the panama canal watershed: physical process and human dimension the panama canal watershed:...
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THE PANAMA CANAL WATERSHED:PHYSICAL PROCESS AND HUMAN DIMENSION
THE PANAMA CANAL WATERSHED:PHYSICAL PROCESS AND HUMAN DIMENSION
Maria Concepcion DonosoAbdiel Adames
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THE PANAMA CANAL WATERSHEDTHE PANAMA CANAL WATERSHED
SURFACE AREA OF THE INTEROCEANIC REGIONSURFACE AREA OF THE INTEROCEANIC REGIONPANAMA CANAL WATERSHED + CANAL AREAPANAMA CANAL WATERSHED + CANAL AREA
DISTRIBUTIONDISTRIBUTION
WATERSHED
CANAL AREA 33,406 ha
TOTAL 374,239 ha
340,833 ha
LAKESLAKES
GATUN
MIRAFLORES
36,175 ha
250 ha
TOTAL 40,700 ha
ALAJUELA 4,275 ha
OBJECTIVES OF THE REGIONAL PLANOBJECTIVES OF THE REGIONAL PLAN
To establish the basic criteria to allow economic development of the region based on the protection and sustainable utili-zation of the natural resource of the Panama Canal Watershed.
To identify and propose the most effective mechanisms and institutional arrangements for the conservation of the natural resources of the watershed.
To prepare suitable policies and mechanisms for the mobili-zation of the resources of the region.
THE OFFER OF NATURAL RESOURCESTHE OFFER OF NATURAL RESOURCES
LOCALIZATION ADVANTAGESLOCALIZATION ADVANTAGES
LIMITED AGROECOLOGICAL CAPACITY OF THE SOILSLIMITED AGROECOLOGICAL CAPACITY OF THE SOILS (225,878 ha)
21%
71%
8%
The transit through the Panama Canal – 80 km, 10 hours transit –reduces in weeks the voyage between the two oceans.
Agricultural/forestry and cattle breeding capacity
Agricultural capacityForestry and
Agroforestry capacity
ABUNDANT WATER RESOURCESABUNDANT WATER RESOURCES
The average water supply of the watershed is 4,455 hm3,which is enough for:
60 DAILY TRANSIST THROUGH THE CANAL
DRINKING WATER FOR 24 MILLION PEOPLE
50 DAILY TRANSISTS & DRINKING WATER FOR 4 MILLION PEOPLE
VEGETATION
84,000 HA OF PRIMARY
FOREST
35,000 HA OF SECONDARY
FOREST
34% OF THE TOTAL SURFACE IN
PROTECTED AREAS
THIRD WORLD RANK IN THE NUMBER OF
BIRDS PER KM2
BIODIVERSITY
LOW NATURAL ENVIRONMENTAL RISKLOW NATURAL ENVIRONMENTAL RISK
Risk of floodings limited to an small watershed (Curundu).
Low risks of hurricane-like winds.
Low propability of high intensity earthquakes.
RISK AND ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITATIONS OF HUMAN ORIGENRISK AND ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITATIONS OF HUMAN ORIGEN
5,500 ha with unexploded ordnance (military ranges). high level risk with limited uses
2,500 ha of dispose dredging material excavated from the Canal operation with no risks but high limitation uses.
Landslide risk at Guillard Cut. High risk with limited uses.
PRESENT USES OF THE NATURAL RESOURCESPRESENT USES OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES
Panama Canal 13%
Urban areas 6%
National parks 34%
Extensive cattle breeding 39%
Agriculture and reforestation 1%
Former US military bases 8%
SOIL USESSOIL USES
PRESENT USED OF THENATURAL RESOURCES
CANALOPERATION
58%
HUMANCONSUMPTION
6%
GATUNELECTRIC PLANT
27%
SPILLWAYS
9%
WATER USESWATER USES
PRESENT USED OF THENATURAL RESOURCES
VEGETATION USESVEGETATION USES
NON SUSTAINABLE
More than 50% of the watershed has been deforested
SUSTAINABLE
80% of the primary and secondary forests are in national parks
The other 20% was protected in the former US military basis
PRESENT USED OF THENATURAL RESOURCES
BIODIVERSITY USESBIODIVERSITY USES
NON SUSTAINABLE
Deforestation rate of 300 ha per year during last decade
Poachers
SUSTAINABLE
ECOTURISMLow developed but with high potential
BIOPRODUCTIONLow developed with unknown potential
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DETERIORATION OF NATURAL RESOURCESDETERIORATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Over 50% has been deforested.
