The Tropical Dry Forest of Coronado- Part One- Discovering this treasure

Translation by Word for Word providing translations and language classes to this community (6786-0854).  ************************************************************************************ Worldwide, the tropical dry forest is nearly extinct; there only remains one area in Ecuador and small bits here in Panama.  Because it is flat and easy to clear, people have sacrificed the dry forest in the name of progress.  Centuries ago in Panama, we had a very extensive tropical dry forest, call Dry Arc that extended across the Azuero Penninsula and southern Coclé, through Chame and into the Darién.  After the arrival of the Spaniards, the forest was completely destroyed save three small areas: a tiny sample on the unpopulated side of Taboga called Garachiné where pelicans now nest, a section of Darién and this strip of Coronado.  ANAM (the Panamanian environmental protection agency) in conjunction with a Japanese agency was studying a portion of the tropical dry forest in southern Coclé but it was destroyed by fire before the study was concluded.

For decades, no one in Coronado thought the area was much of anything.  The Coronado Golf Development was planning to build a lake and handicraft market there so they approached my brother, Architect Dimas Quirós.  Upon visiting the area, it was immediately apparent that it had some very unique characteristics.  Invitations to study the area were accepted by the Smithsonian, the Department of Forestry, Panama Network, The Audubon Society, the City of Knowledge, and others. These entities agreed that it was a sample of tropical dry forest that must be preserved. Robert Eisenmann III, president of the Coronado Golf Development, learned that this area was one of the last remaining examples of the tropical dry forest ecosystem, he proposed to preserve it for scientific, cultural, and educational purposes.  The Board agreed to incorporate the area into the master plan.  In 2000, the local Chame municipality declared it an official protected area.

The Tropical Dry Forest of Coronado, an area of approximately 45 hectares, is located between the Coronado airstrip and the Los Bosques development. In an aerial view of this area, it surprised to me to discover that the footpath that traverses it has the shape of a perfect heart!  We hope that the international scientific community and ecologists will find a place in their hearts for this piece of a disappearing ecosystem!