copied from https://mission-blue.org/2021/06/panama-achieves-30×30-ocean-protection-goals-in-newly-expanded-cordillera-de-coiba-marine-protected-area/
Panama Achieves 30×30 Ocean Protection Goals in Newly Expanded Cordillera de Coiba Marine Protected Area
June 8, 2021
Spanish translation can be read at the bottom of the page.
PANAMA CITY, PANAMA (June 8th, 2021) –
On June 8th, 2021, Laurentino Cortizo, President of Panama and Milciades Concepción, Minister of Environment signed the decree that protects the Coiba Ridge, a move that will triple the Cordillera de Coiba marine protected area. With this act, Panama is set to be ahead of the 30% by 2030 goals (30×30) and become a true Blue Leader – a country that officially “highly and fully” protects 30% or more of its oceans. Panama will finalize the management plan to address the regulation of the new expanded MPA by the fall.
Dr. Sylvia Earle, Founder of Mission Blue, says, “Congratulations to President Laurentino Cortizo and the country of Panama for protecting this special part of the blue planet. I hope this inspiring commitment gives courage to neighboring countries in the region including Costa Rica, Colombia and Ecuador to take similar actions to protect the incredible biodiversity in their waters, to link up protections and create a corridor where wildlife can thrive.” She continues, “I am pleased to announce that Mission Blue is welcoming a new Champion for this Hope Spot, Hector Guzman, who has been working with the government and Panamanian communities to define the protected area of nearly 68,000 km2 and help ensure the smooth implementation of the marine protected area. This is a true example of science diplomacy”.
Hector Guzman is the Senior Staff Scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and also part of the MigraMar collective and now the new Hope Spot Champion of the Coiba and Cordillera de Coiba Hope Spot. Guzman’s extensive research has been essential for developing fishing regulations, creating new marine protected reserves and supporting the respective management plans and for the conservation and protection of transboundary migratory marine species.
“I’ve been able to translate the science to inform fishing regulations, protection of endangered migratory species, and research-backed marine protected areas. When I see an opportunity on my side to inform policy, I engage”, he explains.
Guzman describes the significance of the decision. “The Cordillera de Coiba created with Colombia the first binational marine protected area in the Eastern Tropical Pacific in 2017, an unnoticed international event. This new expansion involved an orchestrated team effort, and closed the gap with Colombia’s Malpelo and Yurupari borders creating a new binational area of more than 121,500 km2.”
The Coiba and Cordillera de Coiba Hope Spot encompasses two marine protected areas (MPAs): Coiba National Park (CNP) and Cordillera de Coiba (CC) Sustainable Use. Coiba National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and protects 3,770.64 km2 of coastal highly diverse habitats. Cordillera de Coiba is currently the largest MPA in the country and protects 17,223.52 km2 of oceanic deep habitats made up of several seamounts – underwater mountains that harbor important biodiversity.
Milciades Concepción, Minister of Environment of Panama, says, “The expansion of the marine protected area of Coiba demonstrates the clear and strong commitment of Panama to ocean conservation, and at the same time, reinforces the role of the country in the fight against climate change.”
Of the newly expanded MPA, 2/3rds are designated as no-take, while the remaining ⅓ is planned for sustainable use, with no industrial fishing allowed. Perhaps the most important aspect of the expanded MPA is its new border with the Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary, the large marine protected area 500 km off of Colombia’s coast, and the Yurupari-Malpelo area.
Surrounding countries including Ecuador and Costa Rica have committed to protecting some of their oceans, with Ecuador having protected 13% of its waters, and Costa Rica protecting just 2.7% of its waters (mpatlas.org). They still have a long way to go in order to protect the corridors and swimways of vulnerable animals like sharks, large whales, sea turtles and other species that migrate through the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
“We sincerely congratulate the country of Panama in declaring the Coiba range marine protected area. We hope that all nations see this as an example of a path forward toward protecting one of our home planet’s most vital resources, our oceans. And we encourage all nations around the globe to follow Panama’s example in protecting 30% of their oceans by 2030″ says Alex Perry, General Manager and President of Latin America, Patagonia.
This region is a biodiversity hotspot and is home to endangered sea turtles, whales, sharks and countless species of seabirds. These highly migratory species travel the region from seamount to seamount and island to island and are highly dependent on its nutrient-dense waters for survival.
“We applaud Panama’s leadership and bold action expanding marine protections for Coiba Ridge – a key link to the Eastern Tropical Pacific for many migratory fish and mammals, last refuge for a number of threatened animals, and home to an exceptional array of creatures found nowhere else on earth. The Blue Nature Alliance and SkyLight are partnering with the Ministry of the Environment, MigraMar, and WildAid Marine, and committed to coordinate with Global Fishing Watch to support effective monitoring, management, and enforcement for the conserved waters,” says Joaquín Quinto Labougle, regional program officer for Latin America and the Caribbean for Blue Nature Alliance.
The level of protection and governance of the iconic Coiba National Park is at risk and under constant evaluation by UNESCO. Before the signing of the new marine protected area plan, Cordillera de Coiba was merely a “paper park”, meaning that it carried the title as a protected area, but was not under active and thorough protection. These marine protected areas are threatened by illegal fishing, including international purse-seine tuna vessels in the Cordillera de Coiba area and artisanal, industrial, and sport fishing in the Coiba National Park. Overall, fishing and uncontrolled tourism continue to be the major threats to these areas. The lack of protection is affecting the restoration of natural coastal habitats and species nurseries. Consequently, a coordinated international effort and leadership are necessary to move forward a reliable protection plan to allow depleted fish populations to recover to healthy levels.
Hector Guzman is looking to the future and is working to achieve continued improvements to Panama’s approach to marine protection, as well as surrounding countries in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. He hopes that the expansion of the Cordillera de Coiba Sustainable Use marine protected area achieves biological and geological connectivity and results in a net spillover increase to influence the Coiba National Park and other coastal areas at a representative scale for conservation and management. He also seeks to increase the total binational protected area from 70,822.41 km2 to 121,507.87 km2, the third-largest MPA in the Eastern Tropical Pacific after Revillagigedo and Galapagos and to use scientific data to continue informing policies and promoting improved governance, management, and tangible protection at both Coiba National Park and Cordillera de Coiba marine protected areas.
Molly McUsic, President of Wyss Foundation says, “By expanding the Cordillera de Coiba Marine Protected Area, the government of Panama is not just taking bold action to safeguard the region’s exceptional wildlife and biodiversity, but also strengthening Panama’s robust ocean-based economy, and establishing itself as a global ocean conservation leader. Thank you and congratulations to President Cortizo, Minister Concepción, and the people of Panama for permanently protecting this remarkable place and charting the course to 30% for other countries to follow.”
Guzman says, “Thanks to the government of Panama, particularly the Minister of Environment, the well-coordinated experts’ team, and the Wyss Foundation and Migramar for supporting this initiative, the country has reached the 30×30 with nearly 98,000 km2 of marine protection, and now it is the time for big management and conservation. The country, however, needs additional financial resources.”
About Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute was founded with the purpose of increasing and sharing knowledge about the past, present and future of tropical ecosystems and their relevance to human welfare. This work began in Panama in 1910 when the Smithsonian led one of the world’s first major environmental impact studies, which surveyed and cataloged the flora and fauna of the lowland tropical forests that would be flooded with the creation of the Panama Canal. A century later, the Smithsonian in Panama is a standard-setting global platform for groundbreaking research on tropical forests and marine ecosystems and their astounding biodiversity.
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