The deforestation rate has decreased to 300 ha per year.
The potential erosion is high (140 ton/ha/year).
Its control depends by the presence of a good vegetation cover.
DEFORESTATION1
EROSION 2
DETERIORATION OF DETERIORATION OF NATURAL RESOURCESNATURAL RESOURCES
In the last 80 years, Gatun Lake has lost 8% of its usefulcapacity by sedimentation.
In 60 years, Alhajuela Lake has lost 6% of its usefulcapacity.
With the present rates of erosion in the watershed, both lakes will loss no more than 5% of its useful capacityin the next 35 years.
SEDIMENTATION3
DETERIORATION OF DETERIORATION OF NATURAL RESOURCESNATURAL RESOURCES
There is good information on water quality in the watershed and poor information on the sources ofcontamination.
There is good water quality in lakes and main rivers.
There is less water quality in rivers along the more urbanized areas.
There is no control and treatment of effluents.
WATER CONTAMINATION4
HUMAN DIMENSIONHUMAN DIMENSION
Panama has a population of 2.7 million people.
The Panama Canal Watershed has 108,510 people.
The population rate of increase in the watershed is 4%.
POPULATIONPOPULATION
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HEALTH SERVICESHEALTH SERVICES are good in urban areas and conditions
decrease in rural areas of the watershed.
UNDERNOURISHMENTUNDERNOURISHMENT is less frequent in urban areas and higher
in rural areas of the watershed.
HOUSINGHOUSING development is higher in urban areas and lower in
rural areas of the watershed.
FAMILY INCOMEFAMILY INCOME in the Interoceanic Region is the highes of the
country. Family income is low in communities aroun Gatun Lake.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
HUMAN DIMENSIONHUMAN DIMENSION
Illiteracy is less than 10% in Panama.
High levels of education are found in urban areas of theInteroceanic Region and lower levels are found in ruralcommunities of the watershed.
EDUCATIONEDUCATION
Unemployment rates are among the highest in the región
(13.8% in 1995). In urban areas of Panama and Colón are
about 20% and 15% in the Panama Canal Watershed.
UNEMPLOYMENTUNEMPLOYMENT
HUMAN DIMENSIONHUMAN DIMENSION
THE OBJETIVESTHE OBJETIVES
1995 - 20201995 - 2020
34%
39%
0.5%
0.5%
12%
8%
SYLVAN PROTECTED AREAS
EXTENSIVE CATTLE BREEDING
SUBSISTANCE AGRICULTURE
FORESTRY PRODUCTION
PANAMA CANAL AND LAKES
USA MILITARY BASES
40%
5%
8%
20%
15%
0%
SYLVAN PROTECTED AREAS
CATTLE BREEDING
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
FORESTRY AND AGROFORESTY
PANAMA CANAL AND LAKES
USA MILITARY BASES
19951995 20202020
NEW CONSTITUTIONAL TITLE
The Panama Canal Authority shall be
responsible for the administration,
maintenance, use and conservation
of the water resources of the Panama
Canal Watershed.
Article 310:
To safeguard Canal Watershed resources the PCA shall:
• Coordinate its proper management with other responsible organizations
• Approve strategies, policies, programs and projects that may impact on it.
•The board of directors of the PCA shall appoint and regulate the interinstitutional commission on the Canal Watershed. (CICH)
Panama Canal Authority Organic LawPanama Canal Authority Organic LawArticle 6:Article 6:
Panama Canal Authority Organic LawPanama Canal Authority Organic LawArticle 6:Article 6:
PCA Responsibilities at the WatershedPCA Responsibilities at the Watershed
• Administer, maintain, use and conserve the water resource
• Coordinate the administration, conservation and use of the natural resources of the watershed
• Approve strategies, policies, programs and public and private projects
• Establish and regulate the CICH throughout the Board of Directors
• Revise watershed boundaries
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Región Occidental
Región Oriental
Caribbean Sea
339,649 Ha.
213,112 Ha.
Law 44, August 1999
Canal Watershed Interinstitutional Commission
(CICH)
Integrate efforts, initiatives and resources
Promote sustainable development
OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES