The best Reserve Lodge in Central America, located on the heart of the Panamanian Pacific Coast in the Gulf of Chiriqui.
With only 9 Casitas that host a maximum of 18 guest that can experience top notch service, exquisite international cuisine and the natural surroundings of the Islas Secas Archipielago with it's 13 Islands preserve in perpetuity.
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Islas Secas Reserve and Lodge, Chiriqui, Panama
1. A M O D E L F O R S U S T A I N A B L E T O U R I S M
A P R I L 2 0 1 8
A MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
APRIL 2018
2. I S L A S S E C A S : A M O D E L F O R S U S T A I N A B L E T O U R I S M
An Elevated Outpost
The Islas Secas (Dry Islands) are an archipelago of 14 islands located about
24 km (15 miles) off the Pacific coast of Panama in the Gulf of Chiriquí. In
2009, Louis Bacon purchased the islands and their existing resort facility with
the intention of reshaping a luxury ecotourism resort that would benefit the
environment and economy of the surrounding region.
The goal of Islas Secas is to reconcile the complex economic, recreational,
and environmental interests of the Gulf of Chiriquí by developing a resort
community limited in scale, governed by environmentally sound management
practices, and supportive of the local economy.
The vision for Islas Secas is to create a model for sustainable tourism
development that respects the environment and the host community.
The challenge of Islas Secas is to develop partnerships with governments,
organizations, and other stakeholders that will help accomplish the goals and
vision for tomorrow.
2
In a way, the Islas Secas
project is an emblem for
what the state of Panama is
today: a democratic republic
participating in the world
economic community and
sharing the world’s concern
with the environment. We
are learning to use the tools
of economic benefit to
accomplish future preservation.
3. T H E G U L F O F C H I R I Q U I A N D T H E I S L A S S E C A S A R C H I P E L A G O
• 14 islands
• Distance from mainland Panama:
24km (15 miles)
• Distance from Panama City:
300 km (185 miles)
• Total land area:
419 hectares (1033 acres)
• Largest island: Isla Cavada:
169 hectares (418 acres)
Land allocation:
• 25% - Entitled land
• 75% - Protected land
Total protected land is 315 hectares
(775 acres).
While Isla Cavada is the site of
the resort core, beaches and
recreational sites abound in the
appropriate zones of other islands.
Terrain
• Volcanic origin
• Low-lying with leafy forest, rolling
hills, sandy beaches, and areas of
rocky vegetation, surrounded by
clear shallow waters.
Climate
• Tropical wet monsoon:drier in
winter and rainier in summer.
• Average temperature: 26 degrees
Celsius (78 degrees Fahrenheit).
Biodiversity
The gentle climate of the Secas
plays in a role in preserving the
Gulf’s biodiversity. As Dr. Juan Maté
concludes in his study of the Gulf’s
fisheries, “…the marine life is even
more enhanced by the presence
of archipelagos. These are the
habitat for a segment of the fauna
of the tropical Eastern Pacific that
is unique….They manage to survive
since the mountain range of Chiriquí,
in western Panama, protects the
region of the coastal upwelling
produced by the trade winds.”
“Marine life around the
Secas is breathtaking,
from sea horses and
starfish to giant manta
and eagle rays, pods of
dolphins, turtles, sharks
and vast schools of fish
swirling around volcanic
pinnacles, with humpback
whales arriving to calve
from June”.
- The Rough Guide to Panama
3
IslaParida
IslaLadrones
IslaMontuosa
Hannibal Banks
IslaCoiba
P A N A
M
A
G U L F O F C H I R I Q U I
P A C I F I C O C E A N
C A R I B B E A N S E A
Panama
City
David
IslaSecas
Archipelago
185 MILES (300 km)
Costa
Rica
L A N D A L L O C A T I O N P L A N
4
T H E A R C H I P E L A G O A T - A - G L A N C E
MAIN RESORT
ENTITLED LAND (25%)
PROTECTED LAND (75%)
IslasTres Marias
IslaTalia
Isla Mono
IslaToro
IslaCoco
IslaRobin
Isla Iguana
IslaBarracuda
IslaCavada
IslaPargo
4. I S L A S S E C A S ’ V A S T N A T U R A L R E S O U R C E S
In 2000, The Nature Conservancy identified the Gulf of
Chiriquí as a priority area for ecoregional planning, and
began to support scientific work there. Much of what
we understand about the biodiversity of the Gulf, and
of the Islas Secas, derives from those studies.
5
Catch-and-Release: The Islas Secas
resort is committed to catch-and-
release sport fishing and participation
in tagging programs.
Coral Reefs: The biologists
Héctor Guzmán and Odalisca
Breedy studied threats to coral
reefs and communities. (2008)
Given the current vulnerability
of coastal corals, it becomes
important to maintain the
healthy and diverse state of
coralline communities in the
Secas. Reef preservation may
also help the recovery of
decimated lobster and conch
species, and a large percentage
of commercially fished species
depend on coral reefs and their
associated ecosystem.
Whale Breeding Grounds: The pacific coast of Central America is unique
because, according to Panacetacea’s 2013 report on the Gulf of Chiriquí,
it harbors the northernmost breeding area of any southern hemisphere
humpback whale. (Most of the surveys that generated this map originated from
the Islas Secas.) The whales migrate to Colombia and Central America from
feeding grounds off Chile and Antarctica between July and October, known to
be the longest migration of any mammal on earth. Whales from California also
use the area from December to March, making this the only known wintering
area shared by both southern and northern hemisphere humpback whales.
MapcourtesyPanacetacea
HUMPBACK WHALE SIGHTINGS
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2013
Sighting locations
Sightings that included
a mother/calf pair
Boat tracklines
P A N A M A
Birdwatching Paradise: The Secas are well known for their bird life—
especially Isla Coco, home to Panama’s second-largest colony of soaring
frigates (Fregata magnificens] )with their magnificent wingspan. The bright
blue red-legged honeycreeper (Cyanerpes cyaneus) is a small songbird
species in the tanager family who also makes its home on the islands.
The Gulf of Chiriquí has also been a locus of activity for the Smithsonian
Tropical Research Institute, not only in STRI’s association with The Nature
Conservancy but also through its Panama International Cooperative
Biodiversity Group. With additional funding from the US National Institutes
of Health, National Science Foundation, and Department of Agriculture, the
ICBG has established a new model to promote drug discovery around the
world by involving the host country in the research, development, and royalty
processes. Over 45 promising compounds for the battles against cancer and
tropical diseases have already been identified at nearby Coiba National Park,
deriving from corals, sponges, and flora.
The World Heritage Committee cited the island’s “high variety” of endemic species,
its importance as “the last refuge for a number of threatened species,” and the
“extraordinary biodiversity” of its marine ecosystems.
Notable Plant Species: A 2003
environmental impact study
of the four main Islas Secas
listed 128 species of plants.
Much of the vegetation is
deciduous forest, but there are
also shrubs in rocky areas, and
mangrove formations. Several
plant species exist on the Islas
Secas that are unique, scarce
or threatened elsewhere in
Panama—including some that
have simply disappeared.
Alicia Ibánez, a biologist familiar
with the Gulf of Chiriquí due
to her extensive work for The
Nature Conservancy and the
Smithsonian Institution, has
noted in her recent preliminary
report on Objectives for
Conservation in Islas Secas
that the islands are in such a
healthy state of conservation
as to be “an exceptional natural
laboratory.” The goal of the Islas
Secas management plan is to
keep them that way.
“The islands are in such a healthy
state of conservation as to be “an
exceptional natural laboratory.”
6
5. Philadelphia Vireo
Yellow-green Vireo
Scrub Greenlet
Lesser Greenlet
Mangrove Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Bananaquit
Scarlet Tanager
Blue-gray Tanager
Red-legged Honeycreeper
PLANTS AND
FORESTATION
Dry Forest: The predominant
vegetation of the Secas is
deciduous and sem-deciduous
(“dry”) forest, mostly in well-
conserved condition except on
Cavada, historically the most
disturbed locale due to earlier
subsistence farming. (Plans for
restoration and conservation
are underway.) Species, which
differ in combination from others
elsewhere in the Gulf, include:
Pachira quinata (yuco)
Erblichia odorata (mapola)
Pouteria campechiana (nisperillo)
Maytenus schippii
Cinnamomum sp. (sigua)
Tabebuia rosea (oak)
Bursera simaruba (nursery)
Plumeria rubra (caracucha)
Pachira quinata (hawthorn cedar)
Byrsonima crassifolia (nance)
Pouteria fossicola (mamey
mountain), rare elsewhere
Pouteria chaperno
(Lonchocarpus chiricanus)
Manilkara staminodella (medlar)
Cativo Forest: Pure stands
of Cativo, as found especially
on Cavada and Pargo, are rare
elsewhere in Panama due to
exploitation by the plywood
industry.
Other Vegetation: Several species
of shrub found in the Secas have
been uncommonly observed
elsewhere, including Fleishmannia
coibensis and Erythroxylum
havenense. Mangrove formations
on Cavada and Pargo include
red, white, and button mangrove
and cork oak. Large areas are
covered by vines are on several
islands. They may be the result of
agricultural deforestation over 500
years ago.
Scientific Studies: Alicia Ibáñez,
preeminent biologist working in
the Gulf of Chiriquí, concludes
in her study of the Secas that the
“Islas Secas contain examples of
vegetation unique to the region
of the Gulf of Chiriquí. The
importance of the archipelago
is also in the excellent state of
conservation of its terrestrial
and coastal ecosystems, and
the natural regeneration taking
place on previously deforested
areas. This is an area of refuge
for species of flora of the Central
American Pacific region, which
have disappeared from many
neighboring regions, possibly due
to the intense human exploitation.
