| Abstract: | Summary The Panamanian government is currently negotiating with the United States to determine the extent of the cleanup of US military bases along the Panama Canal. The withdrawal of the US will be completed December 31, 1999. At present, there is no mechanism to ensure that the US will fund, assist with, or assume liability for environmental hazards left on former US Department of Defense lands. Known contamination consists of unexploded munitions on former firing ranges used by the US Army, Navy, and Air Force. Most of these areas are forested with forests of varying age, type, and structure. Complete cleanup could involve complete deforestation of the former bases and firing ranges. The Nature Conservancy has evaluated the ecology of the lands using their “Rapid Ecological Assessment” protocol. The US plans for the lands to become protected areas with warning signs and jersey barriers to protect the public. Panama wants assurance that future cleanup and potential legal damages will be paid for by the US. This paper attempts to summarize the current situation and recommends a potential strategy to both conserve the most biologically diverse forest while maximizing the level of rehabilitation of the areas. It is based on observations and interviews made during a ten-day trip to the Panama Canal Watershed, as well as on news articles, fact sheets from a peace advocacy organization, and primary sources such as correspondence between the US and Panama and minutes from meetings. |
