by Oscar Manuel Núñez Saravia
The territory called El Darien is a tropical rainforest massif located between northern Colombia and southeastern Panama. WCS defined its work area in that territory based on the Human Footprint methodology, covering a total of 21,264 km2, 1,546 inhabitants, 713 bird species, 199 mammal species, 184 reptile species and 121 amphibian species (based on the 2015 report). Forest cover in the territory is 84% and a forest cover loss of 6,291 ha/year is reported (2015).
The main protected areas in El Darién covering 49% of the defined territory are: El Darién National Park, Alto Darién Protected Forest, Serranía del Bagre Biological Corridor, Chepigana Forest Reserve, Matusagaratí Wetland System, Serranía de Darién, Majé and Santa Isabel Hydrological Reserves, Narganá Wildlife Area, Santa Isabel Multiple Use Area, Chagres National Park, Portobelo National Park, Canglón Forest Reserve and Punta Patiño Wetland.
In the Darien territory, the EU DeSIRA project will initiate investments through sub-grants in the Guna Yala Comarca, Embera Wounaan Comarca and the Mamoni Valley Reserve. In addition to the direct accompaniment of WCS, there will be support from Re: wild, who will also work through donations in the Guna Yala Comarca, specifically in the northern region on the borders of the Mamoni Valley. The use and training in SMART patrols will be reinforced as a tool for reporting threats, land invasion and biodiversity monitoring. This will include capacity building in restoration, land defense and patrols. These activities will be carried out in collaboration with Geoversity and the government of the Kuna Yala Comarca.
Photo: The EU DeSIRA project will initiate investments through sub-grants in the Comarca Gunayala, Comarca Emberá Wounaan and the Mamoní Valley Reserve.
In the Emberá region, Re:wild will work with Our Worlds Foundation on land protection and governance in Tagarkunyala, Darién, using SMART patrols as a tool to report threats, land invasion and monitor biodiversity. This will include capacity building in GIS and drone use, women and youth governance, indigenous law and project design. This will be in collaboration with the Tule General Congress of Tagarkunyala.
It should be noted that both Comarcas propose priority investment in the protection of their territories. The Guna Yala Comarca will focus on strengthening territorial governance for environmental and biological conservation in the areas bordering its comarca. For its part, the Emberá Wounaan Comarca will invest in remarking the original limits that appear in Law No. 22, which creates the Comarca and separates it from national lands, given that they are part of the Comarca's patrimony.