Speaking to the press at the Presidential Palace, Minister of Environment Max Puig announced that the government has RD$2.3 billion available for environmental conservation, as reported in Hoy newspaper. He highlighted that government programs include the conservation of river basins, reforestation and solving the problems of the communities that have been evicted from the Haitises protected area. Puig was speaking after presenting his plans to the Cabinet yesterday.
He said that his Ministry’s action plan is basically divided into three main areas: Plan for Clean Waters, Green Island and the implementation of the decree for the Protected Area of Los Haitises. The Clean Waters plan seeks to preserve the areas around river sources. He said they are working on a consensus with construction companies about the extraction of materials from rivers.
Puig announced that his government is seeking alliances with municipalities nationwide to resolve garbage disposal problems. He also announced that the government would use a fund of EUR30 million, donated by the European Union, to remedy the sulphur waste contamination left behind by gold and silver mining from the Cotui mine.
He explained that the Green Island plan would re-launch forestry plans nationwide. He said that in 2005, the government planted 5.5 million tree saplings. He said that the Ministry of Environment nurseries have the capacity to produce 10 million plants. Pilot community forestry programs will begin in Dajabon and Santiago Rodriguez provinces. He also announced a program for the protection of river basins, such as the Artibonite, with the support of the German, Canadian, the United States and Japanese governments, and the United Nations organizations.