17 June 2011: The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a US$4 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to develop a model for low-impact ecotourism in Panama’s National System of Protected Areas.

The grant, complemented by US$10 million in financing from the National Environmental Authority and the Tourism Authority of Panama (US$6.2 million), and the Panamanian Aquatic Resources Authority and The Nature Conservancy (US$3.8 million), will promote biodiversity conservation and sustainability in nine protected areas: Bastimentos national marine park; the La Amistad international park; and the national parks of Volcán Barú, Major General Omar Torrijos Herrera, Darién, Soberanía, Chagres, Altos de Campana, and Coiba. These areas were chosen on the basis of innovation, participation of local businesses, and local sustainable social development.

These protected areas cover approximately 40 percent of the entire system and receive 60 percent of park visits. The goal is that through improvements in ecotourism efficiency, revenues from admission fees and related charges will increase from US$300,000 to US$530,000 annually, by boosting the numbers of visitors from 43,000 to 50,000 a year. Through the project, at least 20 organizations and private sector and community-based operators will receive training in the management of public use areas and ecotourism skills. [IDB News]