It's May and the rainy season has begun. This year was a little strange in that last year's rainy season ended late, well into January. It was also a very hot and dry dry season. Panama's climate is dictated by its equatorial position, however its weather is dictated by its proximity to both Caribbean and Pacific water bodies. Panama usually has a distinct dry period between January and April then 8 months of nearly continuous rain. There is a slight respite during one week of July called the Veranito de San Juan. The rain however gets steadily heavier during the year culminating in waterfall like torrents in November. During this time access to the field, where there are no asphalt roads, is nearly impossible. Of course for us this is just a minor setback but for the people who rely on constant access out of their villages in order to get supplies, sell produce at market, or in the case of an emergency are simply living in a life or death situation. Road building to access rural communities is a high priority for the development of countries like Panama where 76% of the rural population live below the poverty line. Roads however are a double edged sword. Roads that are built into virgin territories, that have as of yet been spared the chainsaw, are quickly destroyed as soon as access is made. There are currently many road building project plans throughout the developing world that aim to provide access for rural communities to economic hubs, however there are many more that are designed simply to open up territory that was otherwise left to nature, such as the ambitious Brazilian plan to open up the Amazon. On Panama's eastern border lies a very ancient and biodiverse forest known as the Darien. This forest is also home to at least three indigenous groups. Currently there is no road that cuts through this magnificent forest, however, there is much economic pressure from American countries wanting to trade with the rest of continent, since this is the only stretch where the Pan American Highway, a network of roadways that otherwise link Alaska to Patagonia, is not contiguous. In a world where Natural Capital is seen as being external and unimportant to Financial Capital, the Panamanian Government is left with a hard choice, open a road and increase trade or keep the road closed and maintain biological function. I wish this was the dilemma that the Panamanian Government were debating, however in fact the environmental consequences of a road are far from an agenda item. No, the dilemma is should they open a road and increase trade, but also open themselves up to terrorism by Colombian Guerillas, a flood of displaced Colombian refugees and to livestock diseases so far maintained at bay across the gap, or keep it closed and avoid all these problems.
We as environmentalists must bring the environment to the agenda of the developing world. You could say that these countries have so many other problems why should they concentrate on this. My answer is that a healthy well managed environment is the foundation for a thriving society and national development and hence demands full attention. Many countries such as Panama, do not even have a ministry for the environment let alone a cabinet position for the post. By relegating the environment to luxury status, the developing world is killing the goose that constantly lays the golden egg.