Cobre Panama celebrates the Value of the Oceans with its VIII Beach Cleanup Day

– In commemoration of World Oceans Day, Cobre Panama joined the global challenge to contribute to ridding the beaches near the International Port of Punta Rincón of plastic.

– More than 140 volunteers participated, including miners, youth, children and adults from the community of Río Caimito.

Donoso, Province of Colon, June 23, 2023 – Plastics make up the largest, most harmful and persistent fraction of marine debris. Eighty-five percent of the debris in the sea is plastic. In commemoration of World Oceans Day, which is celebrated every June 8, Cobre Panama held its VIII beach cleanup day near the Port of Punta Rincón to contribute to the reduction of plastic pollution in this area.

During the day, in which some 140 people participated, including miners, children, young people and adults from the community of Río Caimito, 3.6 tons of non-organic waste, mostly plastic, were collected from the inadequate disposal of waste not related to Cobre Panamá’s activities.

As every year, it was demonstrated that the sum of efforts generates a great impact on the conservation of marine ecosystems.

Alejandro Chambi, Cobre Panama’s Environmental Manager, said: “Once again we reaffirm our commitment to the preservation of natural resources, on this occasion, making a contribution to the conservation of the oceans, which are vital for our life on the planet”.

It is also important to note that for the last 10 years the mining company has been providing funds for the research of the Sea Turtle Conservancy, a foundation that works in the preservation, education and research of sea turtles on important nesting beaches in the district of Donoso, province of Colón, in the province of Bocas del Toro and in the Ngäbe Buglé region.

On the other hand, the mining company evaluates more than 20 points as part of its coastal marine and river mouth (estuaries) monitoring plan. Among the rivers evaluated are: Coclé de Norte, Río Caimito and Petaquilla, among others. The mine has been promoting a contingency plan for more than 5 years to respond effectively to unforeseen events or situations that generate a crisis and prevent marine contamination.

An important finding of this monitoring is the creation of a biological community of greater species richness and abundance in the breakwater of the Punta Rincón International Port. This biological community consists of 21 fish species, 3 coral models and 6 types of sponges.

Another important initiative is Participatory Citizen Monitoring, in which 14 communities near Cobre Panama participate and carry out periodic monitoring campaigns. In these campaigns, community leaders take water samples from the tributaries and take care of sending them to independent laboratories in the United States.

Cobre Panama has invested more than US$136 million in social and environmental programs, achieving positive results in its environmental management plans, biodiversity conservation, and benefiting neighboring communities.