Panama City Launches Its Largest River and Coastal Recovery Drive
PANAMA CITY, August 14, 2026 – The Panama City mayor office launched the largest environmental recovery project in the city, an integrated intervention running from the Amador Causeway to Costa del Este aimed at halting the deterioration of water sources and marine ecosystems, Metro Libre reported.
The effort focuses on restoring the channels of the Matias Hernandez and Rio Abajo rivers, along with the strategic protection of mangroves and key sectors of Panama Bay.
With operational crews deployed on the ground, teams are collecting tonnes of accumulated waste, cleaning up critical pollution points and working in coastal zones to stop debris from continuing to reach the sea.
The scale of the challenge has brought together an interinstitutional effort involving the Panama City mayor office, the ministries of Environment and Health, the Urban and Household Sanitation Authority and the Rio Verde consortium.
Environmental organisations, operational staff and dozens of volunteers are also taking part in the work.
During a tour, Mayor Mayer Mizrachi led environmental education activities with children from the community.
He said the sustainable transformation of the city requires a cultural change in new generations, and that recovering rivers, beaches and mangroves must be accompanied by raising awareness.
Why it matters
Waste reaching Panama Bay affects mangroves, fisheries and the coastline residents and visitors use every day.
What happens next
Crews continue working along the corridor between Amador and Costa del Este as the interinstitutional campaign proceeds.
