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Coiba, Panama's largest island, which lies at the heart of the Coiba National Park, is now officially a World Heritage Site.
In the early days of the 20th century before "ecology" and "conservation" became household words, the Panamanian Government established a penal colony on the island, since its surrounding waters teemed with saw-tooth deterrents to would-be escapees. The colony recently moved to another location so that advantage may be taken of the island's rich eco-tourist potential and that neither tourists nor wildlife be frightened by the inmates.
Coiba Island, a natural refuge for a large number of species of birds, mammals and insects, has received attention from prominent scientists from around the world and has been studied by researchers of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute headquartered in Panama for many decades.
Divers say the waters around Coiba and the Gulf of Chiriqui make this one of the world's top locations for adventure diving for big fish and mammals.
The UNESCO committee which met in Durban, South Africa, in July made the following observations: Coiba National Park, off the southwest coast of Panama, protects Coiba Island, 38 smaller islands and the surrounding marine areas within the Gulf of Chiriqui. Protected from the cold winds and effects of El Niño, Coiba's Pacific tropical moist forest maintains exceptionally high levels of endemism of mammals, birds and plants.
It is also the last refuge for a number of threatened animals such as the crested eagle. The park is an outstanding natural laboratory for scientific research and provides a key ecological link to the Tropical Eastern Pacific for the transit and survival of pelagic fish and marine mammals.
Other World Heritage sites in Panama are:
- Fortifications on the Caribbean side of Panama: Portobelo, San Lorenzo ( 1980).
- Darien National Park (1981).
- Talamanca Range, La Amistad Reserves, La Amistad National Park (1983-1990).
- Archaeological Site of Panama Viejo and Historic District of Panama (1997-2003).
