Adolfo Lopez, a well known ecology supporter, writes regarding the newly released decree….
1. The first consideration on which it is based is false. In no way does the Sectorial Law of Protected Areas remove from restrictions for tourism use the protected areas of Guaraguao-Punta Catuano and Bahia de las Aguilas. It merely limits itself to changing the category of management, that is Category of Protection VI, Protected Landscape.
The landscapes that are protected are:
In the case of the reclassified zone in the National Park of the East, a coastal zone with a semi tropical forest, where there are no hotels nor can these be built without destroying the landscape that they intend to protect.
In the case of the reclassified zone in the National Park jaragua, an area of tropical beach within a framework of desert vegetation, where there are no hotels and in no way can these be built without destroying the landscape that there is the intent to protect.
The uses that can be given with this category limit the allowing of visits, and carry out infrastructure for walkways or rest areas. Never permanent structures and much less cement or block structures.
2. The second consideration on which the decree is based is false because no where in the Sectorial Law of Protected Areas 202-04 is there a mention of removing areas from protection. As explained, Law 202-04 limits itself to change the category for the management of the national parks of the East and Jaragua.
3. The third consideration refers to a matter that has nothing to do with the Sectorial Law of Protected Areas nor with the National System of Protected Areas but with laws that refer to the tourism development of the country, which cannot be taken into consideration when drawing guidelines for protected areas. The protected areas, according to the General Law of Environment 64-00 are directly under the dependence of the Ministry of Environment.
4. The fourth consideration is especially deceitful, when pretending that the declaration of a protected area, is based on the promotion of tourism, something completely false, that in no way is admissible when referring to the protection of determined areas, based on the particular biodiversity that these areas have.
5. It is illegal and out of order to issue a decree that flagrantly violates the Environmental Law, that specifies very clearly that the only institution responsible for the management of protected areas in the Dominican Republic is the Ministry of Environment.
It is scandalous that they may seek to make responsible for the use and management of two protected areas, by decree, a group of persons in detriment to the legal and exclusive attributes of the Ministry of Environment.
This decree is too much like those issued by Hipolito Mejia to favor the interests of Globalia, S.A. that were later declared illegal and never executed.