THE PANAMA CANAL WATERSHED:PHYSICAL PROCESS AND HUMAN DIMENSION

THE PANAMA CANAL WATERSHED:PHYSICAL PROCESS AND HUMAN DIMENSION

Maria Concepcion DonosoAbdiel Adames

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THE PANAMA CANAL WATERSHEDTHE PANAMA CANAL WATERSHED

SURFACE AREA OF THE INTEROCEANIC REGIONSURFACE AREA OF THE INTEROCEANIC REGIONPANAMA CANAL WATERSHED + CANAL AREAPANAMA CANAL WATERSHED + CANAL AREA

DISTRIBUTIONDISTRIBUTION

WATERSHED

CANAL AREA 33,406 ha

TOTAL 374,239 ha

340,833 ha

LAKESLAKES

GATUN

MIRAFLORES

36,175 ha

250 ha

TOTAL 40,700 ha

ALAJUELA 4,275 ha

OBJECTIVES OF THE REGIONAL PLANOBJECTIVES 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 RESOURCESTHE OFFER OF NATURAL RESOURCES

LOCALIZATION ADVANTAGESLOCALIZATION ADVANTAGES

LIMITED AGROECOLOGICAL CAPACITY OF THE SOILSLIMITED 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 capacityForestry and

Agroforestry capacity

ABUNDANT WATER RESOURCESABUNDANT 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 RISKLOW 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 ORIGENRISK 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 RESOURCESPRESENT 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 USESSOIL USES

PRESENT USED OF THENATURAL RESOURCES

CANALOPERATION

58%

HUMANCONSUMPTION

6%

GATUNELECTRIC PLANT

27%

SPILLWAYS

9%

WATER USESWATER USES

PRESENT USED OF THENATURAL RESOURCES

VEGETATION USESVEGETATION 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 THENATURAL RESOURCES

BIODIVERSITY USESBIODIVERSITY USES

NON SUSTAINABLE

Deforestation rate of 300 ha per year during last decade

Poachers

SUSTAINABLE

ECOTURISMLow developed but with high potential

BIOPRODUCTIONLow developed with unknown potential

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DETERIORATION OF NATURAL RESOURCESDETERIORATION 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.

DEFORESTATION1

EROSION 2

DETERIORATION OF DETERIORATION OF NATURAL RESOURCESNATURAL RESOURCES

In the last 80 years, Gatun Lake has lost 8% of its usefulcapacity by sedimentation.

In 60 years, Alhajuela Lake has lost 6% of its usefulcapacity.

With the present rates of erosion in the watershed, both lakes will loss no more than 5% of its useful capacityin the next 35 years.

SEDIMENTATION3

DETERIORATION OF DETERIORATION OF NATURAL RESOURCESNATURAL RESOURCES

There is good information on water quality in the watershed and poor information on the sources ofcontamination.

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 CONTAMINATION4

HUMAN DIMENSIONHUMAN 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%.

POPULATIONPOPULATION

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HEALTH SERVICESHEALTH SERVICES are good in urban areas and conditions

decrease in rural areas of the watershed.

UNDERNOURISHMENTUNDERNOURISHMENT is less frequent in urban areas and higher

in rural areas of the watershed.

HOUSINGHOUSING development is higher in urban areas and lower in

rural areas of the watershed.

FAMILY INCOMEFAMILY INCOME in the Interoceanic Region is the highes of the

country. Family income is low in communities aroun Gatun Lake.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

HUMAN DIMENSIONHUMAN DIMENSION

Illiteracy is less than 10% in Panama.

High levels of education are found in urban areas of theInteroceanic Region and lower levels are found in ruralcommunities of the watershed.

EDUCATIONEDUCATION

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.

UNEMPLOYMENTUNEMPLOYMENT

HUMAN DIMENSIONHUMAN DIMENSION

THE OBJETIVESTHE OBJETIVES

1995 - 20201995 - 2020

34%

39%

0.5%

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

19951995 20202020

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 LawPanama Canal Authority Organic LawArticle 6:Article 6:

Panama Canal Authority Organic LawPanama Canal Authority Organic LawArticle 6:Article 6:

PCA Responsibilities at the WatershedPCA 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

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Región Occidental

Región Oriental

Caribbean Sea

339,649 Ha.

213,112 Ha.

Law 44, August 1999

Canal Watershed Interinstitutional Commission

(CICH)

Integrate efforts, initiatives and resources

Promote sustainable development

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES