Strengthen the territorial security and organisational capacity of the indigenous Peoples of Panama

Project Overview

This project builds up on the results of the previous project Strengthening the territorial security and organisational capacity of the Indigenous Peoples of Panama, which achieved unity of Panama’s Indigenous Peoples, the creation of Naso Tjër Di Comarca -where a total of 160,000 hectares were legally protected in favour of the Naso People- and where advances in granting approval to requests for collective titles in protected areas were made.   

This project aims to ensure that the lands and forests located in indigenous territories of Panama are protected, providing cultural, social, and environmental services to Indigenous Peoples and the country. Thus, its focus lies in consolidating existing tenure through working within territories where legal security has been achieved and continuing advances in titling processes for indigenous territories. 

To do so, the project will promote actions that protect territories and forests from illegal occupations and incursions, improve territorial management and development plans, strengthen community leaders’ capacities following a gender/age inclusive focus, and strengthen communities’ governance systems. 

The project will promote the preparation of twelve territorial plans, and it will ensure ten percent (15,400 ha) of illegally invaded and occupied lands are recovered. This will set a legal precedent not only in Panama but also at a regional level, where the overlapping of territories and protected areas has historically impeded the legal recognition of indigenous lands.  

Additionally, this project will promote tenure reaffirmation and tenure protection. Tenure security goes beyond granting titles to communities; it involves continuous respect, strengthening and protection of these territories. Through promoting capacity building of communities and their leaders, the project will help sustain the territorial rights of territories that currently hold land titles. This will generate nationwide benefits due to invaluable biological and cultural diversity of indigenous lands. Finally, the project also includes elements of food security at territorial boundaries and cultural strengthening.