The Panamanian Ministry of Environment is reviewing a landmark proposal to establish the Sierra Llorona National Park. This new protected area would safeguard at least 15,000 hectares of forest in the Colon mountain range. The initiative emerged from a major redesign of the Caribbean Corridor highway project after environmental concerns halted its original construction.<\/p>\n
Environment Minister Juan Carlos Navarro explained that he found the project’s environmental assessment was improperly fragmented upon taking office. This discovery prompted the immediate suspension of all work. A subsequent dialogue process with local communities and stakeholders produced a new plan. The agreement transforms the infrastructure project into Panama’s first ecological highway, paired with the creation of the new national park.<\/p>\n
“Once the studies are complete, we will move forward to establish the Sierra Llorona National Park, an area with biodiversity similar to Darien and contiguous to the Chagres National Park, which is strategic because it generates 40 percent of the water for the Panama Canal<\/a>,” [Translated from Spanish] Navarro emphasized.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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