to dam the Tabasara with a 220MW hydroelectric project designed to supply energy to the proposed Colorado Copper Mines. This project was cancelled following widespread protests. They had won the first battle of the Tabasara dams, however, during the 1990s another project was proposed - this time a 48MW dam, they again successfully defeated this proposal. This thereafter resulted in the Panamanian government changing national law in order to repeal requirements related to participation from indigenous communities. This long history of conflict regarding their traditional and spiritual lands has resulted in the prolonged social mobilisation of the Ngäbe-Buglé communities. Environmental and social impact According to GENISA, no indigenous village or houses would be inundated by the reservoir and no one would be resettled. However 5 hectares of stream bed will be flooded during the rainy season. The land to be inundated consists of ravines close to the river that are not suitable for agriculture or livestock grazing. According to another source the area to be flooded is , or 189 hectares. However, critics allege that the livelihoods of some 5000 Ngöbe farmers who rely on the river for potable water, agriculture and fishing will be negatively impacted, and primary forest would be cut down. They also say that the impacted communities have never provided their free, prior and informed consent to the project. Furthermore, they say that the habitat of the endangered Tabasará rain frog would be destroyed. GENISA says that the Tabasará rain frog lives in several habitats in Panama, including in the Anton Valley hundreds of kilometers away from the site. Chronology Concession award and environmental impact study (2006-2008) In 2006, under the government of President Martín Torrijos, an international public tender was announced for various hydropower projects in Panama, including Barro Blanco. Among the four participating companies GENISA was selected. The Public Services Authority ASEP authorized GENISA to prepare studies and, subject to obtaining all relevant approvals, to develop the Barro Blanco project. GENISA commissioned an Environmental Impact Study. As part of this study, in August 2007 in a public forum with the participation of local authorities, villagers close to the project were asked about their view of the dam. At the time, the indigenous M-10 Movement rejected the dam, because it considered indigenous people would lose their land, would not be able to use the river any more and because the environment would be harmed. However,