DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

The Minister of Environment Angel Estevez has not been available for interviews by the press since the government announced the National State of Emergency on 20 March 2020. Meanwhile, the Coalition of Northwest Environmental Organizations (Coanor) denounces the recurrence of forest fires and indiscriminate logging in this region. Many trucks carrying timber to and from sawmills in the region have been observed by the Coalition.

The Coalition calls for the government to declare an environmental emergency on the Northwest. The Coalition notified that more than 50 forest fires have been reported since the Presidency instated curfew and closed most of government. The lax surveillance has created ideal conditions for criminals to penetrate protected areas and take these over. Affected is the Cerro de Chaquey that feeds 19 rural aqueducts and two reservoirs in Montecristi...