During the past years FAO and the Ministry of the Environment of Panama have been collaborating in the development of a National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) through the UN-REDD programme. The NFMS aims at providing reliable forest resource information in order to promote a more sustainable management of forests as well as national forest policies. As a part of this process, FAO has been working together with indigenous peoples, main forest dwellers that play an invaluable role in managing forests sustainably.
This initiative is focused on strengthening the capacity of indigenous technicians and traditional authorities in forest management and governance through building a community-based monitoring system. Community monitoring has been recognized as an efficient tool in collecting information and observations about forests, while it also acts as mechanism of independent forest monitoring regarding processes of utilization of forest resources. Since most of the natural forests in Panama are located in indigenous territories, FAO has been working hand in hand with indigenous peoples, who have been actively involved through all the process.
FAO has provided the technical support needed to gather accurate data about the forests and natural resources through geo-referenced information and standardized field information. These tools enable the creation of an exhaustive map in which experts can identify, assess and design the necessary actions for the preservation, protection and management of forests in the long term. The system permits to identify and attend specific needs of different indigenous territories.
“I am excited to learn new tools and being able to see my territory in a map and feel proud to see that my people are protecting the forests,” said Emérita Sánchez, a Naso technician of the Naso Tjër-Di territory.
14 indigenous technicians of 10 territories have been trained in satellite monitoring and five working stations for data collection have been established. Three of the trained technicians are already giving technical support to authorities of different indigenous territories in other projects related to forest management.
The NFMS includes a National Forest and Carbon Inventory (INFC) that permits to estimate forests greenhouse gases emissions and removals at national level by incorporating satellite land monitoring systems and inventory data. This information will enable technicians to take action towards mitigating emissions from deforestation and land degradation.
For implementing the National Forest and Carbon Inventory (INFC) in indigenous territories, FAO trained local technicians to be in charge of data collection. Three workshops were carried out in indigenous territories training 40 technicians from six different indigenous groups. One group of technicians from the Ngäbe Bugle collected field information independently from several sampling units after the training.
Eliceo Quintero, a Ngäbe technician of the Comarca Ngäbe Bugle said: “I have gained knowledge in Geographic Information System that has allowed me to support different indigenous authorities in their territories.”
In addition to the training of data collection of carbon stocks in the field, FAO undertook the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) process when visiting sampling units in indigenous territories. Moreover, a protocol was developed to protect the intellectual property of traditional knowledge during tree sampling collection for tree identification. This protocol was elaborated based on several consultation workshops with technicians and indigenous authorities. Future work will include the validation of this protocol in the field.
Indigenous peoples in Panama
- Around 12% of the total population of Panama are indigenous groups and there are 12 different indigenous authorities that correspond to seven ethnic groups
- Panama recognizes by law:
- Five autonomous indigenous territories.
- The need to protect the intellectual property of the cultural identity and traditional knowledge of indigenous groups.
- Seven different indigenous languages and promotes bilingual education in their territories.
- More than 35% of the natural forests in Panama are located in indigenous territories.