The island is also an exceptional
natural laboratory to study
the phenomena of formation
of species, biogeography of
islands, island archaeology, etc.”
In addition, “the archipelago of
Islas Secas presents a unique
opportunity for study of the human
impact on both terrestrial and
marine ecosystems in the region.”
Finally, she recommends that
further research and analysis is
needed on Secas fauna.
S P E C I E S I N V E N T O R Y : I S L A N D S A N D G U L F O F C H I R I Q U I
• threatened in Panama
• rare elsewhere
• endemic to Chiriquí and
neighboring islands
• Exploited
BIRDS
This inventory includes both
migratory and resident birds
observed on the three main islands
of Cavada, Pargo, and Barracuda
in August 2005, April 2007, and
January 2008—thus including the
summer wet season, the winter dry
season, and the spring migration
season. Also notable are the
significant colonies of frigate birds
and brown boobies on Isla Coco.
Audubon’s Shearwater
Brown Pelican
Brown Booby
Neotropic Cormorant
Magnificent Frigatebird
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
American Black Vulture
Osprey
Mangrove Black Hawk
Great Black Hawk
Yellow-headed Caracara
Peregrine Falcon
Semipalmated Plover Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Pale-vented Pigeon
Black-billed Cuckoo
Mangrove Cuckoo
Squirrel Cuckoo
Common Barn Owl
Blue-tailed Emerald
Garden Emerald
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Green Kingfisher
Ringed Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Elaenia
Lesser Elaenia
Northern Scrub-flycatcher
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Tropical Pewee
Great Kiskadee
Streaked Flycatcher
Boat-billed Flycatcher
Tropical Kingbird
Panama Flycatcher
Gray-breasted Martin
Barn Swallow
Swainson’s Thrush
Yellow-throated Vireo
7
This section demonstrates the biodiversity of the Islas
Secas and the surrounding waters of the Gulf of Chiriquí
including the Coiba Maritime Protection Zone, but should
by no means be taken as a complete listing.
Coiba Park
was named a
UNESCO World
Heritage Site,
joining a handful
of other sites,
including the
Galapagos
Islands, in the
World Heritage
Centre Eastern
Tropical Pacific
Seascape Project.
Schooling Rays:
Giant Mantas
Spotted Eagle
Thurston’s Devil
Stingrays
Game Fish:
Barracuda
Yellowfin tuna
Cubera snapper
Roosterfish
Pacific sailfish
Bluefin trevalley
Grouper
Snapper, jacks, and mackerel
Black marlin
Blue marlin
Wahoo
Dorado
Whales:
Humpback (which calve here)
False Killer
Pilot
Orca (seasonal)
Bryde’s
Fin
Sperm (seasonal)
Dolphins:
Bottlenose
Rough-toothed
Spinner
Spotted
Common and Short-beaked
Sea Turtles:
Leatherback
Hawksbill
(redlisted—critically endangered)
Loggerhead
Green
Olive Ridley
• threatened or near threatened
• endangered
• vulnerable
Coiba National Marine Park and
Marine Protection Zone:
A Last Refuge
About 32 km (20 miles) east-southeast
of the Islas Secas lies Isla Coiba with its
archipelago of smaller islands. Their 507
square kilometers (207 square miles)
make up Coiba National Marine Park,
while surrounding waters encompass an
additional 3,308 square kilometers (1664
square miles) including a UNESCO-
designated Special Zone of Marine
Protection. It is one of the world’s largest
marine protected areas. It is hoped that
in future the zone will be enlarged to
encompass the entire Gulf including the
Islas Secas.
Today’s park was created after Coiba
Island’s prison closed in 2004. It was the
deliberate isolation of the penal colony
that preserved the island’s pristine
habitat.
The park was soon named a UNESCO
World Heritage Site for what the
nominating committee noted as its
“high variety” of endemic species,
its importance as “the last refuge for
a number of threatened species,”
the “extraordinary biodiversity” of its
marine ecosystems, and its value as
“an outstanding natural laboratory for
scientific research [that] provides a key
ecological link to the Tropical Eastern
Pacific for the transit and survival
of pelagic fish and marine animals.”
Already, migratory near threatened shark
species not seen for years have returned.
It is home to scarlet macaw, crested
eagle, marine turtles, howler monkey,
and the second largest coral reef in the
eastern pacific.
8
REEF LIFE
Coral reefs, by their nature fragile
and sensitive to environmental
changes, are under threat in many
areas of the Gulf of Chiriquí.
