On the afternoon of this Monday, November 7, the President of the Republic, Laurentino Nito Cortizo, sanctioned Law No. 171, which declares the Santamaría River Basin a National Natural Heritage Site and a Protected Area for the Hydrological Reserve.
The objective of this regulation, according to the president, is to conserve, restore, preserve and promote the conditions of the main water recharge areas of the basin.
In addition, with it, the rational use of the basin is sought, in order to maintain and guarantee this water source that constitutes the main part of the districts of Santa Fe, San Francisco, Cañazas, Calobre, Nurum, San Francisco, Santiago, Nata, Atalaya, Ocu, Parita, Santa Maria and Aguadulce.
Cortizo said that this new Law also creates the Board of Directors of the Santa María River Basin, as the governing body of said basin and the Center for Knowledge Management, Monitoring and Research of the Santamaría River Basin, as a multidisciplinary unit of a scientific nature. .
The Hydrological Natural Heritage of the Republic of Panama, is located on a surface of 3,400.63 km2, from its source to the mouth in the sea (Bahía de Parita), within which incursions, deforestation or any activity that puts in risk the quality of the water of the Santa María River.
