Restoring rainforests in Panama, reintroducing the Great Green Macaw, and transforming cities — one tree at a time, one community at a time.
Located in the stunning archipelago of Bocas del Toro, Panama, The Panama Project is a living laboratory proving that integrated, community-driven conservation can simultaneously address environmental restoration, sustainable development, and cultural preservation.
The Panama Project is the flagship initiative of the 7 Seas Initiative, a comprehensive model led by Steve Bender that incorporates all seven areas of Rotary International's focus. From coral reef restoration to reforestation, clean water systems to community health outreach, every initiative is designed to be replicated globally.
In Bocas del Toro — described as "one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth" — the Project brings together Panamanians, expats, Indigenous Ngäbe, Afro-Caribbean and Hispanic communities, Rotary clubs from across the Americas, and international volunteers united by a shared commitment to service.
One of the most visible achievements has been reforestation: over 3,500 native trees planted at Dolphin Bay on Isla San Cristóbal in partnership with Panama's environmental agency, and 550 Almendra (Mountain Almond) trees planted to support the return of the critically endangered Great Green Macaw.
Restoring coral colonies bleached by warming seas on Isla Solarte, with community members building reef structures and cultivating specially grown corals.
Planting thousands of native trees — including the Almendra — in partnership with ITEC students and Panama's EPA to restore the Great Green Macaw's critical habitat.
Solar-powered water systems and microgrids providing clean water to remote island communities accessible only by boat.
Mobile dental clinics, fluoride treatments, and health education for over 100+ children at remote island schools, in partnership with Floating Doctors and Ayuda International.
Partnering with One Earth One Ocean to teach recycling, recover plastic, and reduce marine waste across the archipelago.
"We planted native trees — including the Allamanda Tree, which we hope will support the reintroduction of the Green Macaw. It was muddy, sweaty work, but worth it. Along the way, we encountered a bright orange poison frog, a venomous snake, a scorpion, and even a large rhino beetle!"
"We contributed to the ongoing reforestation effort by planting 3,500 trees at Dolphin Bay on Isla San Cristóbal. These ten days in Bocas del Toro were more than just a service trip — they were a testament to the power of collaboration, community, and shared vision."
"Diving the coral reef that my club contributed to clearly showed what we can achieve when we work together. We also planted 550 Almendra trees to help attract macaws and support their thriving in this island community."
Two forests. Two continents. One extraordinary legacy.
The Tree Projects is partnering with the Bocas Rainforest Reforestation Initiative (BRRI) to establish and dedicate a 2-acre rare native tree forest at Dolphin Bay, Isla San Cristóbal, Bocas del Toro — honoring Trammell S. Crow as the second forest in a growing global series bearing his name.
Brian and Amy Wilcox arrived in Bocas del Toro and found something most people only dream about — a place so biologically extraordinary that protecting it became their life's work. BRRI is the result: a grassroots reforestation force that has already planted tens of thousands of trees and inspired an entire archipelago to grow back its forest.
When the EarthX Forest was established in Rovaniemi, Finland — the first forest in the world registered under Trammell S. Crow's name — it marked the beginning of something larger. The Tree Projects is now proud to announce the second chapter of that legacy: a 2-acre forest of rare native tree species at Dolphin Bay on Isla San Cristóbal, Bocas del Toro, Panama, dedicated in honor of Trammell S. Crow.
From the boreal forests of Finnish Lapland to the tropical rainforest of the Caribbean coast of Panama, these two forests will stand as a testament to Crow's lifetime of environmental philanthropy — one in the far north, one at the equator, both bearing his name, both legally protected, both sequestering carbon and restoring biodiversity for generations to come.
The Dolphin Bay forest will focus on the most critically needed indigenous species of the Bocas del Toro rainforest: rare trees that support endangered wildlife including the Great Green Macaw, anchor fragile hillside soils, and rebuild the original biodiversity lost to decades of logging and cattle grazing. Located at the same bay where 3,500 trees were already planted in partnership with The Panama Project, this dedication adds a named, permanent conservation footprint to the living work of BRRI.
The forest will serve as a living model and a destination — a site where future volunteer groups, researchers, Rotarians, and EarthX partners can plant trees, witness restoration in progress, and connect the dots between a Texas philanthropist's vision and a Panamanian rainforest growing back to life.
The Bocas Rainforest Reforestation Initiative (BRRI) was launched on Panama's National Reforestation Day, June 26, 2021, with a tree-planting ceremony at Dolphin Bay where over 150 saplings of 25 different native species were planted in a single afternoon. Co-founded by Brian and Amy Wilcox of Dolphin Bay Hideaway, together with Dr. Peter Lahanas and Leonor Ceballos Meraz of the Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation (ITEC), BRRI quickly grew from a local effort into a recognized conservation force.
