Summary.
The bill proposes involving students at public and private schools in reforestation beginning in fourth grade. Its heading announces an amendment to Law 343 of October 13, 2021 (LEY 343 DE 13 DE OCTUBRE DE 2021), while its operative provisions identify Law 243 of October 13, 2021 (Ley 243 de 13 de octubre de 2021) as the law being amended. The amendment to Article 1 would make students aware of the causes and consequences of climate change and involve them in methods, including reforestation, intended to reduce its environmental effects in Panama. The amendment to Article 2 would apply the law to students at those schools from fourth grade onward.
The amendment to Article 3 would create a Reforestation Program for all public and private schools in Panama. The Ministry of Education (Ministerio de Educación) would organize and direct it in coordination with the Ministry of Environment (Ministerio de Ambiente). Under the amendment to Article 4, each student would plant or sow one tree each year, beginning in fourth grade and continuing until completion of twelfth grade. The tree could be of any kind, and planting would take place in areas of the national territory designated by the Ministry of Environment. The amendment to Article 5 would assign both ministries responsibility for setting program guidelines. These would cover planning, organization, participants, logistics, well-being, safety, supervision, attitude, activities, the procurement of seedlings and prohibitions, along with other matters established by regulations or institutional rules.
The bill would designate August 29 of each year as student reforestation day in Panama. If that date falls on a weekend, the institutions coordinating the program would hold the activities on the Monday of the immediately following week. The directors of public and private schools would prepare a report on the activities conducted that day and submit it to the provincial directors of the coordinating institutions. Those directors would send a copy to the Minister of Education and the Minister of Environment.
The amendment to Article 6 would make student participation free of charge. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Environment would supply schools with seeds, seedling species, trees and all other materials needed for reforestation. The authorities directing the program would provide each student with the necessary safety measures, transportation, protective services and medical assistance. The bill provides that it would take effect on the day following its promulgation.
The public bodies connected with these provisions are the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Environment. The provisions would affect public and private schools, their students and directors, and the provincial offices that would receive reports on the annual activities. The proposed activities would take place in Panama.
What it proposes.
- Student participation in reforestation.
- Organization and guidelines of the Reforestation Program.
- Annual student reforestation day and activity reports.
- Free participation and provision of resources and services for students.
Who it would affect.
- Students at public and private schools from fourth grade onward.
- Public and private schools and their directors.
- The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Environment.
- Provincial directors of the coordinating institutions.
Key points.
- The bill seeks to involve students in reforestation from fourth grade and make them aware of the causes and consequences of climate change.Arts. 1-3
- It creates a Reforestation Program for public and private schools, organized and directed by the Ministry of Education in coordination with the Ministry of Environment.Art. 4
- It calls for each student to plant or sow one tree each year, from fourth grade through completion of twelfth grade, in areas designated by the Ministry of Environment.Art. 5
- It assigns both ministries the task of setting guidelines on program organization, logistics, safety, supervision, activities, seedlings and prohibitions.Art. 6
- It designates August 29 as student reforestation day and moves the activities to the following Monday when that date falls on a weekend.Arts. 6-a-6
- It requires school directors to report on the day's activities and provides for provincial directors to send copies to the coordinating ministers.Art. 6-c
- It makes participation free of charge and provides for materials, safety measures, transportation, protective services and medical assistance.Art. 7
- It sets the effective date as the day following promulgation.Art. 10