2025 Annual Report

14 hours ago

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Thank you to the 180 individuals and foundations who contributed $340,021 to the Native Future mission in 2025. The bedrock of Native Future, individual donations, large and small, allowed us to leverage more funding for Indigenous partners in Panama. For example, counterpart funding from Native Future - donations to Wounaan Land Rights - helped the Foundation for the Development of the Wounaan People receive a Panama Green Fund grant for $165,000 to strengthen forest monitoring and protection, and partially bridge a deficit left by the termination of US Government grants.

**Individuals and Foundations contributed $340,021 in 2025.**

2025 Highlights

Wounaan Land Rights - The program supports the Wounaan National Congress and seven Wounaan communities to collectively title their lands, and to monitor and report deforestation and fire to Panama’s environmental authorities.

All seven Wounaan collective title applications are being processed by Panama’s National Lands Authority (ANATI).
By the end of 2025, territorial monitors have reported 195.5 hectares of deforestation in Wounaan communities to Panama’s environmental authorities; 49 individuals have been cited for their environmental damages.
Three Wounaan communities finalized and adopted their Community Forest Fire Fighting, Prevention and Fire Management Plans.
44 Wounaan received forest fire fighting and prevention training.

Biocultural Restoration (Native Stewardship) - The program supports 5 Wounaan communities to restore family farms and forests with the native trees important to their way of life. Unfortunately, US Forest Service International Programs suppport of this program not renewed in 2025.

2,600 Mountain Almond (Dipteryx Oleífera) seeds were collected in the community of Maje and shared with 26 families in the community of Rio Hondo.
Two Wounaan community members participated in a tree climbing and seed collection training carried out by USFS International Programs.

Wounaan Bird Count - builds local skills in bird monitoring, conservation and ecotourism.

Whitehawk Birding led the first Wounaan Bird Count Conservation Tour with Wounaan mentees to Puerto Lara, Rio Hondo and Rio Platanares.
33 Wounaan and international birdwatchers counted 182 species and 1,972 individuals in 20 hours of birdwatching during Puerto Lara’s 2025 Christmas Bird Count.
Rio Hondo and Rio Platanares marketed their tours to local tour operators and hotels.

Native Education - educating and training Indigenous youth and leadership to maintain their lands, culture, and environment for the future of their communities and people.

Wounaan ecotourism guides attended English classes.
Scholarship recipient, Yadira Carpio, graduated from forestry school.
At the end of 2025, Native Future receives a $100,000 donation seeding the Indigenous Learning and Leadership Program, to foster the leadership and strengthen the organizational capacity of Indigenous partners in Panama.