Launch day volunteers included officials from MiAmbiente (Panama's Ministry of Environment), the Bocas del Toro Rotary Club, and Planet Rehab — a coalition that reflected the community-first approach BRRI has maintained ever since.
Today, between Dolphin Bay Hideaway and ITEC, tens of thousands of saplings have been planted across the Bocas del Toro archipelago and adjacent mainland. BRRI plants up to 2,000 trees a month, with a minimum goal of 1,000 trees per year on the Dolphin Bay property alone. The method is methodical and ecological: each season the team clears strangling vines from a new section of degraded forest floor, selects a diverse range of indigenous saplings, and plants them in conditions that allow the jungle to restore itself to its natural balance.
"There is ample opportunity for low budget, low commitment work that makes a huge impact — albeit down the road."
To bring together like-minded individuals and organizations interested in establishing forests on their property in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago and adjacent mainland — with the intention to produce renewable resources, sequester carbon to mitigate the effects of global warming, and reestablish the original biodiversity of the region.
BRRI VisionTo see a future where trees are established on regional lands no longer in use, a country where its original biodiversity is returned, and a world returned to its normal atmospheric levels of carbon.
Nestled in the jungle of Isla San Cristóbal, Bocas del Toro, Dolphin Bay Hideaway is one of Panama's most beloved eco-lodges. Run by Brian and Amy Wilcox, the B&B sits at the edge of rainforest that — thanks to Brian's relentless planting — is measurably fuller, wilder, and more biodiverse than when they arrived.
Guests don't just visit a beautiful place — they witness living conservation in action. The property borders BRRI's reforestation zones, and many guests have joined planting days, snorkeled Rotary Reefs, and returned home as advocates for Bocas del Toro.
As the world's urban population surpasses 55% — and climbing — the trees lining our streets and filling our parks have never been more critical. Science continues to reveal just how much urban forests do for us.
Urban trees can lower air temperatures in city neighborhoods by around 10°F, combating the urban heat island effect that makes cities dramatically hotter than surrounding rural areas.
Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen while trapping particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and other pollutants — acting as natural air filters for city residents.
City trees provide essential habitat for birds, insects, and small mammals, creating wildlife corridors that allow species to move through otherwise impenetrable urban landscapes.
Access to green spaces and tree canopy significantly reduces stress, anxiety, and depression. Studies link tree cover to lower crime rates and stronger community bonds.
Tree roots absorb rainfall and reduce runoff by up to 30%, protecting cities from flooding and reducing the burden on stormwater infrastructure.
Research consistently shows that trees increase property values by 10–15%, attract businesses, reduce energy costs, and lower healthcare expenses in urban communities.
Urban trees cool the world's cities more than we thought — but we can't rely on them alone. We need to plant more, protect what we have, and ensure equitable access to tree canopy in every neighborhood.
Once a vivid flash of emerald and crimson above the rainforest canopy of Bocas del Toro, the Great Green Macaw has all but vanished from the region. Deforestation of a single tree — the Almendro (Mountain Almond) — brought this magnificent bird to the brink. The Panama Project's 2030 vision: bring it back.
The Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus) nests exclusively in the Almendro tree (Dipteryx panamensis), one of the most prized hardwoods of Central America. As logging decimated Almendro populations across Panama and Costa Rica, the macaw — already Critically Endangered with fewer than 1,000 adults remaining in the wild — lost its essential nesting and feeding grounds.
In Bocas del Toro, deforestation eliminated both the trees and the macaws. The solution is deceptively simple: plant the trees, and the birds will have a home to return to. That is exactly what The Panama Project is doing.
Working in partnership with Panama's environmental agency (ANAM/MiAmbiente), the Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation (ITEC), Rotary clubs, and local communities, The Panama Project's macaw recovery strategy combines:
Initial surveys of remaining Almendro stands; first volunteer tree-planting missions begin with Rotary clubs and ITEC students.
3,500 trees planted at Dolphin Bay, Isla San Cristóbal. 550 Almendra trees planted across island habitats. Community nurseries established.
Construction of dedicated aviary facility. Acquisition of mating pairs. Launch of formal Species Survival Plan in partnership with wildlife authorities.
Gradual release of captive-bred birds into restored habitat. Intensive monitoring via radio tracking and community wardens.
Goal: a self-sustaining breeding population of Great Green Macaws living wild in Bocas del Toro for the first time in decades.
Critically Endangered. Fewer than 1,000 adults remain across the entire range from Honduras to Ecuador. Panama holds one of the last viable wild populations.
