Panama and Flanders join forces on Nature-Based Solutions

Last month, Flanders International Technical Agency (FITA) organised the Flemish Water Mission to Panama. Our colleague Kristien Veys represented Blue Cluster and played an active role in strengthening cooperation on Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and sustainable water management.

Together with the Panamanian Ministry MiAmbiente, Blue Cluster organised a well-attended seminar on Nature-Based Solutions for coastal protection and climate adaptation. More than 50 Belgian and Panamanian experts from science, policy and industry exchanged insights on how NbS can contribute to resilient coastal zones.

During the seminar, several members of Blue Cluster - including Flanders Marine Institute, Jan De Nul, DEME, Haedes and Arcadis - shared concrete practical cases related to ecosystem restoration, climate adaptation and sustainable development. On behalf of Panama, MiAmbiente and CITEC explained how the country is working on mangrove restoration and nature-based approaches.

Panama possesses exceptional marine richness and has a strong vision for marine protection and sustainable coastal management. At the same time, the country continues to face major challenges such as water scarcity, pollution, mangrove degradation and increasing pressure on coastal areas.

During the mission, constructive conversations took place with government agencies, research institutions and NGOs, including the Autoridad del Canal de Panamá, MiAmbiente, Universidad Tecnologica de Panama and CITEC. The Flemish delegation received a warm welcome, and it became clear that there is strong willingness on both sides to collaborate and exchange knowledge on sustainable solutions.

Flanders’ commitment to collaborating on water, innovation and sustainability was widely noticed in Panama. The attention the mission received highlighted the interest in Flemish know-how and the added value of joint initiatives in water management and Nature-Based Solutions.

Blue Cluster looks back on a fruitful mission that provides a solid basis for further cooperation. In the areas of NbS applications, monitoring and data infrastructure, as well as knowledge exchange, we clearly see opportunities for joint trajectories in the future.