Press reports indicate that vegetation in the National Park of the East, that includes Saona Island, is recovering fast. Saona was visited by thousands of tourists every week prior to Hurricane Georges. A report in Hoy by well respected ecological editor, Domingo Abreu Collado indicates that while the flora was affected, it is growing back. These are the tropics and this has always been this way, explains Omar Ramírez, director of National Parks. The director of Parks in turn explained that the rains that have fallen have accelerated the recovery of the vegetation that was left standing. He forecast that by spring the Los Haitises and East parks will have recovered the green. Omar Ramírez explained that what is most important is to avoid man-made fires and let nature run its course. He explained that hurricanes are part of the natural cycle in the tropics. The hurricanes eliminate weak trees and leave standing the species best adapted for the territory. Palm trees have proven to be among the most resistant species.
