26 de junio de 2024

Resounding success at the event on sustainability and responsible use of forest resources in Panama.

The Ministry of Environment presented the applications of new technologies for forest management in Panama. Redacción de TVN Noticias CITY OF PANAMA, PANAMA / On Monday, June 25th, the Sheraton Hotel witnessed a landmark event dedicated to addressing sustainability and responsible use of forest resources in Panama. Organized by Gente, Procesos y Tecnología – GPT S.A. for the Ministry of Environment, this informative session, specially tailored for journalists, brought together prominent experts and industry leaders who have made a significant impact on the country’s timber industry.   The morning began with a warm welcome and opening remarks by the Ministry of Environment, followed by key presentations on strengthening forest control and expanding traceability systems in Panama. Cristhiam Aizprua and Vaneska Bethancourt highlighted the importance of ensuring legality and sustainability in the country’s forestry industry. The Ministry of Environment presented new technology applications for forest management in Panama / TVN Digital. The event continued with a deep dive into sustainability and the use of renewable and recyclable raw materials, presented by Denise Cisneros from Tetra Pak. Additionally, Bianca Morán Johansson shared insights on how forestry cultivation in Panama is contributing to sustainable development in the region, creating dignified job opportunities, and promoting innovative practices. This sector is the largest contributor to CSS in Darién. The Ministry of Environment presented new technology applications for forest management in Panama, highlighting the challenges and sustainable practices in the sector. Additionally, Rogelio Coto and Carlos Castro discussed the implementation of biotechnology in seedling production and reforestation, emphasizing the importance of genetic adaptation for successful projects.   The highlight of the event was an interactive question and answer session, where participants engaged directly with the experts present, further enriching the exchange of ideas and knowledge. In summary, this event has marked a milestone towards a more sustainable and responsible timber industry in Panama. The organizers extend their thanks to all participants, speakers, and media for their support and commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable development. This event has marked a milestone towards a more sustainable and responsible timber industry in Panama / TVN Digital. About us Ecotopia Teak, S.A., we are a family-owned company dedicated to reforestation, harvesting, and exporting wood from commercial plantations. We work under high production standards and with social responsibility to obtain high-quality wood according to the needs and demands of national and international markets. Additionally, we actively contribute to the local economy by creating employment opportunities in the communities where we operate. Our commitment is to lead the industry in sustainable reforestation and wood production, preserving our natural resources and building a greener and more sustainable future. Facebook-f Youtube Instagram More articles

Resounding success at the event on sustainability and responsible use of forest resources in Panama. Leer más »

Apex: Annual teak exports in Panama reach $30 million.

Lourdes García Armuelles In the country, there are 80,000 hectares of commercial teak plantations. Most of these are located in East Panama, Darién, and Chiriquí. Teak accounts for 98% of the timber exported from Panama.   Annually, teak exports in Panama reach a value of $30 million, with seven to ten thousand 40-foot containers placed on the market, confirmed Bianca Morán, president of the Panamanian Exporters Association (Apex).   According to Morán, as of 2024, exports in this sector have already reached $16 million.   “In Panama, 98% of the timber exported is teak, a species that is not native to the country because all the teak that exists was planted,” said the Apex president at a press meeting on Tuesday.   In the first four months of 2024, Panamanian exports amounted to $283.3 million. Of this value, the export of raw teak represented 6.1%, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industries.   In the country, there are 80,000 hectares of commercial teak plantations. Most are located in East Panama, Darién, and Chiriquí.   Although teak export is one of the largest sectors in the country, the Apex president clarified that it also experiences fluctuations, depending on market demand. “Teak is a commodity, just like copper and gold, so it depends on market demand. For example, this year in Europe, there is an economic recession. However, during COVID-19, we sold a lot because people were at home and wanted new furniture,” commented Morán.   “We need to move forward to not rely on a single market. In this case, what has affected us is that India has a quantity of timber that it can definitely consume annually. We are focused on wanting to sell everything to India, but there are other countries that also produce timber, so we need to take advantage of the tools the market offers us,” she added.   For the Apex president, another disadvantage is that among all the major companies dedicated to exporting teak in the country, only three do so directly, and the rest through intermediaries.   “In teak and all sectors, when you use an intermediary, it means that a portion is taken that should stay with the producer. This is what we need to expand: our direct export base,” she emphasized.   Teak is a type of timber mainly used to create outdoor furniture. Its high presence in Panama has made the country one of the largest certified producers in the region.   To continue leveraging these advantages, the Apex president called for promoting the arrival of more certified forest investors.   “They voluntarily meet much higher standards than what Panama requires as a country, and that is what generates people living from the forest with dignity, with a model forest,” confirmed Morán.   Wood and Control Álvaro Castillo, from the Natural Heritage section of the Forestry Directorate at the Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente), emphasized that in the forest, there is a variety of timber species. However, those that are most popular for export are hardwoods, such as balsam, almond, bitter almond, quira, and teak.   For the national market, species such as espavé, cedar, oak, zorro, and amarillo dominate, known for their good sales and ease of use in making doors, floors, and other products.   Castillo acknowledged that over the years, some companies have shown interest in selling round timber or timber with some degree of processing.   To prevent illegality, he revealed that since 2018, MiAmbiente has established a digital forest traceability system with two components. The first is the use of a chip to digitize all the information of the tree, including data such as location, thickness, height, and species.   Additionally, they use a tag, which is a QR code linked to the chip, to track traceability from the moment the timber is cut until it reaches the industry.   According to the official, these measures have led to fewer seizures of illegal timber. For example, he explained that in recent years, around 200 cubic meters of timber have been reported as retained due to illegality, whereas previously, these figures ranged from 1,000 to 1,800 cubic meters across the country.   “We have seen the statistics, and the seizures of illegal timber are indeed fewer. Sometimes we seize 10 logs when it used to be 30 or 40,” Castillo commented.   Regarding the cocobolo tree species, he said that MiAmbiente continues to detect illegal activities, primarily due to illegal logging in national parks such as Soberanía and Camino de Cruces.   “There is very little illegal logging of cocobolo nowadays. From 2014 to 2019, 1,000 cubic meters of this timber were confiscated,” detailed the MiAmbiente official, who also indicated that in other areas, there have been impacts on cedar, balsam, espavé, quira, and oak.   Castillo highlighted that today, illegal timber is not reaching commercial markets because, due to operations conducted with public security entities, this material is being detected in transit.   ÁLVARO CASTILLO, MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT “We have seen the statistics, and the seizures of illegal timber are indeed fewer. Sometimes we seize 10 logs when it used to be 30 or 40,”   BIANCA MORÁN, PRESIDENT OF APEX “In Panama, 98% of the timber exported is teak, a species that is not native to the country because all the teak that exists was planted,” About us Ecotopia Teak, S.A., we are a family-owned company dedicated to reforestation, harvesting, and exporting wood from commercial plantations. We work under high production standards and with social responsibility to obtain high-quality wood according to the needs and demands of national and international markets. Additionally, we actively contribute to the local economy by creating employment opportunities in the communities where we operate. Our commitment is to lead the industry in sustainable reforestation and wood production, preserving our natural resources and building a greener and more sustainable future. Facebook-f Youtube Instagram More articles

