Reporting on climate, conservation, and ecological issues in Panama. We highlight scientific findings, policy responses, and community sustainability efforts.
Panama Bay’s cleanup has advanced since the treatment plant opened in 2013, but pollution, illegal discharges and incomplete coverage still keep swimming off-limits. Officials say full recovery could take another 25 years.
Panama has issued a fire warning through April 23 after detecting more heat spots in several provinces. The alert highlights elevated wildfire risk and the need for prevention measures.
Residents in David are calling for urgent dredging and cleanup of a creek before heavy rains raise flooding risks. Families want debris removed quickly to prevent damage in nearby neighborhoods.
Panama’s civil protection authorities are warning of peak high tides on Sunday, with rain potentially increasing flood risk in vulnerable coastal areas. Rivers, streams, and low-lying neighborhoods are the main concern.
Repeated failures at the Chilibre plant have exposed Panama City’s heavy dependence on a single water source. The outages have affected more than 1.5 million people and renewed calls for a more resilient system.
A Panamanian university student has created a nutritious porridge aimed at fighting malnutrition while promoting local resources and sustainability. The project highlights the role of food engineering in solving community health challenges.
Panama is working to recover the marañón, a fruit deeply tied to rural traditions and family memories, after years of decline linked to fungal disease. Institutions are testing pruning, resistant plants and new genetic material to restore production.
Residents in Capira improvised a pedestrian crossing after the bridge over the Perequeté River collapsed on March 14. The structure failed when an articulated truck carrying corn passed over it.
Blocked drainage systems are raising flood concerns in Panama as the rainy season approaches. Grease, gauze, construction waste, and other debris are limiting water flow through alcantarillas.
Panama’s amphibian rescue efforts underscore a global frog decline driven by disease and environmental stress. The crisis threatens biodiversity and the health of ecosystems that depend on amphibians.
IDAAN suspended operations at the Cabra 2 plant after a pipe rupture, cutting water service to several communities in eastern Panama City. The outage underscores ongoing pressure on Panama’s water infrastructure.
El Niño could increase pressure on the Panama Canal by straining the freshwater supply needed for its lock system. The risk highlights how climate patterns can affect one of Panama’s most important economic lifelines.
The UN says South Sudan faces a serious risk of full-scale famine as fighting intensifies and hunger deepens across the country. The warning adds urgency to one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.
Panama’s Public Works Ministry has installed sensors on the Bridge of the Americas to monitor the structure after a tanker explosion nearby. The move aims to support safety checks on one of the country’s most important crossings.
Panama City’s mayor’s office carried out cleanup and restoration work in 24 de Diciembre and Nuevo Tocumen, including painting, pruning, washing, and debris removal. Crews also treated an area damaged by illegal burning.
Authorities warn that Azuero’s water crisis has no short-term fix and could worsen as one of the strongest dry seasons in recent years reduces river and groundwater supplies.
Panama is set for rainy conditions in mountain areas while much of the country remains under intense heat. The forecast highlights the sharp weather contrasts typical of the country’s tropical climate.
Panama is preparing for a possible El Niño in 2026, raising fresh concerns over drought, water supplies and Canal operations. Forecasts point to a higher chance of the climate pattern emerging in the second half of the year.
Panama’s March for Science marks 10 years with a call for stronger funding and a bigger role for research in solving the country’s climate and water challenges. Organizers say science, not just the Panama Canal, should be treated as a pillar of national development.
Panama remains central to efforts to stop the New World screwworm from spreading north, with a sterile fly facility helping maintain the barrier in the Darien Gap. The program is designed to protect livestock, communities, and regional animal health.