The Fundación para el Desarrollo de Samana and the Dirección General Forestal have agreed to develop a program for the conservation of natural resources and forests in the Samana Peninsula involving the participation of the rural population. The agreement was signed on 9 December by the president of the foundation, Ramón E. Prieto and the director of forestry, Coronel Julio Bienvenido Grullon Mendez. Rafael Blanco Canto, Simón Súarez and José Rojas, directors of the foundation were also present. Also Federico Lalane, president of the Asociación de Empresarios de Samana and Manuel Arturo Peña, the president of El Portillo Beach Resort. The foundation is concerned about the depletion of the forests in the area and the deterioration of the marine resources around the peninsula. The rural population is being brought into the plan given the fact that 60% of population depends on the land for their survival. The program seeks to increase the awareness among residents of the importance of conserving and making rational use of the forestry resources.