The Mamoní Valley
The Mamoní Valley, surrounded by Chagres National Park, the Embera Ejua So territory, the Guna Yala indigenous territory, and Panama City, sits in the most critical bottleneck for animal migration in the entire Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.
Throughout the year, various species, especially birds and mammals, migrate across the Isthmus of Panama.
The Mamoní Valley Preserve (MVP) protects rainforest habitat and biodiversity in this crucial corridor, with 1,626 identified species, many of which are threatened or endangered.
Approximately four million years ago, the Isthmus of Panama emerged, connecting North and South America and isolating marine life between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This event, known as the “Great American Biotic Interchange,” facilitated the exchange of terrestrial life and shaped current biodiversity in the Americas.
In 2020, a study of endangered amphibians and reptiles in the Mamoní Valley revealed a striking number of species at risk. The research identified 13 species, ranging from vulnerable to critically endangered, that are either known to inhabit the Preserve or are highly likely to be found here. Additionally, there’s evidence suggesting another dozen species may also be threatened within the Valley.
As scientists embark on groundbreaking projects—like reintroducing endangered species and safeguarding jaguars—we focus on diligently cataloging the diverse plant and animal life in the Valley. This ongoing inventory work helps us understand and protect the rich biodiversity that makes the Mamoní Valley so unique.
History
Historically, the Mamoní Valley was heavily forested, but large areas have been cleared for ranching and farming. MVP is not only protecting existing tracts of old-growth forest, which are vital sources of biodiversity for the recovery of deforested sections but is also stewarding the recovery of these areas as they slowly return to their forested state. Currently, 35 percent of MVP’s properties are old-growth forests, and almost 60 percent are mixed deciduous secondary forests, primarily Tropical Montane Cloud Forests.
The Upper Mamoní Valley is still a sparsely populated mountainous region consisting of four villages: San José de Madroño, El Valle, La Zahina, and Mamoní Arriba (listed east to west), which house a total population of an estimated 500 people. Enough to support three small rural schools and a health center.
They are located along the Mamoní River and its major tributary, the San José. Smaller ranching outposts are interspersed throughout the Valley along a dirt road that runs by the river connecting the four villages.
