The exhibition "Our Protected Areas" began its tour at Terminal 2 of Tocumen International Airport, introducing travelers and visitors to the natural wealth that distinguishes Panama. The exhibition consists of audiovisual materials and informative panels that offer a visual journey through Panama's biodiversity. They noted that the images reminded them of the need to care for natural resources. The exhibition will be open to the public at the airport until May 8, so everyone can enjoy this visual tour of Panama's nature. Through these exhibits, the public can learn about the importance of tropical forests, mountainous areas, coral reefs, mangroves, and wetlands that are part of the natural heritage. During the opening ceremony, representatives of the organizing institutions reiterated their commitment to environmental education. The initiators of this initiative, whose purpose is to promote the conservation of natural resources and strengthen the environmental awareness of the Panamanian population, were the Minister of the Environment, Juan Carlos Navarro, Alejandro Balaguer from the Albatros Media Foundation, and José Ruiz, general manager of Tocumen S.A. Juan Carlos Navarro, Minister of the Environment, stated that Panama has extraordinary natural resources, national parks, landscapes, and more than 100 protected areas that are not sufficiently valued. Through this exhibition, they want to encourage Panamanians to conserve natural resources and the environment. They also want to awaken the curiosity of the 22 million travelers who pass through the terminal each year so that they return and get to know Panama's nature. Navarro indicated that this will be a win-win situation, as it will boost the economy, development, and tourism. Meanwhile, Alejandro Balaguer, from the Albatros foundation, mentioned that the exhibition will be at the airport's Terminal 2 for a month; subsequently, it will be displayed at Altaplaza Mall and then in the rest of the country. "4 Visitor centers will be created to promote environmental care. May 8 is the last day you can appreciate this traveling exhibition at the airport," Balaguer added. He also stated that this exhibition is part of a larger initiative that includes six 20-minute documentaries, which will be broadcast on Copa Airlines flights and a local channel starting Sunday, April 19, at 7:00 p.m. In addition, attendees of the exhibition can enjoy 60 micro-videos about Panama's biodiversity by scanning a QR code; they will also be available on social media. Balaguer announced that this work will be complemented by the creation of four visitor centers in protected areas. Each space will feature exhibitions of photographs and audiovisual infographics to inspire Panamanians to care for natural resources and all biodiversity. Some visitors who took the tour of the exhibition agreed that the experience was educational and inspiring.