Dipteryx panamensis — a towering hardwood that provides nesting cavities and fruit for the macaw. Heavily logged; now protected in Panama but recovery takes decades.
Local Bocas del Toro residents, the Ngäbe Indigenous community, and Rotary volunteers serve as the eyes and hands of conservation on the ground.
Not all trees are equal. Planting the right tree — one that evolved in place over millennia — is the difference between creating a monoculture and restoring a living ecosystem.
Native trees are the building blocks of terrestrial ecosystems. They evolved alongside the insects, birds, fungi, and mammals of their region, forming complex interdependencies that exotic species simply cannot replicate. The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) consistently stresses that native species must be the cornerstone of any serious reforestation effort.
When native trees return, the ecosystem follows. Research shows that restoration using native species can increase biodiversity by 15 to 84% compared to unrestored areas — a staggering range reflecting the power of the right tree in the right place.
Native species also carry practical advantages: they require no irrigation once established, have natural resistance to local pests and diseases, prevent invasive species from filling restored sites, and provide the food sources and nesting materials that local wildlife depends on.
In Panama's Bocas del Toro, this means prioritizing the Almendro, Allamanda, and dozens of other indigenous species that shaped the rainforest canopy before deforestation stripped it bare.
Native trees support mycorrhizal networks — underground fungal webs that connect trees and enable nutrient sharing across the forest, as revealed by ecologist Suzanne Simard's landmark research.
Native flowering trees provide nectar and pollen for native bee species, butterflies, and hummingbirds — pollinators that co-evolved with these plants over thousands of years.
Deep native root systems break compacted soil, improve water infiltration, and build organic matter — creating conditions for the entire forest understory to return.
Native trees provide traditional food sources, medicines, and materials that support local communities — making conservation economically sustainable at the community level.
Essential resources for tree identification, native species research, and forest ecology.
| Resource | Type | Focus | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Tech Dendrology (dendro.cnre.vt.edu) | Website | Fact sheets, range maps, color images for 975+ tree species. Browse by Latin name or search by common name. | IdentificationNorth AmericaFree |
| Arbor Day Foundation (arborday.org) | Website | Tree identification, planting guides, native tree finder, and conservation programs. Excellent for urban and community planting. | Urban TreesNative SpeciesFree |
| USDA Forest Service (fs.usda.gov) | Website | National silvics manual, species distribution data, forest health monitoring, and research publications. | EcologyResearchFree |
| iNaturalist (inaturalist.org) | Website / App | Citizen science platform for species identification. AI-powered photo ID with community verification. Excellent for tropical species. | IdentificationGlobalFree |
| GlobalUsefulNativeTrees Database (GUNTs) | Database | Documents 14,014 native tree species worldwide with data on ecological and livelihood uses. Supports restoration planning. | Native SpeciesRestorationResearch |
| The Sibley Guide to Trees — David Allen Sibley | Book | Over 600 tree species with 4,000+ illustrations. The gold standard for North American tree identification. Covers leaves, bark, fruit, silhouettes. | IdentificationNorth America |
| National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees | Book | 540+ species with nearly 2,500 color photographs. Compact field guide format ideal for field use. | Field GuideNorth America |
| Trees: Their Natural History — Peter Thomas (2014) | Book | Comprehensive introduction to tree biology, physiology, and ecology. Answers the "why" behind how trees live, grow, and die. | EcologyBiology |
| Finding the Mother Tree — Suzanne Simard (2021) | Book | Groundbreaking memoir revealing the underground mycorrhizal networks through which trees communicate and support each other. | Forest NetworksScience |
| Collins Tree Guide — Owen Johnson (2006) | Book | One of the best modern European tree guides, covering 800+ species with a simple identification key. Trusted by botanists and amateurs alike. | EuropeIdentification |
| Tropical Trees of Panama and Central America — multiple authors | Book | Essential reference for the species found in Panama's forests, including the Almendro, and their ecological roles in rainforest habitats. | TropicalPanamaNative Species |
| World Agroforestry (ICRAF) Species Database | Database | Profiles of 2,800+ tree species used in agroforestry systems globally, including ecological preferences and restoration uses. | AgroforestryTropicalFree |
With 1.4 million members in 46,000+ clubs across 200 countries, Rotary International is one of the most powerful forces for community-based environmental action the world has ever seen. Its members have planted tens of millions of trees — and counting.
"There's something about planting a tree that speaks to people in a very primal way. It shows a long-term commitment to the community. Rotary does many wonderful community projects — we build playgrounds, clean up rubbish, and many other things. But somehow, planting a tree captures the imagination."
"Protecting the environment and curbing climate change are essential to Rotary's goal of sustainable service. The time is long past when environmental sustainability can be dismissed as not Rotary's concern."
