1,000 birds by the age of 19!

Imagine if you had started birdwatching when you were 6. Julien Amsellem is an enthusiastic 19-year-old New Yorker from Hastings-on-Hudson, who has been birding actually since he was 6 years old. The moment

Ruby-topaz Hummingbird

Ruby-topaz Hummingbird Chrysolampis mosquitus Photo by Carlos Bethancourt The Ruby-topaz Hummingbird is an amazing hummingbird distributed mostly in South America. It can be found in Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname (which is the type locality—the

Towels folded especially for you!

Denia was looking for a job, when her cousin, who worked with Canopy Family, told her there was an opening.And just like that, Denia started working as a housekeeper at the Canopy Tower

Panama outlaws open pit mining

Recently, the rainforests of Panama faced a historically significant threat. Nevertheless, at present, the opportunity to appreciate them has never been greater, making a visit to Panama more worthwhile than ever, as never before have the Panamanian people been so aware of the importance of their conservation. A few weeks ago, Panama experienced a significant period of disruption. Travel became challenging, and a sense of uncertainty reminiscent of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic was palpable. This upheaval, however, was rooted in a noble cause: the protection of Panama's magnificent rainforests. The sequence of events unfolded as follows: On Friday, October 20th, the President of Panama sanctioned a law permitting a new contract between a foreign mining company and the Panamanian government, for the management of an existing copper mine. Situated 120 km from Panama City near the Caribbean coast, the 13,000-hectare mine, the largest in Central America, lies within the densely forested Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. Although the agreement, valid for 20 years and extendable for another 20, promised local employment, personnel training, profit-sharing with the government, and eco-friendly management, it faced opposition from the Panamanian public due to ongoing disagreements dating back to 1997. Therefore, on that very Friday, peaceful protests erupted across Panama, and what began as small gatherings quickly swelled in number. Each day saw a doubling of protestors, culminating a week later with 20,000 people on the main roads of Panama City, not to mention those protesting in other provinces. These numbers were unprecedented in Panama's history. People of all ages, including families, students, environmental groups, labor unions, and youth organizations, took to the streets. Armed with Panamanian flags, handmade banners, costumes, and music, they expressed their discontent with the mining contract, local corruption, and the escalating cost of living. The Panamanian

Recently, the rainforests of Panama faced a historically significant threat. Nevertheless, at present, the opportunity to appreciate them has never been greater, making a visit to Panama more worthwhile than

Pack for a Purpose Donations 2023

Pack for a Purpose provides travelers from all around the world with up-to-date information necessary for bringing requested supplies to community-based projects supported by lodgings and tour companies worldwide. Canopy Family has partnered

A small fieldtrip with a great value

Recently, Canopy Family supported a small fieldtrip with a great value: kids from Darién that belong to the Environmental Brigades, organized by Loira Castillo from the Ministry of Environment, visited Soberanía National Park and

The Canopy Family proudly donates to different organizations

The Canopy Family proudly donates a portion of its profits to support birding clubs, conservation organizations, and other environmental initiatives, namely: ANCON (Asociacion para la Conservacion de la Naturaleza) Fundacion AVIFAUNA ADESVA (Asociacion

Canopy Tower Family Invests in Planting Empowerment

Canopy Tower Family Invests in Planting Empowerment Planting Empowerment, a socially responsible forestry company working in Panama, announced today that the Canopy Tower Family, a renowned group of eco-lodges, has invested in Planting Empowerment. Washington, DC (PRWEB) September 27, 2012 Canopy Tower Family, a Panama-based ecotourism company, announced today that they have made a significant investment in Planting Empowerment, a socially responsible forestry company. The investment will enable Planting Empowerment to expand its operations in Panama’s Darien province, where it has been growing tropical hardwoods for the past six years. “We invested in Planting Empowerment because we support their mission of profitable, socially-responsible forestry”, said Raul Arias de Para, Canopy Tower Family’s founder. “They fit our own business well because we both have an interest in managing natural resources more sustainably and conserving virgin forests. They’re reforesting native tree species in some of the most environmentally sensitive areas in Panama, but also keeping the land in the hands of the local indigenous communities and small farmers. It’s more sustainable in the long run.” Damion Croston, Operations Director for Planting Empowerment, commented “We lease those plots of land from local communities and reforest with mixed tropical hardwoods and crops. Planting Empowerment’s model provides income, replenishes the soil, grows food, and cultivates high value tropical timber.” As elsewhere in Latin America, Panama’s natural resources are under constant pressure from logging and subsistence agriculture, which rural farmers depend on to feed their families. Cattle ranching also accelerates deforestation, leading to loss of biodiversity, soil erosion and spread of non-native grasses. Unsustainable management of natural resources threatens biodiversity in Panama, and the long term growth prospects for local communities. Farmers either have to commit more resources to getting the same amount of production from their land, or they move on to a new plot

Canopy Tower Family Invests in Planting Empowerment Planting Empowerment, a socially responsible forestry company working in Panama, announced today that the Canopy Tower Family, a renowned group of eco-lodges, has invested in Planting

Cookeina speciosa

Cookeina speciosa Photo: Rosannette Quesada-Hidalgo Cookeina speciosa is a cup-type fungus that grows throughout the tropics in both the new and the old world. In Panama, it is common in lowland rainforests. It

White-tipped Sicklebill

White-tipped Sicklebill Eutoxeres aquila Photo by Danilo Rodríguez Jr. There are two species of sicklebill hummingbirds around the world: the Buff-tailed Sicklebill (E. condamini) and the White-tipped Sicklebill (E. aquila). The White-tipped Sicklebills