Protecting 470,000 Acres in Panama
We are helping the Wounaan people of Panama secure their rights to 470,000 acres of their ancestral lands.
Why this project is important: Panama recently passed a law that will allow indigenous groups to claim collective lands, which has long been a demand of the indigenous movement. The Wounaan will be among the first indigenous groups to gain formal control of their lands through this new law, establishing a model for other indigenous communities in the country. We see this as a critical opportunity for advancing indigenous rights, as well as environmental protection in the biologically important Darién region.
What we’re doing: Over the next few years, RF-US will be working with the Wounaan to gain recognition of all 12 communities. This will include legal work, community meetings, gathering necessary documents, and subsequent negotiations with the government. As a result, we hope to help secure nearly 500,000 acres of tropical forest, to be owned and managed by the Wounaan, who call the area home.