The PRO CARBONO Association Panama is a non - profit association, of character and private law, based in the city of Panama. It associates landowners with important forest resources, indigenous organizations, and Grassroots Community Organizations (CBO) who are concerned about conserving forests and obtaining economic benefits through different forms of economic compensation for environmental services.

Meeting with forest owners in Bocas del Toro and Chiriqui

The organization was created to ensure its member's economic support, technical assistance, training, and marketing support, in their task of conservation of forest resources and obtaining economic benefits through the sale of carbon credits, mainly in the Voluntary Market of Carbon (VMC).

Presentation of carbon inventory results in Los Santos and Veraguas

The participation of the associates will facilitate that the country has an organized social force, committed to the conservation of forests, at a time when deforestation threatens to cause desertification in different regions of the national territory. The members of the PRO - CARBONO Panama Association have extensive experience in the conservation of forest resources.

The women's participation also participates in the estimates of the
WTP of the trees. Palmas Bellas Arriba, Panama east.

APROCARBONO expects to offer 3 million carbon credits to the International Financial Agencies that participate in the Green Climate Fund. Foundations and International Non-Governmental Organizations. Mainly, foreign national and foreign companies interested in exercising environmental leadership, participating in the fight against climate change. In short, companies would add value to the brand by committing to offset the emission of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) through the purchase of carbon credits. With the purchase of carbon credits, companies want to effectively communicate with to their final public the contribution they are making to save the planet.

By boat to the forest that will be inventoried

With the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama, three million years ago, Panama became a road that allowed the migration of many species of animals and plants from North America to South America, and vice versa. The bridge made it easier for animals and plants to migrate between the two continents. This event is known as Great American Exchange.

Therefore, with the purchase of carbon credits from Aprocarbono, not only does it help to avoid the emission of GHG emissions. We work so that private forest owners and communities can conserve a unique biodiversity on the planet.

Towards the mountain: owners and technical staff in
 La Pintada, Coclé.

Benefits for buyers of APROCARBONO bonds:

• They avoid GHG emissions, contributing to position themselves as environmental leaders in the scope of Panama and Latin America.

• They will contribute to improving the socioeconomic conditions of poor rural communities located in the environment of primary and secondary forests. With the income generated by the sale of carbon, owners can offer employment in the tasks of conservation and sustainable management of forests (Corporate Social Responsibility CSR).

• The income generated from the sale of carbon credits will allow forest owners and nearby communities to develop initiatives for the conservation of local species and ecosystems, such as zoo breeding and nurseries of forest varieties with species in danger of extinction are found with some degree of threat or in danger of extinction.

• The purchase of bonds will also help finance the conservation of water resources through the conservation of forests.

To contact us you can write to apronad2@gmail.com

The best business in Panama. Conserving forests, promoting tourism and commercial reforestation.

Panama: towards a national organization for the forest carbon

The withdrawal of States United of the Paris agreement on climate change has given greater importance to the participation of enterprises and organizations of civil society. The United Nations Global Compact, for example, offers cooperation to mobilize a global movement of Governments, civil society and companies to "create the world we want".

March 29, 2017, published on our Blog the article entitled "Trump and climate change: is the time for non-State actors". On that occasion, we indicate:

"It is time to promote the participation of non-State actors, establishing various forms of partnerships, joint ventures and mutually beneficial agreements, aimed at strengthening the fight against climate change. And on this basis, define a new framework of coordination with government entities."

As part of this strategic vision, APRONAD is promoting the creation of a national representative instance, capable of promoting the conservation of forests associated with economic benefits, by emission Greenhouse Gases (GHG) reductions, which will be marketed in the voluntary carbon market.

The objectives of an organization of this kind arise in the following terms:

General objective: Contribute to turn Panama into a synonym for commitment to sustainable development, positioning it as a leading nation in the fight against climate change.

Specific objectives: 1) to promote the sustainability of forest resources management; (2) set up a national organization of owners of forest resources and agricultural producers, based on the principles of representativeness, participation and decision making in a democratic way; (3) develop institutional capacities for the preparation and presentation of proposals, technical, legal and policy aimed at the payment for environmental services; (4) establishing mechanisms for national and international, public and private funding for the design and development of sustainable projects in the sector of agriculture, forestry and other land uses; (5) to conduct marketing joint bonds voluntary and regulated carbon markets, applying the principles of economic scale; (6) channel international and national technical assistance and training to the members of the Association; (7) expanding networks of contacts in the region and generate opportunities for collaboration.

The success of this organization depends on the application of the approaches of "social demand", organization of "bottom-up" and collective leadership based on consensus. The organization claims should express the demands and claims of its members, and not the opinion of a privileged circle. The process of structuring must be from the community organizations of Base (OCB) and leadership should be shared, thus, collective.

To illustrate the organizational model promoted, let the network of community organizations affiliated to FUNREGAAC. This Foundation has 13 associated OCBs and 2 that are considered friends, in the following way:

Each of these organizations, in a participatory manner, raised their reasons for participating in a national project of forest carbon. Let's look at the arguments of the Agroambientalista Association of Oajaca, located in the community of Oajaca, Corregimiento de Chiguirí Arriba, Penonomé district:

• Population: 500 families.
• Type of existing forest resources:

            - Primary forest.
            - Secondary forest.
            - Grasslands, bamboo.
            - Agriculture (crop type): citrus, coffee, vegetables, cassava, otoe, Yam, maize, timber..

