Panama's Ministry of Environment (MiAMBIENTE) concluded its 2025 cycle of national workshops for the formulation of a new forestry law, having gathered technical and social contributions from seven strategic regions of the country. This process aims to update the legal framework governing the conservation, use, and sustainable management of forest resources in Panama, adapting it to current environmental and productive challenges. Throughout the year, these workshops were held in the provinces of Herrera, Los Santos, Veraguas, West Panama, East Panama, Darién, and Coclé. The objective is to replace Law 1 of February 3, 1994, which has regulated forestry activities for over three decades and urgently requires modernization to incorporate innovative sustainable management practices. In 2026, MiAMBIENTE plans to resume these workshops to expand territorial coverage. The new legislative framework aims to correct these shortcomings to enhance the sustainable use of approximately 75% of the country's land with forest potential, while simultaneously ensuring the protection of biodiversity. During the sessions in key locations, participants raised critical concerns. Carlos Espinosa Peña, National Director, explained that the forest utilization regime needs a profound review to ensure ecosystem integrity, treating forest heritage as a common good. He noted that current legislation has gaps due to a lack of alignment between public policy and existing laws. Key issues include forest carbon ownership, the need for greater certainty in the application of sanctions, regulatory clarity, and the correction of irregularities in forest inventory processes. All collected information will be systematized by MiAMBIENTE's technical team to make necessary adjustments to the draft bill before its legislative process. These workshops constitute an informational and citizen participation phase prior to the formal start of the public consultation, allowing various societal sectors to influence the analysis of the bill.
