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¿Hay muchos bosques secos en el mundo?
No. Casi ha desaparecido, pues es el primer sistema que sufre con la llegada de los humanos, pues se usa para establecer asentamientos. No se le ha prestado la misma atención que a los bosques tropicales lluviosos, posiblemente porque su paisaje no es tan llamativo. Sin embargo… ¡son importantísimos hábitats para plantas y animales! ¿Hay bosques secos en Panamá? En el istmo de Panamá existió un extenso bosque seco llamado Arco Seco antes de la llegada de los conquistadores españoles. Comprendía la costa este de la península de Azuero y el sur de la actual provincia de Coclé. Pero fue destruido casi por completo con la colonización europea. Solo quedan áreas pequeñísimas en la isla de Taboga, Garachiné (Darién) y una delgada faja al oeste de Coronado. ¿Cómo es el bosque seco de Coronado? Es un bosque joven y en regeneración, con gran influencia marina, y árboles pequeños de menos de 10 metros de altura. Tiene forma de corazón, y mide unas 54 hectáreas. Es el bosque seco más accesible y mejor conservado de Panamá. |
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Are dry forests easily found around the world?
No, they have almost disappeared. Its natural conditions make it easy for humans to clear them to establish settlements. Many people also pay less attention to dry forests as they tend to be less striking than their tropical counterparts. However, dry forests are also vital habitats for many plants and animals. ¿Are there any dry forests in Panama? A large track of dry forest existed in the isthmus of Panama before the arrival of the Spanish “conquistadores”. It was called Arco Seco, which means “dry arch” as it has this shape. However, it was almost completely destroyed. Today, there are only a few areas left in the country in the island of Taboga, Garachiné (Darién) and a small area west of Coronado. Coronado has the largest dry forest of the country. ¿How can you describe Coronado´s dry forest? It is a young, heart shaped forest of about 45 hectares and a strong marine influence. Its trees are small, often measuring less than 10 meters. It is also Panamá´s best conserved and most easily accessed dry forest. |
The name behind the forest:
Eugene Eisenmann (19 February 1906 – 16 October 1981)
Eugene “Gene” Eisenmann Brandon, was a lawyer and amateur ornithologist. He had a long association with the Linnaean Society of New York (LSNY) as well as with the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) and the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). He was an expert on Neotropical birds.
Eisenmann was born in Panama and, though he was based throughout his adult life in New York City, he returned to Panama almost annually in order to study the birdlife and visit his family. He received a doctorate law degree from Harvard Law School in 1930 and was a partner in the New York law firm of Proskauer Rose until 1956. Eisenmann served as President of the LSNY from 1947 to 1949, and was later elected a Fellow. In 1956, he resigned from the legal profession to pursue his interest in studying the birds of Central America and the adjacent region. The following year, he became a Research Associate of the AMNH, a position he held until his death. He was editor of the AOU’s journal The Auk in 1958-59, vice president of the AOU in 1967-69, and chairman of the AOU's Check-list Committee from 1966 until his passing. He was a member of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. He published over 150 papers on ornithology, and his The Species of Middle American Birds is Volume 7 of the Transactions of the LSNY. He also co-wrote The Species of Birds of South America with Rodolphe Meyer de Schauensee.
Following Eisenmann's passing from a heart attack in 1981, the LSNY established the Eisenmann Medal to recognise ornithological excellence and encourage amateur ornithologists, with the inaugural award being made to Ernst Mayr in 1983. In 2000 the Fundación Avifauna Eugene Eisenmann (Eugene Eisenmann Bird Foundation) was established in Panama by a group of Panamanian and American bird lovers with the mission of protecting Panama’s birds and their habitats. In 2003 it obtained a 20 ha. concession at Pipeline Road in central Panama for the construction of the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center in the Soberanía National Park. Coronado´s dry forest is named in honor of Eisenmann´s contributions to nature conservancy.
Eisenmann was born in Panama and, though he was based throughout his adult life in New York City, he returned to Panama almost annually in order to study the birdlife and visit his family. He received a doctorate law degree from Harvard Law School in 1930 and was a partner in the New York law firm of Proskauer Rose until 1956. Eisenmann served as President of the LSNY from 1947 to 1949, and was later elected a Fellow. In 1956, he resigned from the legal profession to pursue his interest in studying the birds of Central America and the adjacent region. The following year, he became a Research Associate of the AMNH, a position he held until his death. He was editor of the AOU’s journal The Auk in 1958-59, vice president of the AOU in 1967-69, and chairman of the AOU's Check-list Committee from 1966 until his passing. He was a member of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. He published over 150 papers on ornithology, and his The Species of Middle American Birds is Volume 7 of the Transactions of the LSNY. He also co-wrote The Species of Birds of South America with Rodolphe Meyer de Schauensee.
Following Eisenmann's passing from a heart attack in 1981, the LSNY established the Eisenmann Medal to recognise ornithological excellence and encourage amateur ornithologists, with the inaugural award being made to Ernst Mayr in 1983. In 2000 the Fundación Avifauna Eugene Eisenmann (Eugene Eisenmann Bird Foundation) was established in Panama by a group of Panamanian and American bird lovers with the mission of protecting Panama’s birds and their habitats. In 2003 it obtained a 20 ha. concession at Pipeline Road in central Panama for the construction of the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center in the Soberanía National Park. Coronado´s dry forest is named in honor of Eisenmann´s contributions to nature conservancy.
