Darien National Park: First Year of Progress 2021-22
Darien National Park is one of the most important World Heritage Sites in Central America.
At over half a million hectares and growing, Darien is the largest national park in Panama and sits on the border adjacent to Colombia’s Los Katios National Park. This area is known as the Darien Gap, the only break in the Pan-American Highway that would otherwise run continuously through fourteen countries from Alaska to Argentina.
With stunning coastal habitats flanked by mangroves that give way to primary tropical forests and swamps, this is one of the most isolated and biodiverse places on Earth. Darien was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981, and in 1983 it was recognized as a Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO Man and Biosphere program.
Darien is home to many established human settlements within and around the park, including indigenous communities that have flourished here since long before the park had protected status. These indigenous tribes in the park make conservation of the forest and its wildlife a life or death situation for both animals and humans. These ancient cultures will disappear if the forests do.
Darien has many rare and endangered species on the IUCN Red List. Jaguars are killed to protect livestock, and other endangered species include ocelots, American crocodiles, capybaras, and a number of primates. Sadly, all these species are being poached inside and outside the park.
The giant anteater is a native of Darien, and has a rating of vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, as they are illegally hunted for their meat and their fur.
But the illegal hunting of wildlife is not the biggest threat to the wildlife of Darien. Goldmining with illegal and destructive gas-powerd water pumps pollutes the waters and destroys river beds, while deforestation is pushing many species towards extinction. These tropical forests are being destroyed at alarming rates. The harvesting of lumber is both done illegally and by those with permits granted by local authorities. Illegal cattle ranchers burn down what is left of the forest.
Last year, Global Conservation launched Global Park Defense to combat illegal activities within Darien National Park and protect its inhabitants and surrounding communities. After completing a threats and needs assessment, Global Conservation deployed park-wide satellite communications, trained ranger teams on SMART patrolling software, and provided equipment to enhance patrolling. Global Conservation brought in trainers and master rangers from Costa Rica, Guatemala and our partner, Wildlife Protection Agency. Local authorities and members of the community joined our team in support of our work to improve park protection.
Key Achievements, 2021-2022
Improved Patrolling:
1 ATV repair and 1 new ATV donated, 2 new canoes donated and repair of 4 outboard motors, donated SMART and ArcGIS software for mapping and documenting patrols and activities in the field, and 6 laptop computers were donated to utilize the software. Rangers are also beginning to implement drones for aerial surveillance of denser, less accessible areas of the park to detect signs of burning and illegal logging.
Software Training: In 2021, Darien rangers were first trained in SMART patrolling software, and received a SMART refresh and additional training in using complementing ArcGIS software in April 2022.
Improved Communications: Donated equipment included 1 satellite phone, 5 GPS InReach Explorer+ units, and 7 Blackview cellphones compatible with SMART patrolling software.
Improved Wildlife Monitoring: 6 camera traps were donated and installed in key high-traffic areas for both humans and wildlife.
Fire Control Training: In February of 2022, Darien rangers were trained by the Ministry of the Environment and firefighters in both fighting forest fires and conducting prescribed burns for fire prevention and forestry management. Rangers were fully outfitted with necessary fire control gear, as well as first-aid supplies and training from the Panamanian Red Cross.
Increased Patrolling: 250 aquatic patrols and 398 terrestrial patrols were conducted in 2021. SMART software was fully deployed in January of 2022 and has been supplemented with ArcGIS mapping software this year, which will provide detailed data on total patrol miles, routes, and field activities for 2022-2023.
Ranger Stations: Today, all five ranger stations are operational. A minimum of two to three rangers at each station rotate to keep permanent shifts staffed.
Interdictions: 3 total interdictions for 2021; 1 for illegal logging and 2 for illegal gold mining in the Rio Sábalo area.
Species Facing Extinction
In Darien National Park, we are working with our partners to protect the harpy eagle.
Fewer than 450 harpy eagles are likely to remain in Panama . Harpy eagles are enormous birds of prey, tied for the title of world's largest eagle. They are found in rainforest habitats throughout much of South and Central America, and are threatened primarily by deforestation.
Global Conservation is funding a multi-year species population baseline study for harpy eagles to ascertain progress in park and wildlife protection from our investments in Global Park Defense in Darien National Park.
International Cooperation
This year, Global Conservation has also signed agreements with Colombia Parks Authorities to further assess the deployment of Global Park Defense in Darien’s neighboring park, Los Katios National Park of Colombia. Many of the illegally traded goods stolen from Darien cross the border into Colombia and beyond, and vice versa. Global Conservation will continue to assess the viability of cooperation between the two parks of the Darien Gap to strengthen monitoring of illicit activities, synchronize patrolling and bolster response capabilities.
Next Steps
Standardize Patrolling Data: With all rangers now trained in both SMART and the complementary ArcGIS mapping software, patrols will be recorded in detail to show routes, total kilometers covered, time and place of interdictions or detected illegal activity, and wildlife sightings.
This data will help inform patrol planning for the most efficient and effective routes, lead to an increase in interdictions of illegal activities, and provide organized intel for military authorities to address larger criminal operations.
Improve Ranger Stations: Three of the five ranger stations need solar power to both improve rangers' living conditions and best utilize patrolling equipment. Global Conservation will support the repair or installation of solar power on these stations.
Community Support: To be effective in enforcing conservation laws, Darien Rangers must maintain positive relationships with the many communities within the park. Rangers often spend time visiting with communities and bring fuel and other rations to those that are farther down the river and unable to access these necessities as easily. Rangers recognize that there are conflicting interests for conservation and the livelihoods of some communities, and navigate these conflicts tactfully. Global Conservation is exploring options to aid communities in making transitions into more sustainable livelihoods to deter the use of destructive practices like gold mining with gas-powered pumps. In the coming years, Global Conservation will support the development of infrastructure to expand a viable eco-tourism industry for Darien. Another option is sustainable agriculture, which some communities have already adopted.
TrailGuard AI: Global Conservation is partnering with RESOLVE to deploy networks of TrailGuard AIcameras to bolster surveillance in national parks globally. Global Conservation’s goal over the next 5 years is to deploy these discrete, high-resolution cameras in all parks that we support, to provide 24/7 monitoring of high-threat areas, and identify threats to wildlife before they can poach and destroy habitats.
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