Darien National Park
By Juan Carlos Martinez
Darien is one of Panama's nine provinces and a very controversial one at that. It is the border province with Colombia. It is constantly on the news because it is a very fluid border due to the aggressive landscape filled with lush tropical jungle, rivers and steep hills. Darien is also home to Darien National Park representing an area only second to the Amazon jungle in neotropical biodiversity. It is one of Panama's most important natural reserves covering 579 thousand hectares (1,430,740.2 acres) including almost all of the border strip between Panama and Colombia. It was created in 1980, declared World Cultural Patrimony by the United Nations in 1981 and Biosphere Reserve in 1982 due to its international importance.
The amazing biodiversity of this area includes endemic species, meaning they can only be found in this region, such as the four eyed fox. The area contains 450 species of birds and more than 56 species are in danger of extinction including the harpy eagle, the tapir and five species of felines such as the jaguar, the puma, among others. In addition to this the park is home to three indigenous groups: the Kunas, the Embera and the Wounaan whose culture is trying hard to be preserved.
One of the reasons the province and the park that bears its name have been in the news recently is the announcement made by the Colombian ex-President Alvaro Uribe regarding the adjudication of the construction of the “Transversal de las Americas”, a highway intended to join Venezuela, Colombia and Panama. The project ends at the Panamanian border and the government of Panama is expected to complete the road through part of the Darien National Park. However there is very strong opposition in Panama towards this project which the Panamanian government has not officially approved.
In first place if the road goes through the park the protection afforded by the classification of World Heritage and Biosphere Reserve would be lost. Not only that, but it would have incalculable effects on the environment as the Darien National Park is the last stronghold of forest in the world which contributes to the regulation of the planetary climate. This kind of construction would surely devastate and displace many of the species, both animal and plant, found today in Darien National Park of which as said above are in danger of extinction.
In addition to this there are security concerns such as the ease of passage afforded by a road which would increase illegal migration, drug trafficking, the passage of disease such as screw worm and the operation of Colombian guerrillas in Panamanian territory. Currently the aggressive dense landscape with an almost impenetrable jungle make very difficult to access the entire area. Fortunately these concerns have been expressed by Panamanians and heard by the government so it seems that no road is in the immediate future of the province of Darien so there is still time to enjoy the beautiful and unspoiled natural landscape.
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