Therefore maintaining the relatively
healthy state of those found in
the Secas is a matter of some
importance. The 2008 Nature
Conservancy study of reefs in
the Gulf by Héctor Guzmán and
Odalisca Breedy found in the
Secas areas of moderate diversity
of hard corals and octocorals,
moderate diversity of rare species,
and coralline communities with
a high coverage of live coral. In
addition, the reefs are home to
aquatic species including lobsters,
crab, octopus, eels, sea stars,
blennies, stargazers, sea horse,
nudibranches, sea pens, many
varieties of schooling reef fish,
and exotic creatures such as the
harlequin shrimp and frog fish.
MARINE LIFE in the
Gulf of Chiriquí
(Migratory and Resident)
Over 750 species of migratory and
resident fish inhabit the Gulf. The
species inventory includes but is
not limited to the following:
Sharks: The Pew Charitable
Trust began its Global Shark
Conservation Campaign in
2009, and Louis Bacon’s Moore
Charitable Foundation has
supported the Trust’s effort, in
partnership with MarViva, to secure
protection for shark populations
in Panama’s waters. The Gulf
hosts thirty-three shark species;
especially notable are:
Whitetip Reef
Galapagos
Scalloped
Hammerhead
Whale
Bull
Tiger
Guitar Shark
6. Playa Vidrio
Punta Vista Pargo
Waterfall
IslaCanales
Playa Canales
Beach
Blowhole
IslaRobin
IslaCavada
Punta Pelicano
PlayaLimon
Playa
Pelicano
Cedro
Grande
Dock
P A C I F
I C
O
C
E
A
N
Punta Buena Vista
AIRSTRIP
Playa Dos Quebrados
Mirador
RESORT
CORE
T H E R E S O R T V I S I O N B E C O M I N G R E A L I T Y
Resort Roots and Vision
The Islas Secas were sparsely inhabited by subsistence farmers until 2004,
when the financier Michael Klein developed the first iteration of the resort.
Louis M. Bacon purchased the property in 2009 in order to remake it as an
environmentally sensitive and sustainable entity consistent with other projects
of his. Belvedere Property Management oversees the day to day operations
of all of the Louis Bacon properties, including Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico,
Trinchera Ranch in Colorado, and the Islas Secas, Panama.
The vision for the proposed Islas Secas resort core improvement and its
specific impacts have been described by the ownership this way:
The intent of the proposed Islas Secas resort core improvements and their
specific impacts have been described by the ownership as creating “…a
luxury, adventure destination that provides world class service and recreation.
These improvements will allow us to lengthen our season and attract more
guests. Chiriquí and Panama will benefit economically via new jobs, increased
tax revenues and increased tourism.”
After several years of planning, the new community
is taking shape: new architecture, more extensive
amenities, and, most important, the incorporation of
environmentally sustainable features that will make
the resort a model of ecological consciousness in
luxury hospitality.
Access from the Mainland
Most guests will arrive by air
at Panama City, where their
passage and clearances will be
expedited by a dedicated agent.
From there, they will make their
90-minute direct flight by Isla
Secas private aircraft to Isla
Cavada’s landing strip.
Guests may also choose to
arrive by air at the pleasant,
prosperous, and historically
significant city of David, capitol
of Chiriquí Province. There Islas
Secas staff will greet them and
provide the 30-minute auto ride
and 75-minute boat ride to the
islands.
AIR SERVICE
RESORT AIRSTRIP
9
The Islas Secas Promise
Lush, largely untouched, and in
the midst of one of the world’s
greatest marine ecosystems, the
Islas Secas Resort will provide guests
a secluded, intimate, and luxurious
hospitality experience in harmony
with its timeless setting. Islas Secas
will offer discerning travelers
the opportunity to experience
exhilarating adventure through a
wide array of activities on, under, and
off the water, and to learn about the
uniquely diverse ecosystems through
rewarding conversation and science
educational programs.
Excerpted from the Islas Secas Resort Vision Book
10
7. T H E R E S O R T V I S I O N B E C O M I N G R E A L I T Y
CASITA 9
(2 bedroom)
LA RESIDENCIA 11
(4 bedroom)
CASITA 8
(1 bedroom) CASITA 7
(1 bedroom)
SPA, POOL
& FITNESS
CASITA 10
(2 bedroom)
OFFICE
RENTAL VILLA 5
(3 bedroom)
RENTAL VILLA 6
(3 bedroom)
EXISTING
WATER
TANK
PALM GROVE /
SCULPTURE
GARDEN
ARRIVAL
LA TERRAZZA
ARRIVAL
PAVILION &
DIVE FACILITY
CASITA 1
(2 bdrm)
EXISTING
MANAGEMENT
HOUSING
EXISTING
STAFF
HOUSING
& BOH
CASITA 2
(2 bdrm) CASITA 3
(4 bdrm)
CASITA 4
(1 bedroom)
AIRSTRIP P A C I F I C O C E A N
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT - PHASE 1 PHASE 2 PHASE 3IslaCavada
Amenities
Casitias /Rental Villas /
Residences
Support
Roads
Raised Timber Boardwalk
Paths
L E G E N D
B E D C O U N T
Site Bedrooms Pillows
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
TOTAL
2
2
4
1
3
4
1
1
2
2
26
4
4
8
2
6
8
2
2
4
4
52
4 8
Development phasing: The proposed development plan is a three-phase process as shown in the map and chart above.
