Panama

Threatened Species: 18 more info»
IBAs: 0
EBAs: 5 more info»

Panama Audubon Society (PAS)

Panama Audubon Society (PAS) / Sociedad Audubon de Panamá (SAP) is the BirdLife Partner

Founded in: 1983
Members: 100
Staff: 2
Address: Apartado 0843-03076, Balboa, Ancón, Panama
Email: info@panamaaudubon.org
Web: http://www.panamaaudubon.org

Mission of the organisation

To promote the appreciation of birds as a means of conserving their habitat through environmental education, research, and community participation.

Key Activities

Bird monitoring projects in IBAs
IBA protection with community participation
Birding courses for adults, children, park guards and rural communities
Birding tours throughout the year
Special monthly programmes with a speaker and a topic of environmental interest
World Bird Festival in October
Annual Christmas Bird Counts
Involvement in international conservation organisations

Recent Achievements

Conducted a rural education project with numerous communities in Panama to help children and adults learn more about the environment, Harpy Eagles and shorebirds
Purchased a first plot of land in El Chorogo with the assistance of Amos W. Butler Audubon Society in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A. and under the Conservation Counterparts program of American Bird Conservancy
Obtained one of the first four conservation easements in Panama's history for El Chorogo
Published the IBA directory for the country
Conducted and presented studies to the local environmental authorities that were fundamental in placing the 'Upper Bay of Panama' IBA in the Ramsar list of internationally important wetlands
Published 'A Guide to the Common Birds of the City'
Conducted the first Schoolyard Ecology workshop in Panama
Conducted the first Ocean to Ocean migratory raptor count in 2004
Instrumental in having The 'Bay of Panama' IBA and Ramsar site designated a Hemispheric Site of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. Dedication ceremony to be held October 18, 2005
Conducting a biomonitoring project combining scientists and rural communities within the Bay of Panama Ramsar Site
Working closely with the BirdLife International partner from Canada (Nature Canada (NC) and Amigos de Sian Ka'an in Mexico since the year 2000 in implementing protection strategies for the Upper Bay of Panama IBA and the Sian Ka’an Reserve IBA in Mexico
Member of the Supervising Committee for the Chagres Fund and the Darien Fund ($10 Million each) Debt for Nature Swap agreements between USAID, The Nature Conservancy and the Government of Panama for the protection of the Chagres and Darien National Parks (both are IBAs)

Worked closely with BirdLife partners from Mexico (CIPAMEX) and Canada (CNF) to implement protection strategies for the Upper Bay of Panama IBA and Sian Ka'an IBA in Mexico.
Published the results of a country-wide IBA study.
Continued with educational and promotional activities funded from a variety of sources, including a "books and binoculars" programme, a junior Audubon programme and birdwatching classes for park rangers and school students.
In co-operation with The Peregrine Fund, provided community education as part of the on-going Harpy Eagle project.
For the fifth year running held an International Bird Festival, with a programme of lectures and field trips open to the general public.
Participated in several environmental protection activism initiatives, including supporting indigenous groups in the protection of their reservations and participating in the Panama 2000 community discussions, which resulted in environmental concerns being incorporated into Canal Authority Law.