Apex: Annual teak exports in Panama reach $30 million. Leer más »

They try to combat illegal timber trafficking

Authorities and private companies seek to promote sustainability and the responsible use of forest resources in Panama. Yaritza Mojica Reducing illegal logging and timber extraction is one of the goals aimed at consolidating a forest management base through the implementation of the Forest Traceability and Control System of Panama (STCF).   This system, established in Resolution DM-006-2018 of February 27, 2018, which creates the STCF of the Ministry of Environment (Miambiente), has made it possible to locate trees from their point of origin, know the origin of the log, as well as identify the timber and its legality.   Additionally, electronic devices (blue and yellow) have been implemented in the trees and logs for identification and registration purposes.   Álvaro Castillo, a forest engineer from the Forestry Directorate of Miambiente, explained that last year 10 cases were detected in which attempts were made to illegally commercialize timber.   The product is transported through small trucks to sell it quickly in small workshops.   Timber is recognized as lacking traceability if it is transported without the forest products being marked or identified with yellow tags, which verify its origin.   So far in 2024, the Forestry Directorate has not reported any cases of illegal timber transportation.   Castillo explained that in Darién, illegal logging of various timber species, including balsam, which is exported, as well as bitter cedar, espavé, and some yellow species, has been detected.   In the central provinces, illegal logging of oak and bitter cedar has been found. In Bocas del Toro, some cases of extraction of millenary species in small volumes have been identified.   According to Castillo, there are platforms that Miambiente establishes for the control of sustainable forest production in the country, including logging, transportation, distribution centers, transformation centers, and the export of species that have an international market.   The forest engineer stated that in forests where logging and extraction of timber occur, with a quantity of 100 trees, only 70% can be extracted, and the remaining 30% of the trees must be left as seed trees.   These seed trees must be «good» trees, meaning they must have a cylindrical trunk, a wide crown, and must not have holes, be damaged, or burned. These characteristics are essential to maintain high-quality seed genetics.   Monitoring and control of sustainable forest production in the utilization areas by Miambiente. Courtesy. In Panama, there are eight areas designated for timber utilization. These include the Emberá-Wounaan comarca in Cémaco, the Wargandí and Mortí areas, the Guna de Madungandí comarca in Río Sábalo, Chicola Chicola, and two areas for submerged timber utilization in Río Diablo and Aguas Claras within Lake Bayano.   To maintain controls, the Forestry Directorate conducts operations and verifications in all utilization areas, including industries, sawmill areas, and workshops where the STCF is implemented, ensuring that timber guides are signed by qualified personnel.   Additionally, they receive support from the National Border Service (Senafront), the Ecological Police, and the Environmental Prosecutor’s Office.   Bianca Morán, president of the Panamanian Exporters Association and manager of Ecotopia Teak, stated that 98% of Panama’s exports consist of teak, a type of timber sourced from commercial forest plantations.   In this regard, she advocates for the promotion of certified reforestation, which also helps generate jobs in rural areas.   According to Morán, traceability is what allows exports to demanding markets in terms of quality. She explained that certified companies undergo environmental, labor, health, and financial audits, and their forest operations are audited annually.   “With all this traceability in our product, the person who buys a chair or a piece of furniture made from our teak can be assured that not only has the chain of custody been complied with, but they also have a piece of furniture made from sustainable forest timber. This opens many opportunities for Panamanians.”   In Morán’s view, efforts should be made to reach the best markets because of the product’s quality. “Now we need to move towards scenarios with value-added products to increase our export offerings,” she stated.   These statements were made during a discussion on sustainability and the responsible use of forest resources in Panama, which also included participation from Denise Cisneros of Tetra Pak, who presented on sustainability and the use of renewable and recyclable raw materials, as well as representatives from Miambiente. About us Ecotopia Teak, S.A., we are a family-owned company dedicated to reforestation, harvesting, and exporting wood from commercial plantations. We work under high production standards and with social responsibility to obtain high-quality wood according to the needs and demands of national and international markets. Additionally, we actively contribute to the local economy by creating employment opportunities in the communities where we operate. Our commitment is to lead the industry in sustainable reforestation and wood production, preserving our natural resources and building a greener and more sustainable future. Facebook-f Youtube Instagram More articles

They try to combat illegal timber trafficking Leer más »