Islas Secas Foundation

The privately funded Islas Secas Foundation (ISF), an affiliate of The Moore Charitable Foundation, supports marine and avian conservation and research, habitat protection and local community programs in the region.
Example grantees & projects include:

Aulas Verdes
The Islas Secas Foundation (ISF) supported the expansion of a crucial environmental educational program about the importance of wetland ecosystems, whichm in the Gulf of Chiriquí, have suffered from serious degradation. Working with the Panama Audubon Society’s ‘Aulas Verdes’ program, ISF is helping to raise awareness about the ecological and economic significance of mangroves, and has reached more than 400 pupils and teachers so far.

MarViva
MarViva, a regional marine non-profit, has been selected by the Panamanian government to facilitate a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Marine Spatial Planning initiative for the Gulf of Chiriquí. Islas Secas Foundation is supporting MarViva in developing a science-based fisheries policy, which will ultimately lead to the proper management of the area.

Panacetacea
Since 2011, the Islas Secas Foundation has supported Panacetacea, a research body focused on whales and dolphins, to conduct annual research expeditions in the Gulf of Chiriquí. Work includes photo identification (using photos of whale tail flukes to identify individuals), sound recording and biopsy sampling, all of which contribute to vital population and species mapping. ISF also supports community outreach days for schoolchildren from Boca Chica to learn about ocean life and conservation issues in Panama.

Wetlands International
Wetlands International has been dedicated to conservation in the province of Chiriquí since 2015, working with the Ministry of Environment and Authority of Aquatic Resources, as well as local authorities, coastal communities, private landowners and academic institutions. Islas Secas Foundation is now supporting Wetlands International's implementation of a new local wetlands and mangrove conservation initiative, which includes both on-the-ground restoration and championing the expansion of Marine Protected Areas.

Global Fishing Watch
This vital mapping platform strengthens the enforcement of fisheries regulations and Marine Protected Areas throughout the world. Islas Secas Foundation supports Global Fishing Watch's efforts to bring Panama’s domestic fishing fleet data into the mapping system, and providing training to the fisheries authority to maximize the technology for enforcement, while brokering a regional transparency agreement with neighboring countries.