Environment Minister Max Puig has announced that there will be a zero tolerance policy towards squatters who plan to invade the Bani Dunes, between the communities of Matanzas, Las Calderas and Las Salinas (Peravia Province) in the southwest of the country. Puig has instructed two Environment deputy ministers, Ernesto Reyna (land and water) and Roberto Sanchez (protected areas), to be vigilant about invasions of 500 tareas in the dune areas.
On Tuesday, 24 January, Sanchez traveled to the Bani Dunes and in coordination with the Navy evicted 32 illegal squatters who had taken over property in the national ecological reserve, alleging they had titles from the Dominican Agrarian Institute. Puig stated that they now have the Dunes under total control and are in contact with the IAD director, Salvador (Chio) Jimenez.
The fine-sand dunes stretch along a 15 km straight line from east to west, with a maximum width of three kilometers. They are created from sediments that flow from the Bahia stream that makes for a remarkable sight.