk with eighteen 360kW solar inverters. Additionally, thirty-six 288kW battery inverters charge sixteen 96kWh battery banks, with a total storage of 1.5MWh expandable to 3MWh. (A MWh, or megawatt-hour, will power about 330 homes for an hour.) These are a lot of specs and numbers, and what they add up to is that the resort’s electrical needs can easily be met all night until the solar array switches back on at daybreak. In sum, 90% of the resort’s power needs can be met with no noise, no fumes, and no consumption of non-renewable resources. Two 200kW diesel generators remain poised to go on line only in case of an emergency or protracted cloudy spell. Natural Wetlands: While the solar array looks upward, another proud and important feature of the resort’s sustainability technology is based below ground level. Natural wetlands serve a number of functions in the environment, including water purification accomplished by their diverse plant life. Taking inspiration from nature, engineers began to develop constructed wetlands for sewage treatment as early as the 1960s. Most constructed wetlands are only pretreatment systems, using their plant life to reduce pathogens and contaminants before the water is released into the soil. The Secas Constructed Wetland differs in that the water, instead of perking into the ground, is routed for further treatment and then reclaimed for flushing toilets, irrigation, and other non-potable purposes. Over the long run, considerable water savings are projected by this re-use. SOLAR ARRAY CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS 16 Plant Nursery: In her summary of conservation objectives prepared for the Secas resort, biologist Alicia Ibáñez noted that certain non-native species had earlier been introduced— most of them deliberately for cosmetic purposes—and recommended that they be removed and native vegetation be remediated. To this end, a plant nursery, nourished by the resort’s composting program, has been built from recycled materials. The thought behind the plant nursery was to restore the inevitable damage that happens to the flora during the construction of the resort development, and to restore the deforestation that occurred during prior occupation. The idea is to plant native species found on the island and to mimic the natural plant selection occurring in the more pristine, unoccupied areas of the archipelago. A small variety of local fruit trees are also being cultivated for consumption by resort employees and guests. When the construction is complete, the greenhouse can easily be converted into food production to supplement the kitchen’s stock of fruit and vegetables. Oyster Culture – Retraining for Tomorrow: A difficult sustainability issue throughout the world in the conflict between conservation and the need of local peoples to exploit the environment simply to stay alive. In the Gulf of ChiriquĂ, local fishing industries sustain significant portions of the population and contribute generally to the local economy. Thinking globally and acting locally, the Islas Secas resort has partnered with the ARAP, the Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama, to research the viability of a commercial oyster culture as an alternative income source for coastal artisanal fisherman. Additionally, the resort is growing pearls as part of its educational programs, while working the increase the island’s PLANT NURSERY GROWING PEARLS COMPOSTING oyster population. Oyster reefs provide a significant range of what scientists call “ecosystem services” including nutrient regulation, water filtration, encouraging biodiversity, and habitat stability—yet they been allowed to become one of the world’s most threatened marine habitats.
- 10. P A R T N E R S H I P S : S H A R I N G T H E V I S I O N Conservation as an Economic Driver Sustainable ecotourism can add value to the environment just as the environment creates the value of ecotourism. The economic driver of tourism in the Gulf of ChiriquĂ and much of Panama is the biodiversity provided by the marine ecosystem. As MaytĂ© González of The Nature Conservancy put it: The Gulf of ChiriquĂ is “a treasure that also translates into a source of economic wealth.” The Billfish Foundation has completed groundbreaking studies on the economic impacts of sports fishing in Costa Rica and Los Cabos, Mexico. They quantify the ability of catch and release billfishing (marlin, swordfish, etc.) to provide thousands of jobs, support tax bases, and create a foundation for broader conservation. Specifically, they assign an economic impact of over USD 1.125 billion per year in Los Cabos and over USD 400 million in Costa Rica. Hotels, restaurants, marinas, professional fishing staff, and support industries all contribute to tax bases that can fund infrastructure, health, and education services. Many have, like MaytĂ© González, sensed that ecotourism can benefit local economies; now the hard numbers are in. Partners for the Future The Islas Secas resort is not just a passive contributor to the economy. Its business plan also includes a foundation actively focused on community uplift, education and the environment in Panama. This foundation will be primarily funded by a direct contribution of a percentage of gross revenue generated by Islas Secas. At this writing: - Significant contributions have been disbursed to scientific research and local organizations - Legislative steps have begun with the Panamanian government’s 2010 protocols to manage certain industrial fishing practices in the Gulf. The goal is to extend the protocols and reinforcement. - Significant Zones of Marine Protection, sanctioned by UNESCO and the government of Panama, exist in the Gulf of ChiriquĂ. The goal is to extend the zone to comprise the entire Gulf. - Partnerships have begun with NGOs and scientists as Islas Secas has joined efforts with the Billfish Foundation in its catch-and-release and tagging programs, and with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s Shark Tagging and Monitoring Project. The larger goal is to secure a long- term commitment by a recognized NGO to partner in the conservation effort. 