The success of the PROCARIBE+ Project is deeply rooted in the collaboration between our regional partners and co-executing agencies.
As we gather this week for the Fourth PROCARIBE+ Project Execution Group (PEG) meeting in Panama City, we are reminded that meaningful implementation is only possible when we work together and jointly identify solutions to our shared challenges.
The Project Executive Group is composed of the PROCARIBE+ Co-executing Partners which are leading the project’s in-country activities across the Wider Caribbean. At the meeting, the participants jointly reviewed progress with the delivery of their work plans, prepared for the Mid-term PROCARIBE+ Project Board Meeting and discussed means to enhance the Project’s communications approach.
The meeting served as a critical space to deepen relationships and co-create the path forward for the PROCARIBE+ Project, ensuring that it will deliver a long-lasting impact across the Wider Caribbean.
To close off the week, participants visited the Galeta Marine Laboratory of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, where representatives from the Panamanian Ministry of Environment showcased their work on seagrass monitoring. This effort, supported in part through a partnership between the PROCARIBE+ Project and the Pew Charitable Trusts, is helping to create enabling conditions for the development of sustainable finance mechanisms based on blue carbon.
We wish to thank all PROCARIBE+ Co-Executing Partners for their positive contributions during our sessions and for their unwavering commitment to supporting the region in its transition toward a sustainable and resilient Blue Economy.
Firsthand Panama’s dedicated efforts in monitoring coral reef and seagrass communities.
During our recent field trip as part of the Fourth PROCARIBE+ PEG meeting, we had the opportunity to observe firsthand Panama’s dedicated efforts in monitoring coral reef and seagrass communities. This initiative, led by the Ministry of Environment’s Coastal and Maritime Department, aims to characterize these vital ecosystems and standardize monitoring methodologies at a national level.
A primary goal of this ecological monitoring program is to generate the robust scientific data necessary to support Panama's objective of developing innovative financing mechanisms based on blue carbon. Establishing a solid scientific foundation regarding the health and coverage of blue carbon habitats—such as the seagrass meadows in Bastimentos Island Marine National Park and Escudo de Veraguas—is essential for crafting effective policy measures and management strategies for their conservation and sustainable use.
By accurately mapping and monitoring these blue carbon ecosystems, this work is directly assisting Panama in achieving its objectives under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). This scientific data strengthens the vital linkage between coastal conservation and national climate policy, providing the evidence base needed to integrate seagrass protection into Panama’s broader strategy for climate mitigation and adaptation.
PROCARIBE+, in partnership with The Pew Charitable Trusts and other local partners, is providing technical and strategic assistance to the government to support these goals. This collaboration ensures the implementation of rigorous scientific protocols, including site assessment through satellite imagery and drone flight planning, as well as detailed in-water data collection on variables such as canopy height, stem density, and ecological indicators. By securing the data required to validate the role of these habitats as essential carbon sinks, Panama is taking decisive steps toward climate resilience and long-term blue socio-economic development.
