Panama's Ecology And Biodiversity
The Republic of Panama has a fascinating and varied ecology and biodiversity as there are twelve existing "life zones" in Panama, according to Holdridge's classification. U.S. Botanist, the late L.R. Holridge, is considered a foremost authority on tropical ecology. A life zone in ecology is defined by climatic and soil conditions that create the type of forests growing in those regions. Panama appeared 3 million years ago as a bridge between two continents and a barrier between two oceans. Annual precipitations fluctuate between 4,000 and 5,000 mm. and its highest peak is Barú Volcano, 3,475m, in the Chiriquí province. Geologically speaking, there are areas that emerged 135 million years ago on the Caribbean littoral. Panama's central territory is the lowest point of the mountainous chain extending on the western coast of the American continent from Alaska to Cape Horn. The territory has the humidity of both oceans concentrating over the isthmus, making Panama an interesting locale to observe changes in the world hydrologic cycle.
More than 12% of the territory of the Republic of Panama - over one million fifty thousands hectares are Protected Wild life Enclaves. The flora is abundant with 10,000 species of plants - almost 8 different species per square kilometer - including 1,000 varieties of orchids, exotic plants that inhabit eleven of the twelve zones within the subalpine area. Nearly a dozen species are classified but eight of them belong to one genus, Pleurothallis, which has 55 species in Panama. Peristeria Elata, the country's national flower is also called Sancti Spiritus flower (Flor del Espíritu Santo) or "White Dove" and also "Holy Ghost". There are 687 species of ferns, 1,500 varieties of trees and innumerable types of insects whose total number is not yet precise as time and again new species are identified.
On the Caribbean coast, there is a spectacular 790 hectares extension of coral reefs in active life with 1,680 hectares of mangroves and 90 hectares of coconut trees which total 2,560 hectares between the provinces of Bocas del Toro and San Blas. Those areas are rich in marine resources since the ecosystem hosts and is used as a refuge by numerous species for their reproduction and development.
It is important to preserve the coral reefs as a large part of the country's economic and social development depends upon it. The algae, as well as marine grass such as Thalassias, belonging to the ecosystem, are deteriorating and disappearing because of the erosion and contamination occurring in Bocas del Toro banana zones, in Río Sixaola, Río San San and Río Changuinola watersheds and a growing deforestation to produce pasture lands in Portobelo and neighboring areas. On the Pacific coast, 21 species of coral are registered but the littoral has suffered from EL NIÑO current in 1983 and from sustained erosion and contamination produced by industry and cattle farming.
There are 27 locations where six species of turtles come to nest. Although there is a lot of pressure from predators, an important rescue operation, with the participation of non-government organizations and nature conservation agencies has slowed down the killing of turtles for meat or eggs and thanks to an effort of consciousness, the inhabitants of those areas help in protecting turtle's nests and eggs.