17 PhotocourtesyTheNatureConservancy I S L A S S E C A S P H I L A N T H R O P Y As marine scientist Juan MatĂ© expressed it in his Nature Conservancy study of Gulf fisheries: “At present, the Gulf of ChiriquĂ is being the center of attention of the national and international community in the debate on how to properly manage its natural wealth for the benefit of all Panamanians.” The Islas Secas planners have expressed a clear strategy to address the issue MatĂ© identifies: “Establishing a management plan for environmental protection and ecotourism within the Gulf of ChiriquĂ extending to the waters of Hannibal Banks to the south, integrating the COIBA National park boundaries and to Bahia Honda in the east, is an initiative that will require vision and foresight.” “It will require programs for uplift including education, community partnerships, micro financing, economic development programs to help replacement of the existing fishing economy, support from regional and central government and ongoing science-based management. A strong and meaningful presence in the ChiriquĂ Province will be critical.” The column to the right is a partial list of organizations that MCF, Louis Bacon’s Moore Charitable Foundation, has funded and/or supported as part of their work in Islas Secas and the Gulf of Chiriqui. Islas Secas has worked closely with Audubon Panama to understand better the diverse habitats comprised on Islas Secas. Marviva is devoted to the conservation and sustainable management of marine and coastal resources. Marviva provides legal expertise to the governments in order to generate legislation that creates new Protected Areas and safeguards them. MCF has provided funding to support fisheries surveillance activities in Coiba National Park. Oceans 5 is a global funders’ collaborative committed to protecting the world’s oceans. MCF support has been used to strengthen fisheries enforcement in Panama. In partnership with Conservation International and Marviva, O5 works to increase governmental, civil society and private sector attention to IUU (illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing). Together these partners have established an Inter-Institutional Platform for fisheries enforcement, since incorporated in new Panamanian environmental law. There has also been a 67% reduction in prosecution time for illegal fishing cases originating in Coiba and the Gulf of Chiriqui. Panacetacea is dedicated to the study and conservation of whales and dolphins in Panamanian waters. MCF support has allowed Panacetacea to conduct several expeditions in the Gulf of Chiriqui. Islas Secas has also partnered with Panacetacea to host whale watching trips for the community. Panthera works to ensure the future of wild cats through scientific leadership and global conservation action. MCF provides support for the Jaguar Corridor Initiative, working to protect the jaguar, by linking habitat and conserving wildlife corridors from Mexico to Argentina. Panama is critical to the success of the corridor initiative because it links Central and South America and its forested areas are still largely intact. 18
- 11. 19 1920: The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute establishes its first field station in Panama. Over the years it will develop into one of the world’s largest tropical research centers. 1935: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act and the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act are passed. 1948: International Union for Conservation of Nature, the first international organization devoted to all aspects of ecological conservation, is established with the participation of 65 governments and NGOs. Originally concerned with conservation of habitats and species, it has more recently extended its focus to larger social and public policy issues that impact sustainability. 1951: The Nature Conservancy is incorporated, arising from the earlier Ecologists Union of scientists resolved to take “direct action” to save threatened natural areas. Its first land acquisition will occur in 1955; its first government partnership in 1961. 1960: Federal Water Pollution Control Act 1962: Marine biologist Rachel Carson publishes The Silent Spring. Although focused on pesticides, the book is credited with creating a popular awareness of environmental issues overall. 1968: The archeologist Olga Linares de Sapir publishes her monumental Cultural Chronology of the Gulf of ChiriquĂ, including references to sites on the Islas Secas. 