11
center for the resort’s water-
based activities, including scuba
diving, snorkeling, sea boating,
paddle boarding, and kayaking.
A professional staff ensures that
gear, attire, and training are all
properly addressed.
Sport fishing expeditions, under
the auspices of the resort’s
experienced guides, also depart
from the Arrival Pavilion, and, in
fact, sport fishing alone is one
of Isla Secas’ greatest appeals.
Architectural Goal: Eco-
Sustainable, Holistic Design
With its roots in authentic
Canal Gamboan Style, this
organic design vernacular
developed by lead architects
Hart Howerton aims to live
lightly on the land through
Resort Amenities
The Terrazza will be the heart of the resort adventure: a main gathering
place (with bar) where like-minded guests who share the resort’s philosophy
of combining luxury with sustainability can gather and share the day’s
adventures. Guests dine here indoors, outdoors, or optionally in-room, from a
sophisticated gourmet menu focused on a fusion of international and regional
cuisine. For those venturing further into the Islands and their waters, picnics
and box lunches may also be arranged.
Overlooking the bay, the Pool and Spa Pavilion offers fitness and exercise
machines, yoga sessions, even stand-alone treatment rooms. A variety of
wellness treatments are available here, in-room, or at locations like the
pool or sunset deck. The owners share a passion for the enjoyment and
preservation of the outdoors, a deep appreciation and respect for local
culture and its history, and a strong desire for experiences that provide
fulfillment on a multitude of levels (including, of course, the finest takes on
traditional Panamanian cuisine). In line with this philosophy that education
and uplift should part of their guest’s experience—and that the young folks
matter as well— hiking and nature trails are easily accessible and a Children’s
Center and Learning Pavilion is planned.
The adventures and expeditions include game fishing, water sports, hiking,
biking, boating, and birding. The Arrival Pavilion and Dive Facility is the
The Terrazza – the heart of the resort,
and main gathering place with a bar,
and indoor and outdoor dining featuring
international and regional cuisine.
8. 13
incorporating environmentally-
friendly principles and deeply
embracing natural resources.
Each element, from the Casitas, to
the Casa Grande, to the Terrazza
plays a role in creating this seaside
sanctuary.
Casitas
Carefully placed casitas offer
seclusion, spectacular views and
cooling ocean breezes. Gently
nestling in between existing trees
and hovering above lush landscape,
the casitas balance a modest
ecological footprint with comfort.
During construction, walls, louvres
and roofs were built off-island
and then shipped in and crafted
by a small, specialized team to
minimize impact and preserve this
T H E R E S O R T V I S I O N B E C O M I N G R E A L I T Y
fragile habitat. Surfaces are made breathable through ingenious single wall
construction. The casitas take their design inspiration from tropical Gamboan
Style while adding a contemporary twist; Broad louvred openings allow hot air
to rise and move through overhead roof vents. Generous overhangs protect
from the elements while fans softly circulate air, creating a comfortable refuge
to the surrounding prospect.
Casa Grande
Casa Grande, the house on the peninsula, perches on a cliff outcropping
surrounded by breaking surf, an organic form gliding down the hillside
above rich vegetation. Its roof undulates, held up by a sustainably harvested
eucalyptus structure, tracing the topography and rooms below, creating calm
shade and protection from the sun and rain.
The Terrazza
The iconic shelter and gathering house floats on a sweeping, wooden deck
above the beach edge at the heart of the resort. Hart Howerton conceived it,
along with the waterside arrival pavilion, as a set of intriguing open-air gabled
roof structures – ideal forms for Simon Valez, the bamboo master-builder,
to lovingly bring to life. Together, they bridge between land and ocean and
welcome visitors to this remarkable place.
14
9. C O M M I T M E N T T O S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y
15
Commitment to Sustainability—Thinking Small and Thinking Big,
When it comes to making the Islas Secas resort a model of sustainable luxury,
attention to detail is as important as major infrastructure improvements.
Building Materials: Favored building materials are sustainable and well
as consistent with the overall architectural vision: teak, stone, and wicker
abound.
Recycling: An organic farm, with water recycled for agricultural use, is
projected, along with a composting program. Increased efficiencies in the
water supply systems are in the works. Guests are even supplied with a
reusable water bottle, to avoid waste. The resort is actively eliminating plastic
from the resort and operations, searching out hard-to-find alternatives for
plastic straws, snack packaging, and shampoo bottles.
