Aplicación del PMI En La Restauración Del Canal Del Dique: Lecciones del Canal de Panamá.

Abstract

The Canal del Dique, an artificial waterway initially built in the 17th century to connect the Magdalena River with Cartagena Bay, has become a significant source of environmental, social, and economic problems for the Colombian Caribbean. Its progressive deterioration, characterized by intense sedimentation, the collapse of ecosystems such as swamps and mangroves, and the growing vulnerability of riverside communities, has prompted multiple proposals for comprehensive restoration. One of the main concerns is the pollution of the water flowing through the canal, which seriously affects aquatic biodiversity and public health in the region (Hernández Trujillo et al., 2023; Kloster et al., 2016).

Faced with this challenge, it is pertinent to observe and analyze successful international cases that can offer useful lessons. One of the most relevant examples is the Panama Canal, whose recent expansion not only involved technical advances in water infrastructure but also a considerable effort in terms of sustainability, wastewater management, ecological restoration, and social participation (Corbett et al., 2014; Hagler et al., 2013). This paper proposes a review of the state of the art, comparing both canals to identify replicable strategies adaptable to the Colombian reality, considering the climatic, institutional, and sociocultural context.