El Siglo newspaper reports that the government is building a "green frontier" of pine trees along the frontier with Haiti. The newspaper published a front page photograph showing a dense pine tree forest on one side of the Dominican side of the frontier-dividing highway and brush on the Haitian side. The green frontier is part of the Quisqueya Verde Plan, which is planting 80,000 tareas (a tarea is a Dominican measure equivalent to 619 square meters) along the frontier. The newspaper highlights how the project has continued throughout all the governments, regardless of the political party in power, since it was started in 1974 during the presidency of Dr. Joaquín Balaguer. It also points out how during the President Fernández Administration, the Department of Forestry is stepping up the resources available for the project, known as Proyecto Sabana Clara. Radhamés Lora Salcedo, is the director of the Forestry Department. The project extends from near Restauración to Pedro Santana, along the frontier. Its importance for Haiti lies in the fact that the Artibonito River, crucial for farming in Haiti, begins in these hills, and thus the existence of the river depends on maintaining the forests. The Proyecto Sabana Clara is seen as a model of cooperation between the governments of Haiti and the DR. As part of the project, Haitians and Dominicans are trained in forestry, and Haitians receive courses that may contribute to developing a new Haitian culture that will motivate Haitians to replant in Haiti. The project covers an area of 125,000 tareas of which 20,000 have been planted, 25,000 are already protected forests, and another 80,000 will be planted as part of Quisqueya Verde efforts. An estimated 600,000 trees have already been planted in the area.
