Panama Resources Group (PRG) is a newly formed company, incorporated for the purpose of developing the newly acquired 3600+ Hectare Finca in the Pinogana district of the province of Darien, Panama.
The company will create a sustainable business environment whilst developing several business products, but also ancillary businesses that will engender the growth of opportunities for the local community not only directly, but tangentially. As an example: by fostering a tourism industry, the local community may benefit themselves by opening business to support the ongoing needs of typical tourists.
However, PRG will focus initially on forest products and create a stable system that allows for effective and sustainable conservation management. Including the development of timber products, added value products that will require local labour, and the expansion of ideas that encourage the promotion of carbon sinking, oxygen generation and digital products that will originate directly from the global interests in tropical rain forests.
The following is a formal directional plan that we shall follow initially and as required by all businesses, tweak as we go to ensure a successful outcome.
2. OBJECTIVES
To Preserve and Manage the 3600 + HA of natural forest in a manner consistent with sustainable forestry.
Through conversation management, offer forestry products to the local and international markets and to advance added value to the forest products.
To help and improve the quality of life for the local communities through employment and the conservation of the environment.
Advance carbon sinking management, carbon credit systems, oxygen production and develop digital products to encourage global support for the rain forest biome.
In the short term, to develop additional plans that will encourage area tourism, including the building of accommodations, education, and ‘experience’ vacations, in a manner that is self-sustaining.
To broaden the opportunities of the local community in terms of employment, education, and community spirit and to encourage best practices / policies to promote community care towards the support of our environment.
3. Local Description of Area
The PRG Finca incorporates approximately 3600 + Hectares of contiguous natural prime forest located in the district of Pinogana, province of Darien, within the Republic of Panama. Originally made from a collection of 73 separate properties, PRG is currently filing relevant required documentation to ensure all properties fall within a single corporate title and deed. The original 73 parcels are described and attached herein.
a. Access to the Farm. The Finca is primarily accessed from the small town at El Real via single tract roads - some paved, but mostly along unpaved routes. The Finca entrance closest to El Real is approximately 20 minutes drive using a 4-wheel drive truck. The town of El Real sits adjacent to the Pirre River, a tributary off the Tuira River that lies approximately 17 kilometres (11 mi) by boat from the town of Yaviza, the current terminus of the Pan American Highway (PAH) - though the PAH is currently under development with plans to extend the route further towards the Colombian Border.
b. Legal Status of the Finca. As mentioned, the Finca is divided into 73 parcels that will be titled in the name of Panama Resources Group, SA., but are currently held in individual name format under notarised Power of Attorney ‘Possessory Rights’ documentation.
c. Total Area. The total area of Finca is approximately 3600 Hectares of entirely natural prime forest. Soil types range from Franco Arenosa - fine particles with low proportion of silt and clay, with a ‘sand-silt-clay’ ratio of ’65-25-10’ to Franco Arcillosa - to more malleable soil consistent with greater clay loam allowing for aggregating of soil properties, with a ‘sand-silt-clay’ ratio of ’35-30-35’ respectively.
d. Area Topography. The Finca is in the sector of Pinogona, with hills and deep valleys with an approximate elevation of between 7m and 22m (https://en-gb.topographic-map.com/).
e. General Climate. Located at an elevation of between 0 meters and 7 metres (21 feet) above sea level, the District of Pinogana has a Tropical rainforest climate, classified as Af. Pinogans’s yearly average temperature is 28.99ºC (84.18ºF), which is 2.12% higher than Panama’s general average. Pinogana typically receives about 414.76 millimeters (16.33 inches) of precipitation and has 352.82 rainy days (96.66% of the time) annually.
Additionally, Af refers to locations where all 12 months have an average precipitation of at least 60 mm (2.4in). It should be noted, monthly temperature variations in this climate are usually less than 3°C. Because of intense surface heating and high humidity, cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds (thunderstorms) form early in the afternoons almost every day (https://tcktcktck.org/).
d. Hydrography. Local hydrology references the water movement across and through the earth. In terms of its reference to the Finca, the province of Darien’s longest river, the 230 km Tuira river runs through Pinogana, and connects via the Tiura river almost directly to the Chuchunaque River which is the main conduit to the market town of Yaviza, making these conjoining rivers not only a major watershed beneficiary, but a major access route to the local economic centre.
e. Ecology. the Finca’s local ecology is part of the Tropical rain forest biome typified by heavy unevenly distributed rain fall. This, in combination with the average 28.99ºC allows for not only the incredible production of vegetation, but also the huge and complex distribution and diversity of flora and fauna.