Solar Array: Particular pride of place goes to the big thinking (and investment)
in the resort’s commitment to solar power. Located near the airstrip, a
1424-module photovoltaic solar
array (designed by CivicSolar
of San Francisco) powers all
the electric systems on the
island from dawn to dusk with
eighteen 360kW solar inverters.
Additionally, thirty-six 288kW
battery inverters charge sixteen
96kWh battery banks, with
a total storage of 1.5MWh
expandable to 3MWh. (A MWh,
or megawatt-hour, will power
about 330 homes for an
hour.) These are a lot of specs
and numbers, and what they
add up to is that the resort’s
electrical needs can easily be
met all night until the solar array
switches back on at daybreak.
In sum, 90% of the resort’s
power needs can be met with
no noise, no fumes, and no
consumption of non-renewable
resources. Two 200kW diesel
generators remain poised
to go on line only in case of
an emergency or protracted
cloudy spell.
Natural Wetlands: While the
solar array looks upward,
another proud and important
feature of the resort’s
sustainability technology is
based below ground level.
Natural wetlands serve a
number of functions in the
environment, including water
purification accomplished
by their diverse plant life.
Taking inspiration from nature,
engineers began to develop
constructed wetlands for
sewage treatment as early as
the 1960s. Most constructed
wetlands are only pretreatment
systems, using their plant life
to reduce pathogens and
contaminants before the water
is released into the soil. The
Secas Constructed Wetland
differs in that the water, instead
of perking into the ground, is
routed for further treatment
and then reclaimed for flushing
toilets, irrigation, and other
non-potable purposes. Over
the long run, considerable
water savings are projected by
this re-use.
SOLAR ARRAY
CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS
16
Plant Nursery: In her summary
of conservation objectives
prepared for the Secas resort,
biologist Alicia Ibáñez noted
that certain non-native species
had earlier been introduced—
most of them deliberately
for cosmetic purposes—and
recommended that they be
removed and native vegetation
be remediated. To this end, a
plant nursery, nourished by the
resort’s composting program,
has been built from recycled
materials.
The thought behind the
plant nursery was to restore
the inevitable damage that
happens to the flora during
the construction of the resort
development, and to restore
the deforestation that occurred
during prior occupation. The
idea is to plant native species
found on the island and
to mimic the natural plant
selection occurring in the more
pristine, unoccupied areas of
the archipelago. A small variety
of local fruit trees are also being
cultivated for consumption by
resort employees and guests.
When the construction is
complete, the greenhouse can
easily be converted into food
production to supplement
the kitchen’s stock of fruit and
vegetables.
Oyster Culture – Retraining
for Tomorrow: A difficult
sustainability issue throughout
the world in the conflict
between conservation and
the need of local peoples to
exploit the environment simply
to stay alive. In the Gulf of
Chiriquí, local fishing industries
sustain significant portions of
the population and contribute
generally to the local economy.
Thinking globally and acting
locally, the Islas Secas resort
has partnered with the ARAP,
the Aquatic Resources Authority
of Panama, to research the
viability of a commercial oyster
culture as an alternative
income source for
coastal artisanal
fisherman. Additionally,
the resort is growing pearls
as part of its educational
programs, while working
the increase the island’s
PLANT NURSERY
GROWING PEARLS
COMPOSTING
oyster population. Oyster reefs
provide a significant range of
what scientists call “ecosystem
services” including nutrient
regulation, water filtration,
encouraging biodiversity, and
habitat stability—yet they been
allowed to become one of the
world’s most threatened marine
habitats.
10. P A R T N E R S H I P S : S H A R I N G T H E V I S I O N
Conservation as an Economic Driver
Sustainable ecotourism can add value to the environment
just as the environment creates the value of ecotourism.
The economic driver of tourism in the Gulf of Chiriquí and
much of Panama is the biodiversity provided by the marine
ecosystem. As Mayté González of The Nature Conservancy
put it:
The Gulf of Chiriquí is “a treasure that also
translates into a source of economic wealth.”
The Billfish Foundation has completed groundbreaking
studies on the economic impacts of sports fishing in Costa
Rica and Los Cabos, Mexico. They quantify the ability of
catch and release billfishing (marlin, swordfish, etc.) to
provide thousands of jobs, support tax bases, and create
a foundation for broader conservation. Specifically, they
assign an economic impact of over USD 1.125 billion per
year in Los Cabos and over USD 400 million in Costa Rica.
Hotels, restaurants, marinas, professional fishing staff, and
support industries all contribute to tax bases that can fund
infrastructure, health, and education services. Many have,
like Mayté González, sensed that ecotourism can benefit
local economies; now the hard numbers are in.
