First scenic assessment of the Coiba National Park’s beaches (Panama)

A scenic assessment of Coiba National Park’s beaches, using the Coastal Scenery Evaluation System (CSES), reveals that 64% of its 42 evaluated beaches rank among the highest natural scenery grades. This study, covering over 200 km of coastline, identified only three beaches in the lowest class and none in the least scenic category. Additionally, a preliminary inventory of coastal fauna detected 13 mollusk species, alongside echinoderms and crustaceans. The findings highlight the park’s potential for heritage certification and provide a baseline for monitoring tourism impacts on both beach aesthetics and biodiversity. This research supports sustainable nature-based tourism within one of the Americas’ most critical marine protected areas.

Botero, C. M., Justo, S. C., Garcés B., H. A., & Díaz-Ferguson, E. (2023). First scenic assessment of the Coiba National Park’s beaches (Panama). Marine and Fishery Sciences (MAFIS), 37(xx). https://doi.org/10.47193/mafis.37x2024010114