1969: U.S. National Environmental Policy Act; President Nixon establishes the Environmental Protection Agency by executive order the following year. 1970s: With increased awareness of environmental issues, the 1970s were a transformative era as more governmental organizations, NGOs, statutes, and programs came on line. These included the UN Environmental Programme, the UN Conference on the Human Environment, the Worldwatch Institute, the Convention on Wetlands, the UN world heritage sites convention, the League of Conservation Voters, the Conference on the Human Environment, the U.N. Environment Programme, the Endangered Species Preservation Act, and more. 1980: The Nature Conservancy launches its International Conservation program to identify Latin American natural areas and conservation organizations in need of assistance. 1986: Emergency Wetlands Resources Act allows the Dept. of the Interior to purchase and conserve wetlands. 1990: The Billfish Foundation starts its Black Marlin tag-and- release program, in which the Islas Secas resort now participates. 1992: The U.N. Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro includes: The Framework Convention on Climate Change, the International Convention on Biodiversity, and other initiatives. The Nature Conservancy launches its Conservation by Design program to identify sites that must be protected to conserve the biodiversity of the Western Hemisphere. 1995: Major global corporations unite in forming the World Business Council for Sustainable Development in order to advance environmentally sound business practices. 1998: Panama establishes SINAP, its National System of Protected Areas. 2000: The Nature Conservancy identifies the Gulf of ChiriquĂ as a model priority area for ecoregional planning. Numerous scientific studies and proposals in cooperation with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute will follow. 1 0 0 Y E A R S O F P R O G R E S S T O W A R D S A S U S T A I N A B L E T O M O R R O W 20 2007: Louis M. Bacon purchases the Blanca Ranch in southern Colorado in order to conserve its biodiversity and maintain its position as a wildlife migration corridor linking neighboring conserved areas. Activities taking place over the following years include both environmental management programs, scientific partnerships, and community education, public health, and public participation initiatives. 2009: The Pew Foundation begins its Global Shark Conservation program. 2009: The Nature Conservancy publishes Plan de ConservaciĂłn para el PacĂfico Occidental de Panamá (Conservation Plan for the Pacific West Coast of Panama) by Malena Sarlo and Rafael Samudio. 2012: The National Assembly of Nicaragua adopts the Law on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity. The Oceans 5 organization begins funding in support of Conservation International, MarViva, and Forever Costa Rica to strengthen enforcement of fishing restrictions in the Eastern Tropical Pacific region. 2013: The Union of Industrialists of Panama initiates its Green Panama seal of approval to recognize industries that follow environmental best practices. The Audubon Society creates hummingbird protection project on Islas Secas. The Panamanian government joins Panthera, the big cat conservation organization, in an agreement to conserve jaguars within Panama’s Protected Areas System. 2015: The National Assembly of Panama creates the Ministry of Environment, elevating and reforming the former National Conservation Authority. Panacetacea, the marine mammal conservation organization, conducts a major survey of whale species in the waters off Islas Secas. 2016-17: The Audubon Society visits several times a year, continuing their studies. Panacetacea does annual research from the island in late summer and early fall when the Southern Hempishere whales are near the islands. Student interns accompany the researchers. • Dates in green are directly related to Latin America, Panama and its islands. • Organizations highlighted in purple are those whom MCF is actively partnering with to further their expressed environmental missions in the region. 2002: The U.N.’s World Summit on Sustainable Development (or “Earth Summit”) in Johannesburg commits the participants (absent the U.S.) to a multilateral approach to sustainable development taking into account collateral geopolitical issues. 2004: Coiba National Park is created; it will be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site the next year. 2006: The year of a key conference in the long-running process that establishes the Mesoamerica Biological Corridor with the participation of Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and some southern states of Mexico, UNESCO, and other governments and NGOs. This multilateral initiative aims to promote “a regional connectivity of protected areas with sustainable development and the improvement of human livelihood.” One UNESCO goal is to establish a protected marine corridor extending from the Gulf of ChiriquĂ to the Galapagos Islands. 2010: The Panamanian Government imposes certain restrictions on commercial fishing in the Gulf of ChiriquĂ. Costa Rica, with the participation of the U.S. government, The Nature Conservancy, and other NGOs, secures financing to double its marine protected areas and improve the management of all its conservation areas.
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