Partners for the Future
The Islas Secas resort is not just a passive contributor to
the economy. Its business plan also includes a foundation
actively focused on community uplift, education and the
environment in Panama. This foundation will be primarily
funded by a direct contribution of a percentage of gross
revenue generated by Islas Secas.
At this writing:
- Significant contributions have been disbursed to scientific
research and local organizations
- Legislative steps have begun with the Panamanian
government’s 2010 protocols to manage certain industrial
fishing practices in the Gulf. The goal is to extend the
protocols and reinforcement.
- Significant Zones of Marine Protection, sanctioned by
UNESCO and the government of Panama, exist in the Gulf
of Chiriquí. The goal is to extend the zone to comprise the
entire Gulf.
- Partnerships have begun with NGOs and scientists as Islas
Secas has joined efforts with the Billfish Foundation in its
catch-and-release and tagging programs, and with the
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s Shark Tagging and
Monitoring Project. The larger goal is to secure a long-
term commitment by a recognized NGO to partner in the
conservation effort.
17
PhotocourtesyTheNatureConservancy
I S L A S S E C A S P H I L A N T H R O P Y
As marine scientist Juan Maté
expressed it in his Nature
Conservancy study of Gulf
fisheries:
“At present, the Gulf
of Chiriquí is being
the center of attention
of the national
and international
community in the
debate on how to
properly manage
its natural wealth
for the benefit of all
Panamanians.”
The Islas Secas planners have
expressed a clear strategy
to address the issue Maté
identifies:
“Establishing a management
plan for environmental
protection and ecotourism
within the Gulf of Chiriquí
extending to the waters of
Hannibal Banks to the south,
integrating the COIBA National
park boundaries and to Bahia
Honda in the east, is an initiative
that will require vision and
foresight.”
“It will require programs for
uplift including education,
community partnerships,
micro financing, economic
development programs to help
replacement of the existing
fishing economy, support
from regional and central
government and ongoing
science-based management.
A strong and meaningful
presence in the Chiriquí
Province will be critical.”
The column to the right is a
partial list of organizations that
MCF, Louis Bacon’s Moore
Charitable Foundation, has
funded and/or supported as
part of their work in Islas Secas
and the Gulf of Chiriqui.
Islas Secas has worked closely with Audubon Panama to understand
better the diverse habitats comprised on Islas Secas.
Marviva is devoted to the conservation and sustainable management
of marine and coastal resources. Marviva provides legal expertise to the
governments in order to generate legislation that creates new Protected
Areas and safeguards them. MCF has provided funding to support
fisheries surveillance activities in Coiba National Park.
Oceans 5 is a global funders’ collaborative committed to protecting
the world’s oceans. MCF support has been used to strengthen fisheries
enforcement in Panama. In partnership with Conservation International
and Marviva, O5 works to increase governmental, civil society and
private sector attention to IUU (illegal, unreported, and unregulated
fishing). Together these partners have established an Inter-Institutional
Platform for fisheries enforcement, since incorporated in new
Panamanian environmental law. There has also been a 67% reduction
in prosecution time for illegal fishing cases originating in Coiba and the
Gulf of Chiriqui.
Panacetacea is dedicated to the study and conservation of whales and
dolphins in Panamanian waters. MCF support has allowed Panacetacea
to conduct several expeditions in the Gulf of Chiriqui. Islas Secas has
also partnered with Panacetacea to host whale watching trips for the
community.
Panthera works to ensure the future of wild cats through scientific
leadership and global conservation action. MCF provides support for
the Jaguar Corridor Initiative, working to protect the jaguar, by linking
habitat and conserving wildlife corridors from Mexico to Argentina.
Panama is critical to the success of the corridor initiative because it links
Central and South America and its forested areas are still largely intact.
18
11. 19
1920: The Smithsonian Tropical
Research Institute establishes its
first field station in Panama. Over
the years it will develop into one
of the world’s largest tropical
research centers.
1935: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act and the Soil
Conservation and Domestic
Allotment Act are passed.
1948: International Union for
Conservation of Nature, the first
international organization devoted
to all aspects of ecological
conservation, is established
with the participation of 65
governments and NGOs. Originally
concerned with conservation of
habitats and species, it has more
recently extended its focus to
larger social and public policy
issues that impact sustainability.
1951: The Nature Conservancy
is incorporated, arising from
the earlier Ecologists Union of
scientists resolved to take “direct
action” to save threatened natural
areas. Its first land acquisition will
occur in 1955; its first government
partnership in 1961.
1960: Federal Water Pollution
Control Act
1962: Marine biologist Rachel
Carson publishes The Silent
Spring. Although focused on
pesticides, the book is credited
with creating a popular awareness
of environmental issues overall.
1968: The archeologist Olga
Linares de Sapir publishes her
monumental Cultural Chronology
of the Gulf of Chiriquí, including
references to sites on the Islas
Secas.
