In Panama, the illegal timber trade, particularly the trade of the valuable cocobolo wood, has caused grave deforestation and exacerbated crime in ports. A report by InSight Crime explains that on March 28 and 31 2022, Panamanian police seized two containers in Colón, carrying around 850 pieces of cocobolo wood, destined for China. Interceptions of illegal cocobolo wood shipments occur frequently along the Panama Canal. In the Darién province along the Colombian border this logging has been extensive, with 20% forest cover loss in seven years. In Panama's ports, some of the busiest in the region due to the Panama Canal, timber trafficking takes place alongside drugs, arms trafficking, and human smuggling. Corruption is also rampant, with the Army, police, Panama Canal, and port staff implicated in facilitating illegal activities. Timber traffickers benefit from connections within the ports, easing the movement of illegal wood shipments.
Keywords: Latin America, Panama, timber, trade and transport, illegal timber trade, drug trafficking, human trafficking, corruption and bribery, illegal deforestation
Sources: https://insightcrime.org/news/panama-struggles-fight-timber-trafficking-in-forests-and-ports/
A report by the American Bar Association analyses the recent closure of the Cobre Panamá copper mine in Panama. Following the Supreme Court of Panama's ruling that the multi-year contract with First Quantum was unconstitutional, the government announced its plan for the mine's immediate and definitive closure. Several issues were revealed regarding this contract, including having been negotiated and signed without adequate transparency and without proper public consultation. There were significant environmental concerns related to the operations of the Cobre Panamá mine, and the contract did not include measures needed to mitigate this, leading to such legal challenges. Furthermore, the working conditions at the Cobre Panamá mine were reportedly poor, with issues such as anti-union policies, low wages, and unsafe working conditions being rampant. This led the contract to be highly criticised for its enabling of labour rights violations. The mining industry is significant for Panama's economy, contributing 7% to its GDP and accounting for 1% of global copper output. However, the closure aims to address the outdated Mineral Resources Codes, inadequate inspections, and poor labour conditions highlighted in the 2020 IGF Mining Policy Framework Assessment. The mine's closure will result in approximately 40,000 job losses, and the government has yet to announce measures to mitigate this unemployment.
Keywords: Latin America, Panama, minerals, copper, primary production, human rights violations
Sources: https://www.americanbar.org/advocacy/rule_of_law/blog/roli-panama-mine-closure-labor-rights-0224/