Dominican Republic and Haiti Reach Agreements on Joint Environmental Protection Measures

The Dominican Republic and Haiti arrived at a series of joint decisions to protect the environment and natural resources they share on the island of Hispaniola. In October, both countries will initiate the reforestation efforts contained in the National Quisqueya Verde Plan.

Both Caribbean countries are seeking to jointly define concrete actions necessary to achieve the comprehensive and participatory management of their common water resources.

These efforts will mainly benefit the border area, according to the agreement signed by Dominican Environment Minister Jaime David Fernández Mirabal and his Haitian counterpart Jean Marie Claude Germain.

With the agreement, signed in Villa Anacaona in the border province of Dajabón, both ministers expressed their desire to deepen the relations and cooperation between their countries.

At the same time, they declared the need to promote a collective consciousness in both countries about the need to organize society in order to guarantee sustainability of the projects and activities they are undertaking.

Both Caribbean countries are seeking to jointly define concrete actions necessary to achieve the comprehensive and participatory management of their common water resources. They are collaborating of hydrology studies and undertaking inventories of their cross-border aquifers, according to the Dominican Ministry of Environment.

As such, they intend to delineate activities oriented to reduce the risk of water and other resource shortages as well as the effects of climate change.

The Ministers voiced their commitment to support the Cross-Border Environmental Program (PMT) which is being put into effect with the support of the European Union. They have also agreed to the need to improve the quality of life for their inhabitants.

Natural resources in the border region have been affected by the recent tropical storms and hurricanes that have blown over the island of Hispaniola.