The Ministry of Environment published Resolution DM-0646-2026, dated October 21, in Official Gazette No. 30643-A of October 27, 2026; it sets the boundaries of the David District Mangroves protected area and incorporates the mangroves of Alanje and San Lorenzo, in Chiriquí, into a single unit. The recitals explain that David's Municipal Agreement 21 of 2007 declared those mangroves protected without setting boundaries, a category or rules of use, and that the public consultation of July and August 2026 received 791 comments.

Article 2 assigns the category of Managed Resources Area and article 3 sets an area of 66,600 hectares plus 3,062.69 square meters: some 29,626 hectares of land and 36,973 of sea. Article 4 creates a 50-meter buffer zone around the area, which does not alter land tenure. Article 6 prohibits, among other activities, cutting, filling or draining the mangroves, building homes, roads and canals within the ecosystem, metallic and non-metallic mining, agricultural expansion, aerial spraying, trawling and longline fishing, and the awarding of land or recognition of new possession rights.

The text leaves room for the local economy. Articles 7 and 8 allow subsistence and artisanal fishing and the harvesting of shellfish, crabs and "pasteleras" by traditional users, with personal authorization from the Ministry, and article 9 orders a user registry to be opened within six months. Article 16 preserves environmental impact studies, concessions and permits granted before the resolution, and article 18 recognizes approved navigation channels. For new projects, however, article 14 requires environmental viability from the Directorate of Protected Areas and Biodiversity before submitting the impact study, which adds a step for real estate, tourism or port developments on the Chiriquí coast.

The full regime depends on the Management Plan, which the Ministry must approve within twelve months through a participatory process (article 15) and which will define zones and resource capacity. Owners with property inside the area must exercise their rights in a manner compatible with conservation (article 11). The resolution applies from its promulgation.

Nexo Capital will follow the preparation of the protected area's Management Plan.

Research assisted by Sentinel, with editorial verification of official sources. Discover Legislat.ai