In an interview with the Corripio Media Group, Environment Minister Miguel Ceara Hatton stressed the urgent need for public awareness regarding the conservation of natural resources and called for more tools to effectively combat environmental crimes.
“In order to control these crimes, we would need five million police and military personnel to monitor every citizen, which is not feasible. With 11 million inhabitants spread across over 48,000 square kilometers, we must shift our approach,” commented Ceara Hatton, who oversees natural resource management. His department has been criticized for being lax in combating environmental crimes.
Ceara Hatton advocated for stricter enforcement and legislative measures, similar to those implemented by other countries, to mitigate damage to ecosystems. Ceara Hatton pointed out that global success in reducing smoking within a decade was achieved through comprehensive measures and heightened public consciousness of its impact.
Speaking during the weekly lunch hosted by the Corripio Communications Group, he said the recent unauthorized deforestation at Buen Hombre beach in Montecristi for a vacation development prompted an investigation by the Environmental Special Prosecutor’s Office. The Ministry acted after the situation went viral on social media.
Reflecting on his ministry’s progress, Ceara Hatton acknowledged historical neglect and a need for reform. He says he is overseeing the restructuring of the environmental permits system. He mentioned that a digital platform has been created to manage 58 types of permits, licenses, and authorizations, with construction permits causing the most controversy. His predecessor, Orlando Jorge Mera was murdered by an individual who disputed permits.
He also mentioned efforts to provide infrastructure and equipping of staff. He mentioned the recent acquisitions of vehicles and assets to bolster environmental protection efforts. He said the Ministry has built 70 new infrastructures to house the rangers and guard towers to aid in surveillance in addition to agreements reached with the Army, Air Force and Ministry of Defense. There are currently around 1,200 park rangers, and the goal is to increase these to 1,800 trained rangers.
Regarding law enforcement, Ceara Hatton noted recent detainments related to environmental offenses and ongoing efforts to expand ranger training and surveillance capabilities. He highlighted legal actions, including over 54 prosecutions this year for offenses in protected areas and wildfires.
He said there has been progress on coastal marine issues. He explained that 30.6% of the waters that surround the Dominican Republic are in protected areas, out of a total of 428,000 square kilometers of maritime territory.
“We have intensified efforts in reforestation and management of non-metallic mining, focusing on vulnerable areas like coastal regions and key watersheds,” he emphasized.
On waste management, Ceara Hatton underscored progress under the Solid Waste Management Law 225-20, including initiatives at landfills and plans to phase out single-use plastics like supermarket bags, despite some resistance.
“There is no turning back; single-use plastics and foam are destined to disappear,” he affirmed, underscoring ongoing regulatory developments aimed at environmental sustainability.
Also present for the interview were Indhira de Jesús, deputy minister for Environmental Management; José Elías González, deputy minister for Forest Resources; René Mateo, deputy Minister for Ground and Water; legal advisor Ana Patricia Ossers, and Panky Corcino, director of Communications. The most controversial deputy minister for Protected Areas and Biodiversity, Federico Franco, did not attend the meeting with the press.
The Dominican Republic has over 29 national parks and protected areas that cover a significant portion of its national territory.
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El Dia
27 June 2024