The Ministry of the Environment (MiAMBIENTE), through the Water Security Directorate (DSH), has launched a strategy for environmental restoration and conservation for the lake of Los Andes, located in the district of San Miguelito. This initiative is a response to the management of the Matías Hernández River Sub-watershed Committee and seeks to reverse years of degradation in this key ecosystem of the metropolitan region. Juan Erazo, president of the Matías Hernández River Sub-watershed Committee, emphasized that the lake is a site of great natural attraction and the only one of its kind in the Omar Torrijos district, which reinforces the community's commitment to the tasks of cleaning and recovering green areas. For grassroots organizations, such as CALA, the lake represents a historical symbol of conservation. The national director of Water Security, Karima Lince, led the work day, stressing the importance of providing technical accompaniment to community committees. This biological wealth represents an opportunity for the development of sustainable tourism and birdwatching, through alliances between local governments and specialized associations. As a body of water shared between the sub-watersheds of the Matías Hernández and Río Abajo rivers, MiAMBIENTE will work in an articulated manner with both committees. The project integrates personnel from the Environmental Education and Forestry areas to address critical challenges such as water pollution, the presence of solid waste, and the urgency of reforestation. Abdel Filos, president of said organization, pointed out that the area is a strategic point for the arrival of migratory birds, functioning as an integrating axis for environmental groups in the sector. According to technical reports, the site hosts various species of birds, herons, turtles, and reptiles, as well as sightings of wildlife such as capybaras and ñeques.
