Over the last week and a half participants have started their CBIP projects in community. Campamentos are well underway with many enthusiastic youth. And our reforestation project is ongoing with a projected impact of over 50,000 seedlings for this time next year. Stay tuned for more pictures!!!

This year, in collaboration with the Panamanian Ministry of the Environment, environmental group Conserva, the Club de Leones del Valle de Anton, and the Ministry of Tourism, Amigos de las Americas is launching an effort to improve understanding and appreciation of Panama’s national beauty. Over a period of three days, National Participants and Local Participants will be involved in maintenance and observational training in one of the national parks in the Valle de Anton. Our main projects will be to tour a recycling cooperative (assisting with clean up and sorting of bottles, cans and plastic) and improving infrastructure in the national park (path maintenance, railing, and benches at a lookout point). Over 90 AMIGOS including one local youth from each host community will be assisting park staff in maintaining and rebuilding trails to prevent damage to the native and endangered species as well as constructing a railing and benches at the top of the park at the Mirador Cerro Gaital. This is a unique opportunity to learn about the natural beauty of Panama and to develop an understanding of conservation from a real life perspective while helping support efforts to clean up and maintain a national park.