A living laboratory in the Caribbean showing that community driven conservation can restore ecosystems, lift up communities and inspire the world.
Bocas del Toro, PanamáBocas del Toro is one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth. The Panama Project brings Rotarians, local families and partners together around one shared mission, and it is built to be copied anywhere.
Every project is built with communities, not for them.
Each initiative is scored with the 4-7-8-17 Global Success Program.
Designed so other coastal communities can follow the same model. Scale begins with depth.
Community managed coral nurseries and protected marine zones at Isla Solarte. A nurse shark now lives on the reef full time. Any Interact, Rotaract or Rotary club can sponsor a reef this Rotary year, and we build your club a free funding page.
Water filters were delivered to Centro Educativo Básico General San Cristóbal in 2019. Solar panels with a backup battery for a school are proposed for 2027.
Thousands of mountain almond trees planted at Dolphin Bay to bring back habitat for a critically endangered bird.
themacawproject.org
Debris recovery and ocean lessons for local students with One Earth One Ocean.
Floating Doctors, Ayuda International and Rotarian volunteers bring fluoride treatments and primary care to island children.
ayudaint.org
University students and volunteers from around the world serve side by side with local Rotarians.
volunteertourism.org
Honoring the Ngäbe, Afro Caribbean, Hispanic and expat communities of Bocas del Toro as a source of strength.
On August 6, 2026, we dedicated the Trammell S. Crow Rare Tree Forest at Dolphin Bay to the man whose vision gave so many of these projects a world stage. At EarthX 2026, Marko Kärkkäinen led a fireside chat on afforestation in Central America, and we thank Trammell and EarthX for giving that conversation, and this forest, a place to begin. The forest was funded by the Rotary Reef program.
Short clips filmed on the Rotary Reefs at Isla Solarte, Bocas del Toro.
Seeing the coral colonies firsthand made clear that reef restoration is possible and urgently needed.
Diving the reef her club helped build showed what clubs achieve together.
Ten days that showed the power of collaboration, community and shared vision.
Summaries of comments shared by visiting Rotarians.
Bring your club, your passion and your ideas to Bocas del Toro.