Because the mangroves are part of the Gulf of Chiriqu\u00ed, they\u2019re considered an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA), a designation given to places vital to the survival of at least one shark or ray species. The critically endangered Pacific smalltail shark (Carcharhinus cerdale) is present in the bay, as are the hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), also critically endangered, along with Bryde\u2019s whale (Balaenoptera brydei), pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) and various sawfish species (family Pristidae), among others.<\/p>\n
The entrance to the Mangroves of David are also used as a nursery by humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).<\/p>\n
To mitigate damage to mangroves, developers said they\u2019re allocating more than 25% of the project\u2019s land to mangrove conservation, including an ecological corridor, a buffer zone, a botanical garden and protection forests.<\/p>\n
Developers for the project \u2014 which is privately funded by a \u201cgroup of North American businessmen\u201d with the support of \u201cPanamanian professionals\u201d \u2014 didn\u2019t respond to Mongabay\u2019s request for comment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot allow them to destroy it and then say sorry,\u201d Berguido said of the developers.<\/p>\n
More than 50 conservation groups have organized a \u201cNo to Puerto Bar\u00fa\u201d campaign, arguing that dredging will weaken sediment beds and slopes where the mangroves take root. Without mangroves, they say, the area will be more susceptible to increased turbidity, the measure of how much sediment is clouding the water.<\/p>\n
In total, the port will encroach on 3.08 hectares (7.61 acres) of mangroves, according to one independent review funded by the No to Puerto Bar\u00fa campaign. Around 9 million cubic meters (318 million cubic feet) of sediment will be dredged from the channels while the port is being constructed, as well as another 800,000 m3 (28.3 million ft3) every two years after operations begin.<\/p>\n The port could also impact Coiba Island National Park and Marino Golfo de Chiriqu\u00ed National Park, the campaign said. Both protected areas are located approximately 10 km (6 mi) away and could be impacted by increased traffic from cargo ships, cruise ships and yachts.<\/p>\n The review said even low traffic estimates of between 1.7 and 2.5 ships per day would threaten marine species more than the official environmental study suggests.<\/p>\n In total, the project is estimated to incur as much as $32 million in environmental damage, according to another study by the Conservation Strategy Fund, noting that the mangroves are a carbon sink that help control climate change, erosion and the flow of natural water.<\/p>\n Six environmental groups filed an injunction against the project last September, arguing that the environmental impact study had irregularities that misled local communities consulted about the project. They said the government incorrectly stated no mangroves would be affected by dredging.<\/p>\n The court denied their request to pause the project, forcing them to consider other legal strategies. They declined to share details about future legal filings.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s urgent that we reevaluate the decision and relocate the port so that we can protect Panama\u2019s mangroves for future generations,\u201d said Joana Abrego, legal manager at the Environmental Advocacy Center in Panama.<\/p>\n