Panama’s National Environmental watchdog (ANAM) has been awarded $8.9 million to design a program to reduce deforestation in the country.

The money comes from The World Bank and the United Nations to help the country comply with its commitment to the Kyoto accord.

Hundreds of people demonstrated in Panama earlier in the year to protest the cutting of scores of trees in Obarrio  and later at  the Isabel Herrera Obaldia vocational school in Via Israel. And developers have continued to replace mangrove swamps with concrete,

Forest cover, in Panama City in 1970 was 70% and by 2009, was 43% and is still falling.

During the recent floods, the cutting of trees on the banks of lakes contributed to the rising water levels according to the national water authority (IDAAN).

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