Panama Doubles Darién National Park Rangers to Protect Vital Rainforest
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.
Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.
But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.
Why do we add these product links?
First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.
And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What do these affiliate links mean for you?
First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.
And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.
What do these affiliate links mean for us?
When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).
And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.
What does this mean for me personally?
You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.
Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
At Impactful Ninja, we curate positive and impactful news for you. Follow us on Google News or sign up for our free newsletter to get these delivered straight to your inbox—just like our expert roundup below!
📰 The quick summary: Panama’s Darién National Park receives significant reinforcements with 30 new park rangers and advanced monitoring technology to help protect one of Central America’s most biodiverse rainforests from illegal mining, logging, and encroaching development.
📈 One key stat: Darién National Park covers around 575,000 hectares (1.42 million acres) of rainforest, making it one of the largest parks in Central America and a vital ecological barrier between North and South America.
💬 One key quote: “There has been an abandonment of some protected areas, which has been noticeable for more than 15 years. The parks didn’t have directors. They didn’t have park rangers. Under the new Mulino government, and with Minister of Environment Juan Carlos Navarro, who knows environmental issues very well, we have new momentum in the parks,” Luis Carles Rudy said.
1️⃣ The big picture: Panama’s Darién National Park, a crucial biodiversity hotspot where Central and South America connect, faces multiple environmental threats. The park spans 575,000 hectares of rainforest along Panama’s border with Colombia and serves as an essential ecological barrier. Recently, the area has gained attention as a dangerous migrant crossing route, with thousands of people traversing the remote jungle daily. Criminal groups have established illegal mining camps that pollute important watersheds, while nearby cattle ranching and farming operations push ever closer to park boundaries. Road development projects offer new access points to previously isolated areas, potentially accelerating these threats.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: Panama’s government has demonstrated renewed commitment to protecting Darién National Park by doubling the ranger force with 30 new staff and equipping them with advanced monitoring technology. The Ministry of Environment received its largest budget in 30 years, enabling significant improvements to facilities and conservation efforts. Officials have successfully dismantled six illegal mining operations and established a permanent outpost at a critical border area previously exploited by miners. Conservationists are also exploring innovative approaches, such as purchasing buffer zone properties to prevent deforestation. Migration through the park has decreased by approximately 90%, reducing immediate human impact on sensitive ecosystems.
3️⃣ What’s next: Park authorities plan to tackle remaining environmental challenges zone by zone, focusing first on securing areas vulnerable to illegal mining. Conservation groups consider purchasing strategic buffer zone lands to prevent agricultural expansion into forested areas. Officials must develop specialized solutions for removing an estimated 300,000 tons of migrant waste accumulated over the past decade, which requires significant funding and technological resources.
Read the full story here: Mongabay – Protecting the Darién Gap: Interview with Panama national parks director Luis Carles Rudy
