Mount Diablo Group: "Journey though Panama"

Wednesday, March 14, 7 pm, Winslow Center, 2590 Pleasant Hill Road, Pleasant Hill (corner of Taylor Boulevard and Pleasant Hill Road).

Join us at the next general meeting of the Mount Diablo Group as Sarah Cramer leads an armchair tour of the natural history of Panama.

Connecting North and South America, separating the Caribbean from the Pacific, Panama is like no other place on earth. Within Panama are huge swaths of virgin rainforest, countless endemic species, and tremendous variation in habitat. Over 10,000 species of plants, 940 different birds, and 105 endangered species thrive in a developing nation with the foresight to set aside 29% of its land for conservation.

People around the globe are also fascinated with the artificial channel connecting the Caribbean to the Pacific. The French began construction on a canal in 1881, but a full transit across the isthmus was impossible until the United States finished the project in 1914. When Panama took full possession and control of the Canal in 2000, this tiny nation inherited great power and influence in the realm of world commerce. Today this relatively poor country is desperate to maintain its status as a world player, which means maintaining the Canal as an efficient, safe, and cost-effective route for international shipping.

While Panama is currently a somewhat hidden treasure on the eco-tourism circuit, many predict it will become a major destination among adventure tourists in the next 10 years. It will be interesting to see how a nation with 37% of its population living below the poverty line balances exciting new economic opportunities with protecting the resources drawing in world travelers. Government policies are designed to welcome foreign real estate investment and attract American retirees. The results include a large influx of capital, but also irresponsible development and cultural rifts as small towns are inundated by outsiders.

Sarah Cramer is currently an education specialist and ZooCamp director at the Oakland Zoo. Previous travels found her in Asia, Australia, Africa, and Europe, but her first trip to Central America was this past September, when she spent two weeks exploring Panama's pleasures. Sarah will share her experiences, including a full transit of the Panama Canal, a visit to Project Golden Frog, and meeting a young ocelot while learning how to make chocolate.

For more information contact Ken Lavin at (925) 686-9393.