In a significant legal blow to corporate environmental negligence, a Dominican court has sentenced an agroforestry company to pay substantial damages for the ecological devastation caused by its avocado production operations.
The case has drawn national attention in the Dominican Republic as a landmark victory for Environmental Law (Law 64-00). While the avocado industry is a major economic driver for the country, environmental groups and the Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic have long warned that expanding plantations into high-altitude forests and protected watersheds compromises the nation’s water security.
This sentence serves as a stern warning to large-scale agricultural producers that economic profit does not grant immunity from environmental regulations.
The ruling, issued by the Criminal Chamber of the Court of First Instance of San José de Ocoa, targets Agroforestal Macapi and its president, Manuel Castillo Pimentel. The court found the defendants responsible for severe environmental crimes, including unauthorized land-use changes and the destruction of protected forest areas in Loma Redonda, located within the Sabana Larga municipality.
Key details of the ruling:
The charges: The Specialized Prosecutor for the Defense of the Environment and Natural Resources (Proedemaren) accused the company of clearing more than 150 tasks (tareas) of native forest. This led to the elimination of various endemic species, including nin, jobo de puerco, guama, and almácigo.
Soil and water impact: Beyond deforestation, the court noted that the removal of soil on steep slopes without an approved management plan created a high risk of erosion and landslides. These actions threatened local water sources and the stability of infrastructure in the surrounding community.
Legal defiance: The ruling follows a history of judicial evasion. In 2023, the court had declared Castillo Pimentel in “contempt” (rebeldía) and issued an arrest warrant after he repeatedly failed to appear for hearings, citing health issues that the court ultimately found unjustified.
The penalty: The producer has been ordered to pay millions in fines and civil reparations intended to fund the remediation of the affected ecosystems.
Read more in Spanish:
El Nacional
Listin Diario
29 January 2026