Central America: The environmental costs of a booming economy

Due to the attraction of foreign investment, Panama has upholded the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement, hoping to spread economic prosperity in rural sectors. One particular investment was the highway project in the Darién province. While Panama is considered as the country that covers the most forests in Central America, this particular project has deforested 8.5% in just 2022, which is also equivalent to 67sq miles of land.

Tourism and mining operations are becoming increasingly lucrative for the Panamanian economy, although at the expense of its natural reserves and resources. In turn, these operations degrade these natural landscapes and displaces indigenous communities who lived here for centuries. Moreover, it has been argued that Panama's rapid development and exponential growth over the last two decades is a result of investment and the constant demand for construction.

Copper mines have become detrimental to Panama's Mesoamerican Biological Corridor - a passage that allows wildlife habitats to migrate between seven countries.