Vice President Jaime David Fernández Mirabal had the staff of the National Palace planting trees in Loma La Yagua over the weekend as their contribution to the Quisqueya Verde reforestation project. So far 20,000 people have planted over one million trees. This is in addition to the 18 million trees planted by professional planters also part of the Quisqueya Verde effort, head by the Vice President himself. Speaking at the start of the activity, Vice President Fernández, who at the time was acting President since President Fernández was away, said that it has been a difficult project, but it has met with the support of all they have approached. "This means that President Leonel Fernández’s call that every man or woman, every boy or girl assume their responsibility for the rebirth of the DR, so that Quisqueya [indian name for the island], may be green and green forever, has been met," said the Vice President. He explained that the plan calls for getting government institutions, schools and companies involved in reforesting. He urged that the plan continue regardless of who is in power, highlighting the importance of conservation of the environment and rational use of natural resources for national development.
