Panama – Environmental organizations in Chiriquí province confronted severe setbacks this month when a port developer secured court orders to seize their bank accounts and nature reserves amid ongoing battles over mangrove destruction.
Unprecedented Legal Strikes Against Conservationists
Unprecedented Legal Strikes Against Conservationists (Image Credits: Imgs.mongabay.com)
Ocean Pacific Financial Services Corp., the U.S.-based promoter of the Puerto Barú port, launched criminal complaints in August 2025 against two key opponents: the Center for Environmental Advocacy of Panama (CIAM) and Adopt a Panama Rainforest Association (Adopta Bosque).
The allegations centered on defamation and creating public confusion through campaign materials. Civil actions followed in February 2026, prompting preventative seizures that froze CIAM’s bank accounts and took control of four Adopta Bosque properties serving as private nature reserves in Chiriquí and Darién provinces.
Guido Berguido, biologist and Adopta Bosque director, described the pressure as historic. “This is unprecedented in Panama’s history. Never before has a nonprofit conservation group been targeted with this kind of legal attack,” he stated. The moves disrupted operations, leaving groups uncertain about paying staff or accessing seized lands used for research and education.
Joana Abrego, CIAM’s legal manager, warned of wider risks. “It’s a very worrying precedent that the judicial system is being used in this way against actions to defend the environment,” she said. Advocates likened the tactics to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, or SLAPPs, aimed at silencing dissent.
Mangroves and Marine Life Hang in the Balance
The Puerto Barú project envisions a multipurpose port with a 31-kilometer dredged navigation channel to serve large vessels, linking to David town and the Pan-American Highway while boosting tourism and agribusiness. Yet critics highlighted profound ecological threats in an area holding 25% of Panama’s mangroves, designated as an Important Shark and Ray Area.
Construction would eliminate vital breeding grounds for sharks and rays, while dredging risks erosion and disrupts carbon-storing wetlands. Nearby protected zones, including Coiba Island National Park and Marino Golfo de Chiriquí National Park just 10 kilometers away, face indirect harm from increased cargo traffic. An independent analysis by the Conservation Strategy Fund estimated up to $32 million in environmental damage.
- Mangrove loss undermines coastal protection and climate regulation.
- Dredging alters ocean currents, affecting species reproduction.
- Habitat destruction endangers artisanal fishing and local livelihoods.
- Carbon sink reduction exacerbates global warming impacts.
- Biodiversity hotspots near national parks receive added pressure.
Coalition’s Long Campaign Faces New Hurdles
More than 60 groups formed the No to Puerto Barú coalition, filing a 2024 lawsuit with Panama’s Supreme Court to nullify the project’s environmental impact assessment over flawed consultations and understated harms. The case remains pending, stalling construction.
Opponents, backed by scientific studies like the Lynker report, pushed for relocation rather than cancellation. Local fishermen, tour operators, and experts supported their warnings through interviews and data. The developer countered in local media that the NGOs spread unverified claims lacking scientific basis.
Seizures compounded challenges: CIAM paused community legal aid and anti-poaching in Cordillera de Coiba, while Adopta Bosque worried over rangers’ access to reserves hosting new species discoveries.
Ripples Through Panama’s Environmental Defenders
This clash reflects rising tensions for activists in Panama, where past protests against mining and reforms drew violence and arrests. Over 40 organizations, from PANACETACEA to Sociedad Audubon de Panama, signed statements demanding dismissal of the suits and stronger protections under the Escazú Agreement.
The developer maintained the port’s assessments met standards, emphasizing economic benefits. Still, the asset actions raised alarms about judicial overreach stifling debate on high-stakes developments.
Key Takeaways
- Preventative seizures hit CIAM accounts and Adopta Bosque reserves, crippling operations.
- Puerto Barú threatens 25% of Panama’s mangroves and shark habitats with dredging.
- Coalition lawsuit stalls project; over 60 groups demand suit dismissals.
As legal fronts multiply, the fight underscores the high costs of safeguarding biodiversity against infrastructure ambitions. Will courts prioritize ecosystems or economic growth? What do you think about it? Tell us in the comments.
