Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves / La Amistad National Park

• Construction of hydroelectric dams near the property in Panama and associated effects (greater human presence near the property, interruption of aquatic species migratory corridor)
• Encroachment (settlements, cattle ranching)
• Planned road construction, which would traverse the property on the side of Panama

Total amount granted: USD 30 000 from the Rapid Response Facility

On 4 February 2015, a joint report on the state of conservation of the property was submitted by the States Parties of Costa Rica and Panama, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/205/documents/. 

The report confirms that the construction of the Bonyic hydroelectric project continued and that the dam was completed in December 2014. The plant is currently in operation testing phase and the report notes its compliance with mitigation and compensation measures of the Environmental Management Plan. A system is in place to monitor potentially affected freshwater fauna in the long term and mitigation measures have been developed for some affected fish species. Progress is reported in resolving social conflicts associated with the project which was opposed by members of the Naso community. However, unresolved issues remain, which are not clarified further. Mitigation measures have also been developed for the CHAN75 hydroelectric project and monitoring of some migratory fish species is on-going.

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for a new hydropower plant (Chan II), also located on the Changuinola river, was approved in 2013. The report notes that the project is located within the Palo Seco Protected Forest and recognizes that the project would result in cumulative impacts to both aquatic and terrestrial fauna in the property, as well as involuntary resettlements of local communities. On 20 and on 30 March 2015, the State Party provided additional information on the project, stating that it has been provisionally suspended and is currently being reconsidered by the ANAM (Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente) following changes in the design of the project proposed by EGESA (La Empresa de Generación Eléctrica, S.A.) that could potentially decrease negative impacts on the Palo Seco Protected Forest.

Further information is provided on progress with the implementation of other requests of the Committee:

• The management plans of the Costa Rican and Panamanian components of the property are reported to have a high degree of harmony; however, further work is required to harmonize zoning systems;
• Both in Costa Rica and Panama, on-going localized animal husbandry within the property is reported, but the situation has stabilized and no increase in these activities has been recorded;
• No EIA for any road infrastructure that would run through the property have been registered;
• The State Party of Panama acknowledges the lack of personnel caused by budget reductions and is working on strategies to involve the private sector, specifically the companies of the two existing hydroelectric projects, to increase the number of staff.

The information provided by the States Parties which shows that several threats affecting the property (cattle grazing, road construction) have not further increased is encouraging. Progress in trans-boundary collaboration also needs to be commended, even though the States Parties note the lack of personnel to carry out regular joint patrols, as well as the need to involve other government agencies in the activities within the border area.

On the other hand, the on-going hydropower development in Panama raises significant concerns. Despite the Committee’s request to suspend the Bonyic project until a comprehensive Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the property has been prepared, which was expressed in Decision 34 COM 7B.32 and reiterated in Decision 37 COM 7B.31, the dam was completed in December 2014. Although a preliminary SEA was completed in 2012, no significant progress has been achieved towards development of a comprehensive SEA for the property. Furthermore, despite the Committee’s request “not to permit any further development of hydro-energy projects (…) within or directly adjacent to the property”, the Changuinola II project was approved in 2013. The additional information provided by the State Party of Panama in March 2015 states that the project is currently being reconsidered by ANAM (Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente) following proposed changes in the project design which could potentially decrease negative impacts on Palo Seco Protected Forest. However, noting that the state of conservation report submitted by the States Parties concludes that this project would imply cumulative impacts on both aquatic and terrestrial fauna and would directly affect two indigenous communities, it is essential that such a review of the project is guided by a comprehensive SEA for the property which needs to be prepared as a matter of urgency and that all projects with potential impacts on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) are suspended until it is completed. A clear need for a comprehensive SEA is even more evident when considering the 2014-2028 national electricity plan of Panama which not only includes the Changuinola II plant, but also mentions another potential hydroelectric project on Rio Teribe (currently an intact river, originating from the property) as "under study". It is recommended that the Committee urge the States Parties to develop such a SEA in order to guide the development of any hydroelectric and other large-scale infrastructure projects to ensure that such projects do not have a negative impact on the OUV of this transboundary property. Any development of new hydropower projects prior to the finalization of the SEA would represent a clear potential danger to the OUV and integrity of the property and should therefore lead to the consideration of the inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Development of mitigation measures for existing hydroelectric projects is welcome; however, these measures, based on individual species, cannot compensate for the impact caused by damming of the rivers to the overall assembly of fresh-water species. Establishment of a long-term monitoring system for some freshwater species is a welcome initiative which should help evaluate the extent to which the mitigation measures are effective. It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party of Panama to submit with its next state of conservation report the preliminary results of these monitoring programmes, as well as a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of mitigation measures.