The Ministry of Environment has launched a contingency and prevention plan for forest fires in order to reduce the burning of protected areas around the country. Minister Bautista Rojas Gomez also spoke of progress being made in the areas affected by forest fires in July 2014, mainly some 4,402 hectares (70,000 tareas) in Valle Nuevo in the central mountain area of Constanza. The Minister presented the plan, with an initial budget of RD$30 million over four months, during a tour through Valle Nuevo with Listin Diario reporters. He informed that 180 new park rangers have been hired for a total of 800 nationwide. They have been provided with new equipment and vehicles including motorcycles and pickup trucks that will be located at strategic points inside the national parks.