Summary.
The bill would declare Camino Real, Camino de Cruces, and the ruins of Capilla de la Palangana or Capilla de Cárdenas to be Historical Heritage and archaeological heritage of the Nation. Its stated purpose is to protect and conserve those sites. It defines a datum as a reference for geographic coordinates; archaeological heritage as terrestrial and underwater remains of human activity studied through archaeology and related sciences; a polygon as a bounded area; and a buffer zone as an area subject to restrictions on use and development to protect a property. Archaeological heritage assets would be the exclusive property of the Panamanian State.
The National Directorate of Cultural Heritage (Dirección Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural) of the Ministry of Culture (Ministerio de Cultura) would establish the location of the Camino Real and Camino de Cruces routes and the ruins of Capilla de la Palangana using UTM coordinates with the WGS84 datum. Camino Real would be subject to the land-use zoning in the management plans for Chagres National Park and Portobelo National Park. The management plans for Camino de Cruces National Park and Soberanía Park would apply to Camino de Cruces. The ruins would be subject to the management plan for Camino de Cruces National Park. Those plans would contain guidelines to protect cultural resources along the routes, within the ruins’ polygon, and in their buffer zones.
The bill would create buffer zones that must remain free of construction and alterations to the natural and cultural environment, except for work necessary to visit and study the sites. For Camino Real and Camino de Cruces, it sets a strip of 15 meters on each side of the route’s centerline. Where paving stones are found, measurement would begin at the outer guide lines. Around the ruins of Capilla de la Palangana, it establishes a polygon extending 20 meters from the monument.
The designated funds would support a management plan for all three sites, covering conservation, restoration, research, public information, and maintenance. The Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Environment (Ministerio de Ambiente) would undertake joint action to safeguard cultural and biological resources. Through the National Directorate of Cultural Heritage, the Ministry of Culture would issue permits for archaeological research, conservation, and restoration. Unauthorized excavations and construction that harms the sites would be sanctioned under Chapter XVIII of Law 175 of 2020 and Chapter VII of the consolidated text of the Criminal Code (Código Penal) of the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá). The proposed law would take effect upon promulgation.
The bill concerns the Ministry of Culture, the National Directorate of Cultural Heritage, and the Ministry of Environment. Its provisions could also interest or affect national park management, archaeological heritage work, researchers, restoration professionals, visitors to cultural sites, and construction activity in the protected areas.
What it proposes.
- Designation and protection of historical and archaeological sites.
- Delimitation of routes and buffer zones.
- Site management, permits, and sanctions.
Who it would affect.
- Authorities responsible for cultural heritage and the environment.
- People conducting research, conservation, or restoration at the sites.
- People excavating or building at the sites and within their buffer zones.
Key points.
- Declares Camino Real, Camino de Cruces, and the ruins of Capilla de la Palangana or Capilla de Cárdenas to be Historical Heritage and archaeological heritage of the Nation.Art. 1
- Defines datum, archaeological heritage, polygon, and buffer zone, and assigns exclusive ownership of archaeological assets to the Panamanian State.Art. 3
- Directs the National Directorate of Cultural Heritage to locate the routes and ruins using UTM coordinates with the WGS84 datum.Art. 4
- Subjects the sites to zoning under the specified national park management plans and requires those plans to include protection guidelines.Art. 5
- Creates buffer zones free of construction and alterations, with a strip of 15 meters for the routes and a polygon extending 20 meters around the ruins.Art. 6
- Allocates the designated funds to site management and assigns joint protection measures to the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Environment.Arts. 7-8
- Assigns research, conservation, and restoration permits to the Ministry of Culture and refers unauthorized excavation and harmful construction to the cited sanctioning regimes.Arts. 9-10