4. Biological Environment
Any environmental modifications are a result of typical anthropological factors: forest management, through-fare creation, and additional ingress and egress action points. The Finca has not been disturbed by cattle grazing or similar anthropological activities driven by subsistence or commercial agricultural endeavours. In this regard, the area is substantially natural. Any obvious disturbances today are a result of previous mismanagement. Measures are now underway to prevent any misuse of Finca property especially where mismanagement may result in ecological harm.
a. Vegetation. The entire Finca is covered by primary forest, with many different tree species, specifically: Balm, Quira, Zorro, Cherry, Tamarind, Cedar, Espavel, and others. The Vegetative structure is such that there is almost a continuous layer of canopy trees with some trees able to maximise their ability to gain greater access to sunlight for photosynthesis thus allowing them to ‘crowd out’ less aggressive tree species.
b. Fauna. All fauna in the Finca is of natural origin, consisting of dangerous reptiles, small mammals and forest cats, specifically: rodents, capybara, deer, rabbits, opossums, porcupines, kinkajous, raccoons, bats, otters, peccaries, including the following cats: Jaguar, Puma, Ocelot, Margay, Oncilla, and Jaguarundi. Additional species include the Great Curassow, Macaws, White lipped Peccary, Black headed Spider Monkey, and a large collection of aves, parrots and other birds. It should be noted, this is a general list of typical fauna that is native to the area as a whole.
5. Social Factors
Socio-economic factors help determine the quality of life of the people living near the Finca and the most relevant activities carried out in the community. The Finca is located in the Pinogana
district and the communities closest to the Finca, and who might be influenced by farm activities are:
a. Population of Local Area. Due to the isolated access points to the Finca, there is limited local interaction. However, the local community demographics are as follows, and based on the latest available census (2014) at https://www.distrito.com.pa/distrito-pinogana.html. The general district of Pinogana has a population of over 18,000 with the population dispersed as follows:
Boca de Cupe: 1167
Comarca Kuna de Wargandi: 1914
El Real de Santa Maria: 1183
Meteti: 7976
Paya: 639
Pinogana: 405
Pucuro: 356
Yape: 187
Yaviza: 4441
There are additionally a few small communities located close to the Finca. It is important to note, the territorial district of Pinogana is spread over 1892,44 square miles. (https://www.inec.gob.pa/)
b. Access to the Finca see above. The finca is reached via a boat ride from Yaviza, a small community located at the end of the Pan-American highway in the province of Darien, Panama.
c. There is a small community airstrip in El Real, but it is currently not operational. Moreover, the landing surface will need repair before the airstrip is again functional.
d. Public Servants. The local community has the benefit of several political leaders who have homes in El Real, the closest large community to the Finca. This carries benefits as community leaders are able to react quickly to community issues, needs and encourage action. Currently, the Governor of Darien Province lives in El Real, and also the local Representative and additionally a government Senator.
e. Public Services. The community of El Real operates a health centre and offers basic health services, with minimal hospital beds. This facility also offers emergency services with 2 rotating doctors covering 24 hours. Within the health centre there is a morgue facility.
Additionally, El Real offers the following: limited school options with half-day Primary and Secondary school classes.
In terms of security, El Real has an established police station with 8 vehicles, supported by several officers, and backed by a judicial body, and a local municipal administration.
El Real does not at this time support a Fire Department.
El Real currently supports a limited ministry of public works however this department has older equipment and likely offers minimal community services. Currently, the machine inventory consists of a single, pick-up truck, a 6-wheel dump truck, a bobcat and a track bulldozer.
There are no public lodgings, no hotels, no modern play area for children, no fuel station, no restaurants, no supermarkets or pharmacies, or public gyms. There is no public business area where shops and stores might be located.
There is a single asphalt road.
6. The Local Economy.
The local communities in the Pinogana area closest to the Finca operate as farmers, ranchers, labourers, truckers, haulers, boat drivers, local community workers, medical workers etc. All interact within the community and help to make their location entertaining and vibrant. However, in every respect, the area is entirely a ‘frontier’ type development relying on the ingenuity and stubbornness of the local characters. And, in such locations the smallest natural or economic problem can easily multiply to effect the entire community at large.
That said, there is great potential for economic growth, particularly from the Finca itself as it develops through the various business plan options, and recruits labour, adds additional value to timber products through the manufacturing and development of wood products.
Additionally, and in terms of ‘experience’ tourism, Pinogana area is wide open for development. Such an untapped, interesting landscape could encourage small ‘conservation-minded’ tourism that could encourage, promote and teach sustainable ideas within forestry conservation management. Moreover, there are untapped markets that are beyond the scope of this initial plan, but with the right kinds of investment the whole area could be a new growth pole encouraging additional outside business investments.
