Panama Green Fund Strengthens Indigenous Environmental Defense
In January 2026, the Foundation for the Development of the Wounaan People (FUNDEPW) and Native Future initiated the nine-month Panama Green Fund project. It is designed to strengthen and formalize the collaborative environmental monitoring and enforcement work between Government of Panama environmental authorities and the Wounaan Territorial Monitoring team. So far, the project has resulted in:
A 2020 – 2025 baseline of environmental violations and forest fires in the 4 communities.
2 drones, 2 telephones with GPS, 4 hand-held radios and 2 tablets distributed to participating Wounaan communities.
4 Wounaan trained and licensed in drone piloting.
Community workshops to integrate forest fire and deforestation monitoring teams.
Environmental complaint training for territorial monitoring teams.
Community training in fire prevention and control for four Wounaan communities, and alignment of these procedures with the initiatives of Panama’s Ministry of Environment and firefighting services.
The Wounaan Territorial Monitoring program continues to prove that environmental justice is possible for Indigenous communities in Panama. Since the start of the territorial monitoring program, Wounaan have reported almost 200 hectares of deforestation to Panama’s environmental authorities. They are utilizing both administrative and criminal pathways to enforce environmental laws inside their territories. In 2026, nine (9) environmental complaints are being prosecuted by the Ministry of Environment and Environmental Prosecutors Office. An additional 18 people have been charged for their environmental violations.
The $165,000 grant strengthens forest monitoring and environmental protection in Indigenous Wounaan territories, and bridges the deficit left by the termination of US Government grants in 2025. Donations to Native Future Wounaan Land Rights helped make this project possible. Thank you for the support!
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