The World Willdlife Fund, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Conservation International and The Nature Conservancy ? four leading world environmental organizations ? sent an open letter to Congress and President Hipolito Mejia expressing their ?great concern? over the possible approval of the new law on protected areas that is currently being considered.
The organizations say that among other worrisome elements is the elimination of various protected areas and the significant reduction of others, in particular Del Este, Jaragua and Lago Enriquillo National Parks. Furthermore, they point to the modification that would open the possibility for mining in national parks, and would transfer important functions concerning protected areas from the Ministry of the Environment to the Ministry of Tourism.
While Environment Minister Frank Moya Pons has not been complacent to Executive Branch decrees affecting the environment, on the other hand, Rafael Subervi Bonilla is the husband of the present Minister of Tourism. At present he is President Hipolito Mejia?s vice presidential candidate. Minister of Tourism Miguelina de Subervi has not publicly objected construction of new hotel projects in the East National Park or the Jaragua Park.
In the letter that is dated 6 May, the organizations say they recognize the right of the DR to make decisions about its protected areas system, however, alert that ? the possible approval of this law raises doubts about the environmental commitments and obligations that the Dominican Republic has undertaken in the Protocol of Special Protected Areas and Wildlife of the Cartagena Convention, the Ramsar Convention and its relation to Lake Enriquillo, the designation of Jaragua National Park as a Biosphere Reserve and the process underway to recognize Del Este National Park as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
The organizations urge Congress and President Hipolito Mejia not to approve the law, in the understanding that ?this kind of process should be undertaken with openness, full participation of civil society, and on the basis of ample scientific information.?
The organizations offer their assistance and support to help the country, ?if it desires? to improve the protected areas system in a technically sound way, to balance the objectives of conservation with the benefits and economic opportunities that these areas can offer. ?The Dominican Republic, one of the countries with the greatest biodiversity in the Caribbean, deserves no less,? conclude the organizations. The letter is undersigned by S. Jacob Sherr for NRDC, Guillermo Castileja for WWF, Andres Ferrer for TNC, and Sylvia Earle for CI.
Canadian Ambassador Adam Blackwell yesterday also joined the international community that would like to assist the DR in balancing environmental and commercial interests. He told El Caribe that the laws that govern biodiversity should not be taken lightly, nor rushed. He said studies need to be conducted on the environmental impacts of the changes proposed and offered the advisory services of Parks Canada to assist with any such undertaking.