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Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

In 1923, the Institute for Research in Tropical America, including the Smithsonian, established a research laboratory on Barro Colorado Island in Panama.  This arrangement continued until 1940-46 when, by act of Congress, it was transferred to the Smithsonian Institution.  Renamed the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in 1966, it operates as a center for advanced studies in tropical biology to promote basic and original research on marine and terrestrial organisms with emphasis on collection of long-term baseline data relative to studies of behavior, ecology, and evolution.

Other facilities of the Research Institute include a marine laboratory at Galeta (Point) Island on the Atlantic for shallow water investigations, and another at Naos Island on the Pacific, where a large sea water laboratory is available.  The San Blas Islands on the Atlantic side of the Isthmus and the Las Perlas Islands on the Pacific side also are available for research purposes.  In addition, the Government of panama has reserved acreage on the mainland as a nature monument (preserve) to be protected by the Institute.  The Institute's headquarters in Panama at Balboa includes one of the world's finest tropical libraries.  A station at Cali, Colombia, is maintained as a base for studies of the habitats of northern South America.

[[5 column table]]

[[headings underlined]]

LOCATION | SIZE | ACQUISITION DATE | ACQUISITION TYPE | ACQUISITION COST  

Republic of Panama

Barro Colorado Island | 4,600 acres, 27,000 sq.ft. | 1923 | License | None

Barro Colorado Nature Monument | 13,000 acres | 1979 | License | None

Galeta (Point) Island | 2 acres, 4,500 sq.ft. | 1965 | License | None

Balboa (Ancon & Tivoli) | 1.21 acres, 8,050 sq.ft. | 1968, 1972 | License | None

Naos Island | 3 acres, 34,000 sq.ft | 1965 | License | None
[[/table]]

[[underlined]]Major Repairs, Renovations, or Improvements[[/underlined]]

Presently, a new wet laboratory and saltwater distribution system is being installed at Naos Island (Pacific).  In FY 1980, renovation for consolidation and upgrading of other research facilities at Naos will undergo planning and design ($60,000), and construction will be phased between FY 1981 and FY 1985 ($950,000).  Also during this period, upgrading of deteriorated and inadequate buildings at Barro Colorado Island ($900,000) and renovation and improvement of laboratory facilities at Galeta Point on the Atlantic ($300,000) will be emphasized.  In FY 1980, library facilities at Ancon will be improved and expanded ($195,000), and about $500,000 will be sought for laboratory renovations between FY 1981-1983 at this location.