Institute for Biodiversity Conservation and Research

The Institute for Conservation and Research in Biodiversity (ICIB) can play a fundamental role in helping society and the Panamanian State to make conservation decisions based on scientific evidence, an approach that is key to maximizing the impact of available resources and avoiding decisions based on assumptions or incorrect information. In a context where the budget for conservation is limited and priorities must be carefully established, the ICIB can provide scientific tools and robust data to guide public policies and decisions on natural resource management.

Biodiversity Conservation and Connectivity Green infrastructure is essential for biodiversity conservation, especially in a context like Panama, where the rich diversity of species is under threat due to habitat fragmentation, mainly due to disastrous subsidy policies and state financing of deforestation for livestock activities.
Biological corridors, which connect protected areas and isolated ecosystems, are crucial for allowing species movement, seed dispersal and wildlife migration.

Cutting-edge research in biodiversity and ecological connectivity combines a variety of advanced technological tools and interdisciplinary scientific approaches that enable in-depth and detailed analysis of ecosystems, as well as effective monitoring of species and their habitats.
The use of remote sensing has transformed scientists’ ability to study large landscape areas and detect changes in biodiversity and ecological connectivity at scales never before possible.

ICIB has the potential to shift the paradigm of conservation from species-only approaches to a model that places local communities at the centre of conservation efforts. This approach not only recognises the importance of individual species, but also the complex interaction between humans, ecosystems and the services they provide, promoting more inclusive and sustainable conservation.