Bocas Fact Sheets Go Live

My real estate company regularly provides information on "Best Practice" ideas for living in Bocas and the tropics in general. Often times, the same questions would arise over and over. So in May, 2007, Soluciones Biotecnologicas Tropicales started the first of series of what we call "Bocas Fact Sheets". These one page sheets are intended to provide information to both expats relocating to Bocas and to the general population, so they are written in Spanish and English. Bocas has many areas with mangrove coastlines. For many reasons the land owners wish to remove the mangroves. This sheet was meant to give them information regarding the laws concerning and ecological purpose of mangroves. This Fact Sheet was also published in the June, 2007 issue of the local newspaper, The Bocas Breeze. This sheet was made possible by a SBT volunteer, Vicki Grafentin. We will continue with additional sheets on various subjects of importance. The Fact Sheet text (minus the photos and the Spanish portion) is given below.

Mangroves in bocas del toro Fact Sheet

The Law:
All mangroves in Panama are considered to be owned by the state.

Mangroves are government owned and protected because they are a part of the tidal coastlines.

Property owners have the right to clear an access path to their property through the mangroves.

It is an environmental crime, however, punishable by fines and imprisonment, to remove, destroy or trim more mangrove than is necessary as determined by ANAM.

The Ecology:
Coral reefs depend on the presence of the mangroves for their survival. The water clarity required by coral is provided by the filtration system of the mangroves.

Mangrove systems create land mass and desalinate the land.

The mangroves’ extensive root systems protect the coastlines from flooding, storm damage, and erosion.

The mangrove ecosystem provides the nursery for most fish species, shrimp, lobster and other shellfish.

The mangrove swamp is a fragile ecosystem easily disturbed by excessive and unnecessary interference.

Produced by SBT (Soluciones Biotecnologicas Tropicales) www.solareef.com. Other info http://www.anam.gob.pa/ Autoridad Nacionaldel Ambiente (ANAM)
Sources:World Wildlife Fund/National Geographic Society www.worldwildlife.org , The Nature Conservancy