Discover why Panama is one of the most critical — and biologically extraordinary — places on Earth to plant trees.
Bocas del Toro has been described as one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth. But Panama's forests aren't just home to extraordinary wildlife — they are the lifeline of one of the world's most important trade routes.
The Panama Canal is a major global trade route, allowing approximately 14,000 ships carrying 6% of global maritime trade to transit each year. It saves ships about 8,000 miles of travel around Cape Horn.
Tropical forests in Panama contribute significantly to the water cycle. Through evapotranspiration, they help regulate rainfall and replenish groundwater — essential for the canal's freshwater reservoirs.
The Panama Canal relies on freshwater locks, which consume around 50 million gallons of water per transit. This water originates from rainfall stored in reservoirs fed by the canal's watershed.
Deforestation threatens the canal by reducing rainfall and increasing runoff, which leads to erosion and sedimentation in rivers — directly affecting water quality and supply for canal operations.
Reforestation projects like BRRI contribute to preserving the broader ecosystem, which indirectly supports the canal by maintaining Panama's biodiversity and environmental health. By supporting BRRI, you're helping protect Panama's rainforests — which are essential for sustaining both the country's rich biodiversity and the functionality of critical global infrastructure.
"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." — Ian H.S. Riseley, President, Rotary International 2017–18
Every tree planted in Bocas del Toro helps protect the Panama Canal, restore biodiversity, and support the communities that call this extraordinary place home.