7. Local History
The corregimiento of El Real, again the largest and closest community to the Finca was founded by the Spanish as a fort in 1665 to protect their gold mining interests in the area. El Real has a small museum and an old canon that stands as a memorial to the numerous conflicts that have occurred there. It should be added this whole area has a long history of gold extraction, perhaps predating the Spanish invasion, stretching to Boca De Cape - a community further down the Turia River - that was an integral part of the British-owned Cana gold mines where ore was transported through the forest via a single-gage railway before getting shipped downriver to the coast. Of course, the Cana mining operations was previously operated by the Spanish in the 1700’s but were taken over by the British and French in subsequent years.
8. Management Information.
Panama Resources Group Legal and Operational Representatives.
Head Office Contact Representative: Erick Gomez: +507 62902336
Legal Representative: Ulises Urrutia: +507 60283772
9. Planning towards Objectives
a. Currently, we are working towards titling the property so as to be able to properly establish a sustainable management plan. Knowing the scope and scale of the property is key to providing the adequate care necessary to ensure all parts of the Finca are identified. As such, we are currently determining the perimeter to ensure the plan covers all parts.
b. Of course, forests have many attributes and many functions: not only providing for carbon sinking, environmental oxygen, habitats for fauna and flora, but also more practical products like wood from Timber for furniture, building products and many other things. And, importantly, mechanisms to provide labour and income for people. After a more thorough assessment of potential timber assets, PRG will plan forward where we can manage sustainably the needs of the forest with the needs of ‘timber buyers always putting first the health of our forest environment.
c. As much as the Finca is a huge expanse of trees on the surface, it is also a working environment for many local people. Whether engaged in cleaning the forest, clearing dead trees or simply moving timber from one spot to another it requires serious labour particularly with respect to the difficult and often oppressive climatic conditions in the area. PRG is already looking to hire appropriate labour for particular functions, and as the demand for PRG products increases, we shall need to increase our labour force including management and supervisory positions, and not necessarily in timber related labour roles: PRG intends to put great efforts into building a tourist centre to attract the growing number of environmental tourists looking for different kinds of experiences.
d. We are aware that not every kind of product from a forest demands some form of extraction. Often, it’s the opposite. For instance, a key function of any forest is its ability to act as a carbon sink for omitted environmental C02. Of course, carbon sinking is the bi-product of photosynthesis of which all plants engage in simply to exist. When trees die, their decomposition eventually - though slowly - releases the carbon back to the environment in their respective life cycle. Understanding this and acting within the confines of this knowledge is a critical component to sustainable management. Of course, and with respect to the growing global interests in climate and its juxtaposition as regards the utility of forests, managing a forest environment is also another way of saying ‘producing oxygen, or managing a carbon sink’: all things are the same. As such, and with this global appetite to protect our environment, PRG will foster these feelings to create digital products that can not only generate income and jobs, but that will grow our forest brand.
e. PRG plan to exploit the new tourism paradigm. Yes, there are still conventional ideas about tourism: go on vacation, stay in a hotel, sit by the pool, read a book, do nothing. But, there is also a growing movement towards “experience” vacations: people today - particularly the millennium cohort - are looking for something different, something to do that will educate them, allow them to get their hands dirty, allow them to see truthfully with no barriers how other people live. For PRG, this means creating trips that will include full-day-week adventures geared to move our tourists slightly outside their comfort zones. To do this, we will have to create all the support systems that a tourist demands: accommodation, access to food, access to transport, access to health care, access to the experience, and access to ‘down-time’; and this can create a whole plethora of tertiary products and businesses that merge together. Of course, this means jobs, development, education and all the parts that make up an economic system. This takes time, and investment, but above all it takes the will. PRG has the will, and using proceeds from sustainable forest management will provide a portion of the ‘way’.
f. It’s true to say no single person or entity can achieve greatness by themselves. We at PRG clearly believe this. We know our success relies in great part on the ability to work with our local community. We understand, this usually means training and education to not only build a successful way forward, but to ensure the company’s goals and objectives of sustainable management are front and centre. Care for the environment is not an inherent feeling. Usually, as a society our primary desires come first - and it is expected. But, today, when our own human survival is at risk due to global environmental mismanagement, we all must begin to accept our responsibility to the environment and make that feeling inherent: we can’t waste our natural world and dump our garbage wilfully. We must respect our natural world and make decisions and by default our actions based on that inherent feeling. PRG plan to encourage these notions and promote them within our labour group and the general community as a whole.
g. As said above, at the end of the day as a society we only have our health and where we live. Everything stems from this. There is nothing else but us. As such, and with this in mind PRG will build and promote sustainable working policies that will encourage and support best environmental practices to achieve and grow a successful forestry operation that will help our local communities to provide for themselves and flourish towards the future.