The Republic of Panama has thirteen (13) geographic areas, standing out, by its use, in the Province of Chiriquí, mangroves of the Gulf of Chiriquí, in the coast of the Pacific. These mangroves occupy an approximated surface of 446,88 km2. (Pradepesca).

Mangroves constitutes a dynamic ecosystem, which plays a very important role in the ecological balance of the coastal zone. As they are absorventes of organic and inorganic sediments and nutrients in solution, originating of the hydrographic river basins, the tides and the fluvial currents, they have abundant nutritious elements that allow to maintain a high rate of productivity, representing one of the main organic producers in the tropical coastal zone. Therefore, they are prolific natural for the youthful postlarvae and states of most of the species of fish and crustaceans of commercial value.

In Panama, mangroves are used for vegetal coal, wood for rural constructions, tannin, posts for fences, twigs for support of vegetables, firewood and even for posts of electrical laying.

In Chiriquí, the production of firewood is calculated in 2 to 3 million chips, which benefits 70 low income families. Also exists an internal demand of rind of mangrove for the industry of tannery located in the provinces of Herrera, Santos and Chiriquí; this product (rind of mangrove) has been exported between 20.000 to 25.000 quintals annual. This activity was made during the decade of the 70 and until 1985, when was suspended by virtue of governmental measures that prohibited the cutting of trees.

The increasing deforestation that comes undergoing mangroves, mainly in the last years, is reason for deep preoccupation, because it makes be in danger the coastal marine ecosystems.

The National Government, to order the forest activity in manglares, asked for the technical attendance of the United Nations for Agriculture and the Food (the FAO), with the purpose of examining the possibility of establishing small forest industries based on the use of mangrove.

In 1981, through the Project of Forest Development I and II supported by the FAO, was developed to the study for the arrangement and use of mangrove forests in Panama, taking like seat of the project pilot to mangroves of the Province of Chiriquí. In this Project, recommendations became on the use of mangrove in the production of coal, wood for construction, tannin, deposits of shrimps and forest management.