The Sierra de Bahoruco National Park is one of the most ecologically diverse places in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. It is supposed to be uninhabited. In recent years, though, persons with influence in government managed to operate an avocado plantation right in the park.
Environment Minister Orlando Jorge Mera announced the ban on farming in the park. The ban covers around 2,000 avocado trees that had already been grafted to produce a more marketable avocado. Alongside with the main money crop, fields dedicated to corn, beans and other short-cycle crops need to be cleared.
At the Ministry of Environment’s request, the Ministry of Defense sent a detachment of troops to close the farming operation. Farming equipment was seized. Three undocumented Haitian workers were sent to the Specialized Corps of Frontier Security (Cesfront). Yovany Feliz and several others were indicted for violations of Environment Law 64-00.
The Ministry of Environment said that other raids on illicit operations in national parks will be carried out under the new Rescue Phase 1 Program. The National Environmental Protection Service (SENPA) is under the command of Colonel Ambiorix Cepeda Hernandez and his teams are spread out all over the country.
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El Dia
Acento
18 October 2020