• Priority community problems:

            - Weak community organization.

            - Inadequate equipment of the Local Development Board.

            -  Weaknesses the Committee of health.

            - Weaknesses the board administrator of the aqueduct Rural (JAAR)

            - Unemployment.

            - Roads in disrepair.

            - Poor transport service.

• Biodiversity:

           - Endangered species: Toucan mountain pichilargo

           - Proximity to protected areas: Cucuazal.

           - Illegal logging and burning.

           - Poaching.

           - Wildfires.

In this case, the project of forest carbon is associated with local development challenges. 15 community organizations associate and friends of Funregaac, has expressed interest in participating in a national organization, provided it is built "from bottom to top", on sound democratic principles.

The national organization which proposes APRONAD will be the sum of multiple efforts, involving various organizations of civil society related to the fight against climate change. In the coming weeks, will be presented the initiative at the national and international organizations. Those who are interested in learning more about the project and join the initiative can contact us at email: apronad@gmail.com.

OCBs of Cocle prepare proposals for Carbon Project

The last defenders of the forests of Panama

Panama is characterized by a progressive and irreversible loss of forest cover, initiated since 1903. Forest fires, urban sprawl, extensive agricultural and livestock systems, the economics of banana and African palm plantations, among other factors, have led to Devastation of forests.

Since 2000, international cooperation, through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Global Environment Facility (GEF), Development Bank of Latin America CAF, has channeled millions of dollars to conservation projects in Panama. But the loss of forest cover begun since 1903 has not been halted. Without prompt action, vast regions of the country will begin a desertification process. ¿What is the cause of this failure?

In this context, two "parallel universes" have emerged: the world of governmental and international agencies, gifted with generous technical and financial resources, and the domain of private landowners, rural and indigenous communities fighting a solo battle, trying to protect the remnants of forests. To date, a connection has not been established between the two sectors.

The owners of forests, rural and indigenous communities have decided to link the conservation of forest resources to the fight against climate change, exploring the opportunities offered by the Voluntary Carbon Market. The preparation of the Project Design Document (PDD) is fully funded with equity resources and voluntary work in the field, and also with contributions from local investors. In this way, the sector of the Non-State Actor Zone for Climate Action (NAZCA) has begun to be set up in Panama.

Panama's NAZCA sector has begun the process of creating a National Organization for Forest Carbon. The organization is divided into 4 divisions:

A) The Financing Commission: whose objective is to establish negotiations with the banking sector, to promote green financing.

B) The Marketing Commission, which will be responsible for promoting the sale of carbon credits.

C) The Commission for Training and Technical Assistance, with the purpose of channeling the scientific knowledge towards a sustainable forest management.

D) The Political Advocacy Commission: responsible for promoting legal initiatives to create a legal framework favorable to the conservation of forests.

At present, a team of Panamanian and other professionals, organized by APRONAD, carry out forest inventories to determine carbon stocks. The initial effort is carried out in the provinces of Colon and Penonomé, the collective lands of the Emberá - Wounaan (Darién), East Panama and Veraguas Province communities. With the satellite information an initial valuation of the properties that participate in the Project is made, the temporary sampling plots are selected and the information on the ground is raised.

This private initiative has the advantage of having the commitment and dedication of forest owners. It is a project that is born empowered by its beneficiaries. But the lack of technical and financial support from the government sector and international cooperation agencies slows development,

Historic: APRONAD and Arimae Local Congress (Emberá-Wounaan) agree to promote CCB carbon project

Francisco Rivas.

Arimae is a Panamanian indigenous community that incorporates two distinct cultures: Embera and the Wounaan. It is located in the Collective Lands of Arimae / Embera Puru, 210 kilometers from the capital city, oriented to the side of the Pan-American Highway, to the Northeast of Panama. In administrative terms, it is part of the Corregimiento of Santa Fe, District of Chepigana, Province of Darién.

On December 10, 2015, after 40 years of struggle, Arimae and Emberá Puru's 1,300 inhabitants (220 families) were given the title of their collective lands by the National Land Administration Authority (ANATI). These are 8,191 hectares, of which an estimated 4,000 ha. correspond to primary forest.

Considering the favorable conditions created by the granting of ownership of collective lands, the Arimae Local Community Congress, Emberá - Wounaan Collective Lands, agreed to design and implement, with the support of APRONAD, the "Climate Project, Community and Biodiversity (CCB) for the Voluntary Carbon Market (MVC) ".

The Agreement establishes: "... to prepare the technical, legal and administrative documentation necessary to register a Project according to the CCBA methodology, in the VCS Standard (Verified Carbon Standard), using at all times the principle of prior, free and informed consultation and participatory techniques proper to Popular Education". The decision was unanimously adopted by the General Assembly of the Local Congress of the Arimae Community.

The Agreement is signed by Mr. Elivardo Membache R., Nokó and General Cacique of Emberá - Wounaan Collective Lands.

Emberá - Wounaan Collective Land Assembly
commissioned APRONAD to design Voluntary Carbon Market Project 

The Agreement is signed by Mr. Elivardo Membache R., 

Nokó and General Cacique of Emberá - Wounaan Collective Lands.