THE PANAMA CANAL WATERSHED: PHYSICAL PROCESS AND HUMAN DIMENSION THE PANAMA CANAL WATERSHED: PHYSICAL PROCESS AND HUMAN DIMENSION Maria Concepcion Donoso Abdiel Adames

N THE PANAMA CANAL WATERSHED

SURFACE AREA OF THE INTEROCEANIC REGION PANAMA CANAL WATERSHED + CANAL AREA DISTRIBUTION WATERSHED CANAL AREA33,406 ha TOTAL374,239 ha 340,833 ha LAKES GATUN MIRAFLORES 36,175 ha 250 ha TOTAL40,700 ha ALAJUELA 4,275 ha

OBJECTIVES OF THE REGIONAL PLAN To establish the basic criteria to allow economic development of the region based on the protection and sustainable utili- zation of the natural resource of the Panama Canal Watershed. To identify and propose the most effective mechanisms and institutional arrangements for the conservation of the natural resources of the watershed. To prepare suitable policies and mechanisms for the mobili- zation of the resources of the region.

THE OFFER OF NATURAL RESOURCES LOCALIZATION ADVANTAGES LIMITED AGROECOLOGICAL CAPACITY OF THE SOILS LIMITED AGROECOLOGICAL CAPACITY OF THE SOILS (225,878 ha) 21% 71% 8% The transit through the Panama Canal – 80 km, 10 hours transit – reduces in weeks the voyage between the two oceans. Agricultural/forestry and cattle breeding capacity Agricultural capacity Forestry and Agroforestry capacity

ABUNDANT WATER RESOURCES The average water supply of the watershed is 4,455 hm3, which is enough for: 60 DAILY TRANSIST THROUGH THE CANAL DRINKING WATER FOR 24 MILLION PEOPLE 50 DAILY TRANSISTS & DRINKING WATER FOR 4 MILLION PEOPLE

VEGETATION 84,000 HA OF PRIMARY FOREST 35,000 HA OF SECONDARY FOREST 34% OF THE TOTAL SURFACE IN PROTECTED AREAS THIRD WORLD RANK IN THE NUMBER OF BIRDS PER KM2 BIODIVERSITY

LOW NATURAL ENVIRONMENTAL RISK Risk of floodings limited to an small watershed (Curundu). Low risks of hurricane-like winds. Low propability of high intensity earthquakes. RISK AND ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITATIONS OF HUMAN ORIGEN 5,500 ha with unexploded ordnance (military ranges). high level risk with limited uses 2,500 ha of dispose dredging material excavated from the Canal operation with no risks but high limitation uses. Landslide risk at Guillard Cut. High risk with limited uses.

PRESENT USES OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES Panama Canal 13% Urban areas 6% National parks 34% Extensive cattle breeding 39% Agriculture and reforestation 1% Former US military bases 8% SOIL USES

PRESENT USED OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES CANAL OPERATION 58% HUMAN CONSUMPTION 6% GATUN ELECTRIC PLANT 27% SPILLWAYS 9% WATER USES

PRESENT USED OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES VEGETATION USES NON SUSTAINABLE More than 50% of the watershed has been deforested SUSTAINABLE 80% of the primary and secondary forests are in national parks The other 20% was protected in the former US military basis

PRESENT USED OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES BIODIVERSITY USES NON SUSTAINABLE Deforestation rate of 300 ha per year during last decade Poachers SUSTAINABLE ECOTURISM Low developed but with high potential BIOPRODUCTION Low developed with unknown potential

13 DETERIORATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES Over 50% has been deforested. The deforestation rate has decreased to 300 ha per year. The potential erosion is high (140 ton/ha/year). Its control depends by the presence of a good vegetation cover. DEFORESTATION 1 EROSION 2

DETERIORATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES In the last 80 years, Gatun Lake has lost 8% of its useful capacity by sedimentation. In 60 years, Alhajuela Lake has lost 6% of its useful capacity. With the present rates of erosion in the watershed, both lakes will loss no more than 5% of its useful capacity in the next 35 years. SEDIMENTATION 3

DETERIORATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES There is good information on water quality in the watershed and poor information on the sources of contamination. There is good water quality in lakes and main rivers. There is less water quality in rivers along the more urbanized areas. There is no control and treatment of effluents. WATER CONTAMINATION 4

HUMAN DIMENSION Panama has a population of 2.7 million people. The Panama Canal Watershed has 108,510 people. The population rate of increase in the watershed is 4%.POPULATION

17 HEALTH SERVICES HEALTH SERVICES are good in urban areas and conditions decrease in rural areas of the watershed. UNDERNOURISHMENT UNDERNOURISHMENT is less frequent in urban areas and higher in rural areas of the watershed. HOUSING HOUSING development is higher in urban areas and lower in rural areas of the watershed. FAMILY INCOME FAMILY INCOME in the Interoceanic Region is the highes of the country. Family income is low in communities aroun Gatun Lake. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT HUMAN DIMENSION

Illiteracy is less than 10% in Panama. High levels of education are found in urban areas of the Interoceanic Region and lower levels are found in rural communities of the watershed.EDUCATION Unemployment rates are among the highest in the región (13.8% in 1995). In urban areas of Panama and Colón are about 20% and 15% in the Panama Canal Watershed.UNEMPLOYMENT HUMAN DIMENSION

THE OBJETIVES % 39% 0.5% 12% 8% SYLVAN PROTECTED AREAS EXTENSIVE CATTLE BREEDING SUBSISTANCE AGRICULTURE FORESTRY PRODUCTION PANAMA CANAL AND LAKES USA MILITARY BASES 40% 5% 8% 20% 15% 0% SYLVAN PROTECTED AREAS CATTLE BREEDING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FORESTRY AND AGROFORESTY PANAMA CANAL AND LAKES USA MILITARY BASES

NEW CONSTITUTIONAL TITLE The Panama Canal Authority shall be responsible for the administration, maintenance, use and conservation of the water resources of the Panama Canal Watershed. Article 310:

To safeguard Canal Watershed resources the PCA shall: Coordinate its proper management with other responsible organizations Approve strategies, policies, programs and projects that may impact on it. The board of directors of the PCA shall appoint and regulate the interinstitutional commission on the Canal Watershed. (CICH) Panama Canal Authority Organic Law Article 6:

PCA Responsibilities at the Watershed Administer, maintain, use and conserve the water resource Coordinate the administration, conservation and use of the natural resources of the watershed Approve strategies, policies, programs and public and private projects Establish and regulate the CICH throughout the Board of Directors Revise watershed boundaries

Canal Watershed Interinstitutional Commission (CICH)  Integrate efforts, initiatives and resources  Promote sustainable development  OBJECTIVES