Río Guarumo, Bocas del Toro, Panama

Environment

Environment

Affected by human activity

Affected by human activity

Deforestation

Deforestation

Initial

Surrounding area

The Guarumo River, in the North of Panamá, near the border with Costa Rica, is surrounded by lush tropical vegetation, with up to 300 species of plants and numerous tree species such as Guaruba, Oak, Yellow tree, Wild plum, Terminalia catappa or Higuerón. Fortunately reforestation with native species is being carried out.

It is a place where several races live together in harmony, also with the indigenous people of the Western Caribbean. Some make their living from agriculture, mainly banana and cocoa plantations, and others from tourism, taking advantage of the proximity of beautiful beaches and their flora and fauna.

The Guarumo River is short but very fast-flowing, although during the rainy season, the current is much slower, but it does not dry up.

Underwater landscape

At the bottom of the clear waters of the Guarumo River, rocks predominate, some covered with algae, of different shapes and sizes, which occupy practically the entire flow of the river, and some sands and sediment can be seen in the riverbank areas.

There also quiet a few leaves from the trees on the banks, branches and trunks dragged by the current.

There is no vegetation under the waters, except for some riverside moss.

Fishlist:

• Amatitlania nanolutea (Cichlidae)
• Amatitlania nigrofasciata (Cichlidae)
• Cribroheros alfari (Cichlidae)
• Chuco microphthalmus (Cichlidae)
• Poecilia butleri (Poecilidae)
• Poecilia mexicana (Poecilidae)
• Poecilia gilii (Poecilidae)
• Brachylophus sp. (Poecilidae)
• Phallichthys amates (Poecilidae)

Aquatic mosses:

• Leptodictyum riparium (Amblystegiaceae)

Threats to ecology

Apart from climate change and human pollution of the river, due to various bad practices, there is a local problem that can affect the fish in the river.

The “Encapsulated project of the Guarumo River”, in Chiriquí Grande District is a large excavation where the water can be stored to raise a wall, so that the areas inhabited by people in times of heavy rainfall are not flooded.

But for this purpose part of the land has been destroyed, something that is artificial is never good for nature, although it seems to be justified and is for the wellbeing of the people.

Riparian zone

Trees near the aquatic habitat

Many - Cariniana pyriformis (Lacythidaceae)

Trees near the aquatic habitat

Many - Erythrina fusca (Fabaceae)

Trees near the aquatic habitat

Many - Swietenia macrophyla (Meliaceae)

Trees near the aquatic habitat

Many - Terminalia catappa (Combretaceae)

Trees near the aquatic habitat

Many - Andina inermis (Fabaceae)

Trees near the aquatic habitat

Many - Dipteryx panamensis (Fabaceae)

Trees near the aquatic habitat

Many - Samanea saman (Fabaceae)

Trees near the aquatic habitat

Many - Hieronyma alchorneoides (Phylanthaceae)

Trees near the aquatic habitat

Many - Sterculia apetala (Malvaceae)

Trees near the aquatic habitat

Many - Pterocarpus rohrii (Fabaceae)

Trees near the aquatic habitat

Many - Pouteria sapota (Sapotaceae)

Trees near the aquatic habitat

Many - Pachika sessiris (Malvaceae)

Trees near the aquatic habitat

Many - Ormosa macrocalyx (Fabaceae)

Trees near the aquatic habitat

Many - Pterocarpus officinalis (Fabaceae)

Trees near the aquatic habitat

Many - Cedrela adorata (Malvaceae)

Trees near the aquatic habitat

Many - Vochysia farruginea (Vochysiaceae)

Trees near the aquatic habitat

Many - Musa paradisiaca (Malvaceae)