Panama protects wetlands from construction boom
Source: BBC
10 February 2015 Last updated at 11:41 GMT
Panama protects wetlands from construction boom
Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela signed a bill on Monday aimed at protecting the wetlands outside the capital, Panama City, from a construction boom.
Under the new law, construction is banned in a 85,000-hectare-stretch (210,000 acres) of the Bay of Panama.
The wetlands are a key stopover and wintering area for migratory shorebirds in the Western Hemisphere.
Mr Varela's predecessor had encouraged construction projects in the area.
The new law, which came into effect on Monday, also bans logging, the removal of soil and any other activity which may affect the mangrove swamps.
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