According to the official data, Panama’s national protected-areas system currently covers about 3.5 million hectares — comprising roughly 38.7% of its national territory (35.85% land, 2.81% marine).
That level of protection puts Panama among the countries that have committed substantial proportions of their territory to conservation — supporting habitat preservation across terrestrial, wetland and marine ecosystems.
Panama has identified 57 Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), and of those, 53 are also classified as Important Bird Areas (IBAs).
This reflects not only high species richness, but also that Panama’s ecosystems are globally significant for bird conservation — both resident and migratory species.
Because Panama is the isthmus linking North and South America, it naturally lies along major migratory routes. Its coastal wetlands, mangroves and mudflats — for example Bahía de Panamá — serve as crucial stopovers for migratory shorebirds.
Bahía de Panamá alone has been documented as hosting large numbers of shorebirds: estimates suggest between one and two million birds pass through during migration seasons.
That makes Panama — and especially its coastal/marine habitats — globally important for migratory bird conservation.
Panama hosts over 10,000 plant species, including abundant orchids, ferns, and many tree species.
Among vertebrates and other taxa: studies and assessments often highlight Panama’s high diversity per area unit.
The variety of ecosystems — tropical rainforests, cloud forests / montane forests, lowland humid forests, wetlands, mangroves, coastal zones — combined with its geographic position (the isthmus) fosters high biodiversity and endemism.
Panama’s biodiversity is considered globally important relative to its size; in one assessment it ranked among the top countries globally in terms of biodiversity per area.
Because of that and its location connecting two continents, Panama is often described as a “bridge” — both biogeographically and ecologically — making it a keystone for regional and global biodiversity conservation efforts.
| Metric / Category | Value / Fact |
|---|---|
| Protected-area coverage (terrestrial + marine) | ~ 3.5 million hectares — ~ 38.7% of national territory |
| Terrestrial-only protection share | ~ 35.85% of land |
| Identified Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) | 57 total |
| Important Bird Areas (IBAs) | 53 IBAs identified (out of the 57 KBAs) |
| Estimated plant species count | Over 10,000 plant species (broadly including flowering plants, trees, orchids, ferns) |
| Approximate percentage of world’s bird species present | Around 9% of world’s known bird species |
| Vertebrates & taxa richness per area (relative to small size) | High — leading to global biodiversity-per-area ranking for Panama |
If you’ve ever floated over a coral reef and had that moment—where everything just feels alive—it’s hard to forget. And once you’ve seen it, it’s even harder to ignore what’s happening to it. There’s no single solution to protecting our oceans. But there are people doing real, impactful work every day. Today, it’s also one of the most vulnerable.
Herping tours are on the rise. A growing number of people around the world are becoming interested in seeing, protecting and helping others find and photograph reptiles and amphibians–some of the most imperilled creatures on earth–as well as recognizing the economic opportunity that comes with the specialized local knowledge required to guide (especially people with few attractive economic opportunities in places like Latin America). I expect there to be more people and small businesses added to this list over time.
An ecology and wildlife research hotspot, Panama, together with Costa Rica, produces more than five times the biodiversity research of any other Central American country. As a nature and wildlife travel destination, Panama has long been famous as an international birding Mecca, with over 1,000 native and migratory species recorded in the country—107 of which are endemic, thanks to the country’s unique location—that’s 10 percent of the world’s known bird species.
The connecting bridge between two continents, Panama is the last link in the chain of countries making up the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, containing more overlapping fauna than anywhere else in the region.
With incredibly diverse ecosystems, from humid tropical lowland forests to globally important freshwater wetlands and mangroves, Caribbean and Pacific coastal habitats and islands, coral reefs, cloud forests and savannahs, the country protects some 3.5 million hectares of its land and waters ( 38.66 percent of the national area).
Whale Sharks are circumtropical planktivorous sharks, meaning they are found in all of the world’s tropical oceans (as well as subtropical zones) and feed on plankton.
They are gentle giants, the largest fish in the sea, and one of only three planktivorous sharks, the other two being Basking and Megamouth Sharks.
Whale shark diving is safe and can be done in locations throughout the tropics and subtropics–from Mexico to the East Coast of Africa–either scuba diving or snorkeling.
Whale sharks, along with manta rays, are undoubtedly one of the most sought-after megafauna for divers, and a whale shark diving adventure is likely on the bucket list of most casual and seasoned divers and snorkelers.