1969: U.S. National Environmental
Policy Act; President Nixon
establishes the Environmental
Protection Agency by executive
order the following year.
1970s: With increased awareness
of environmental issues, the
1970s were a transformative
era as more governmental
organizations, NGOs, statutes, and
programs came on line. These
included the UN Environmental
Programme, the UN Conference
on the Human Environment,
the Worldwatch Institute, the
Convention on Wetlands, the UN
world heritage sites convention,
the League of Conservation Voters,
the Conference on the Human
Environment, the U.N. Environment
Programme, the Endangered
Species Preservation Act, and
more.
1980: The Nature Conservancy
launches its International
Conservation program to identify
Latin American natural areas and
conservation organizations in
need of assistance.
1986: Emergency Wetlands
Resources Act allows the Dept.
of the Interior to purchase and
conserve wetlands.
1990: The Billfish Foundation
starts its Black Marlin tag-and-
release program, in which the Islas
Secas resort now participates.
1992: The U.N. Earth Summit
in Rio de Janeiro includes: The
Framework Convention on
Climate Change, the International
Convention on Biodiversity,
and other initiatives. The
Nature Conservancy launches
its Conservation by Design
program to identify sites that
must be protected to conserve
the biodiversity of the Western
Hemisphere.
1995: Major global corporations
unite in forming the World
Business Council for Sustainable
Development in order to advance
environmentally sound business
practices.
1998: Panama establishes SINAP,
its National System of Protected
Areas.
2000: The Nature Conservancy
identifies the Gulf of Chiriquí
as a model priority area for
ecoregional planning. Numerous
scientific studies and proposals in
cooperation with the Smithsonian
Tropical Research Institute will
follow.
1 0 0 Y E A R S O F P R O G R E S S T O W A R D S A S U S T A I N A B L E T O M O R R O W
20
2007: Louis M. Bacon purchases
the Blanca Ranch in southern
Colorado in order to conserve
its biodiversity and maintain its
position as a wildlife migration
corridor linking neighboring
conserved areas. Activities taking
place over the following years
include both environmental
management programs, scientific
partnerships, and community
education, public health, and
public participation initiatives.
2009: The Pew Foundation begins
its Global Shark Conservation
program.
2009: The Nature Conservancy
publishes Plan de Conservación
para el Pacífico Occidental de
Panamá (Conservation Plan for
the Pacific West Coast of Panama)
by Malena Sarlo and Rafael
Samudio.
2012: The National Assembly
of Nicaragua adopts the Law on
Conservation and Sustainable
Use of Biological Diversity. The
Oceans 5 organization begins
funding in support of Conservation
International, MarViva, and
Forever Costa Rica to strengthen
enforcement of fishing restrictions
in the Eastern Tropical Pacific
region.
2013: The Union of Industrialists
of Panama initiates its Green
Panama seal of approval to
recognize industries that follow
environmental best practices.
The Audubon Society creates
hummingbird protection project
on Islas Secas.
The Panamanian government
joins Panthera, the big cat
conservation organization, in an
agreement to conserve jaguars
within Panama’s Protected Areas
System.
2015: The National Assembly
of Panama creates the Ministry
of Environment, elevating and
reforming the former National
Conservation Authority.
Panacetacea, the marine mammal
conservation organization,
conducts a major survey of whale
species in the waters off Islas Secas.
2016-17: The Audubon
Society visits several times a
year, continuing their studies.
Panacetacea does annual
research from the island in late
summer and early fall when the
Southern Hempishere whales are
near the islands. Student interns
accompany the researchers.
• Dates in green are directly related
to Latin America, Panama and its
islands.
• Organizations highlighted in purple
are those whom MCF is actively
partnering with to further their
expressed environmental missions
in the region.
2002: The U.N.’s World Summit
on Sustainable Development (or
“Earth Summit”) in Johannesburg
commits the participants (absent
the U.S.) to a multilateral approach
to sustainable development taking
into account collateral geopolitical
issues.
2004: Coiba National Park is
created; it will be designated a
UNESCO World Heritage Site the
next year.
2006: The year of a key
conference in the long-running
process that establishes the
Mesoamerica Biological Corridor
with the participation of
Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador,
Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica,
Panama, and some southern
states of Mexico, UNESCO,
and other governments and
NGOs. This multilateral initiative
aims to promote “a regional
connectivity of protected areas
with sustainable development
and the improvement of human
livelihood.” One UNESCO goal is
to establish a protected marine
corridor extending from the Gulf
of Chiriquí to the Galapagos
Islands.
2010: The Panamanian
Government imposes certain
restrictions on commercial fishing
in the Gulf of Chiriquí. Costa
Rica, with the participation of
the U.S. government, The Nature
Conservancy, and other NGOs,
secures financing to double
its marine protected areas and
improve the management of all its
conservation areas.