The Ministry of the Environment has installed checkpoints in the different access points of Valle Nuevo to ban workers access to the protected area. Likewise, the dismantling of irrigation systems piping water to farms has begun. The prohibition of farming activities in the Valle Nuevo was upheld following the end of the timeframe imposed by the Ministry.
Nevertheless, a group of 70 people lead by Roman Catholic priest Rogelio Cruz has entered the area to begin planting of potatoes in the community of Castillo. Interestingly, father Rogelio Cruz is the same priest who in 2014 campaigned to impede commercial activity in the mountainous area of Loma Miranda, urging that the government declare the area a national park. This time around, he is actually encouraging activities (such as farming) that impact the environment in an area that has been already declared national park.
Deputy Minister of the Environment Dannerys Santana, who is in charge of protected areas for the Ministry of Environment, explained that from now on, access for farming activities in the protected area is banned. These protected areas include: Rio Grande, La Siberia, Pinalito, Las Espinas, Malagueta and Valle Nuevo that are located in the provinces of La Vega, Monseñor Nouel, Ocoa and Azua.
Santana explains that the great majority of the farmers in the area affected have harvested their crops, apart from those who need a few days more, especially for the harvesting of carrots.
He confirmed that no one would be arrested nor would they be relocating anyone. He estimated there were only 40 families living inside the protected area, as most of the workers are housed outside the national park. On the other hand, a representative of the landowners, Leonidas Aquino, said there were more than 300 farmers who lived in the area of the park that would go hungry if not allowed to farm. Santana also said that Minister Francisco Dominguez Brito had spoken to the famers to explain the policy, but admitted that the Ministry has yet to identify where the farmers will be relocated. Dominguez Brito had offered them a salary of RD$7,000 a month and health insurance to stop farming and be appointed as rangers. However, most farmers said that the monthly compensation offered by the Ministry was not enough money to live on.
Read more in Spanish:
El Dia
Diario Libre
7 Dias
31 January 2017