In 2017, President Ian Riseley challenged every Rotarian to plant one tree — 1.2 million total — between his inauguration and Earth Day, April 22, 2018. The response was extraordinary: Rotarians worldwide documented the planting of more than 4.3 million trees, exceeding the goal more than threefold.
Riseley personally planted trees across the globe throughout his presidency — in Iceland's Friendship Forest (where Rotary's tree was planted just uphill from one planted by Queen Elizabeth II), the Atacama Desert in Chile, Northern California's wildfire zones, Sardinia, Latvia, and Australia.
In Romania, the government donated trees and Rotarians planted one million trees across the country in direct response to the challenge. The initiative reinvigorated Rotary's environmental focus for the first time since President Paulo Costa's Preserve Planet Earth program in 1990–91.
The Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group coordinates Rotary's global environmental efforts. In 2020, RI President Mark Maloney led the unanimous addition of Protecting the Environment as Rotary's 7th Area of Focus — cementing the environment as a permanent pillar of Rotary service alongside peace, water, health, and education.
They hosts seminars on agroforestry, ecosystems, sustainable cities, and tree planting projects — including partnerships with the Trees That Feed Foundation and the Million Trees Miami initiative.
In Finland's Lapland, at the edge of the Arctic Circle, a new forest is rising from former peat fields — the first forest in the world named and registered in honor of Trammell S. Crow, certified to sequester 13,000 tonnes of CO₂, and the beginning of a global series of forests honoring this extraordinary environmental philanthropist.
In December 2025, Finnish carbon sink company Carboreal announced a landmark partnership with The Environmental Xperience at EarthX, founded by Dallas philanthropist Trammell S. Crow. Together, they are establishing the EarthX Forest — a new boreal climate forest on former peat fields in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland.
The site was previously a significant source of CO₂ emissions. Former peatland farms — when drained for agriculture — release ancient stores of carbon back into the atmosphere. By returning these fields to living boreal forest, the project transforms a carbon source into a carbon sink, locking away an estimated 13,000 tonnes of CO₂ over the project's lifetime.
In recognition of his decades of environmental leadership, the new forest has been officially named after Trammell S. Crow and registered in the Finnish property registry under his name. The forest is legally protected for a minimum of 70 years.
Salomo Vilén, CEO of Carboreal, stated: "This is not a symbolic gesture — we are creating real carbon-sequestering forest. This collaboration is a cross-border climate act based on measurable and transparent impact."
Trammell S. Crow is a Dallas, Texas-based businessman, philanthropist, and founder of EarthX — the world's largest annual environmental event, drawing over 177,000 attendees, 2,000 environmental leaders, 700 exhibitors, and 450 speakers. EarthX convenes the global environmental community each year around Earth Day in Dallas.
In 2019, Crow received the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor — an award previously given to Ronald Reagan, Joe Biden, Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai. He serves on the Board of Directors of Million Acre Pledge and has personally committed to protecting 250,000 acres of forest in Suriname.
| Location | Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland |
| Named after | Trammell S. Crow |
| Partners | Carboreal & Environmental Xperience at EarthX |
| CO₂ Sequestration | ~13,000 tonnes over lifetime |
| Forest type | Boreal (on former peat fields) |
| Duration | 70+ years, legally protected |
| Certification | Kiwa Inspection ISO 14064-2 |
| Announced | December 10, 2025 |
The Environmental Xperience at EarthX offers personal and organizational carbon offset packages tied directly to the Trammell S. Crow Forest, with certified Nordic carbon credits.
| Package | CO₂ Offset | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 🌱 Seed | 1 tonne | $40 |
| 🌿 Branch | 4 tonnes | $95 |
| 🌳 Forest | 14 tonnes* | $175 |
| 🥈 Silver (Org) | 15 tonnes | $600 |
| 🥇 Gold (Org) | 45 tonnes | $1,700 |
| 💎 Platinum (Org) | 150 tonnes* | $2,500 |
*Starred packages include a Carboreal match — they double your impact at no extra cost.
The Environmental Xperience at EarthX hosts The Rotary Xperience — a dedicated event connecting Rotary clubs with environmental innovation, carbon markets, ocean health, energy transitions, and the built environment. The EarthX Forest partnership with Carboreal was featured at EarthX with a dedicated Rotary Day program.
"This collaboration is a cross-border climate act based on measurable and transparent impact. This is not a symbolic gesture: we are creating real carbon-sequestering forest."
Whether you're a Rotarian, a conservationist, a student, or simply someone who cares about the planet — there is a place for you in The Tree Projects. Every tree planted is a long-term commitment to the community, to wildlife, and to generations not yet born.
