More Than 30 Organizations Sign the Barahona Declaration on the Biosphere Reserve

More than 30 social organizations and the Catholic Church’s Environmental Concerns Ministry held a workshop in Barahona on the Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo Biosphere Reserve. At the workshop they called for more Central Government investment for sustainable development of the border areas, more support for reforestation and the right to a healthy environment.

They solicited the National Congress, town halls and corresponding institutions of the State for more action to encourage eco-tourism,

In the document, “Barahona Declaration,” signatories reiterated their commitment to unify their efforts to preserve and conserve natural resources in the southern region and to highlight the criminal character of the recent fires provoked by careless human activity or arson.

They solicited the National Congress, town halls and corresponding institutions of the State for more action to encourage eco-tourism, the adequate management of waste products and maintenance and construction of infrastructure.

Representatives from the church said faith and unified efforts in defense of life quality will contribute to overcome all forms of poverty, violence and social exclusion. They affirmed their commitment to nature in defense of divine creation.

The event was headed by the Bishop of Barahona, Monsignor Rafael Felipe Núñez, and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Jaime David Fernández Mirabal. Other Parish priests participated including, Antonio Fernández, for the Environment Concerns Ministry, José Ángel González, Rector of the Catholic Technology University of Barahona (UCATEBA), as well as Edward Jendy, Hilario Gutiérrez, Julián Ángel Sainz, for the de Duvergé, San José and Vicente Noble parishes, respectively.

Also present were Eleuterio Martínez, Deputy Minister for Protected Areas, Bolívar de Óleo; Environment Attorney General of Barahona, Marcos Soto; Luisa Canario Feliz, Víctor Terrero and Ramón Colombo.

SIGNATORY ORGANIZATIONS

1. Catholic Technology University of Barahona (UCATEBA)
   
2. Environment Pastoral
   
3. Social Pastoral
   
4. Duvergé Parish
   
5. San José Parish
   
6. Cabral Parish
   
7. San Antonio, Tamayo Parish
   
8. San Juan Bautista, Vicente Noble Parish
   
9. Our Lady of Fatima, La Ciénaga Parish
   
10. San Martín de Porres Parish
    
11. Cristo Rey Parish
    
12. San Bartolomé, Neyba Parish
    
13. Our Lady of Rosario Parish
    
14. El Buen Pastor Parish
    
15. Saint Bartolomé Parish
    
16. Saint Vicente Parish
    
17. Clareteanos Missionaries
    
18. Sagrado Corazón Missionaries
    
19. Barahona Tourism Clusters
    
20. Hagüey-Gabón Foundation
    
21. Barahona Provincial Government
    
22. FUNDASUR
    
23. FUNDACIPE
    
24. Environmental Society of Jimaní
    
25. Barahona Municipal Town Hall
    
26. Barahona Ecological Society
    
27. Southern Youth Foundation
    
28. Radio Enriquillo
    
29. Barahona Provincial Office of SEMARENA
    
30. Independencia Provincial Office
    
31. Bahoruco Provincial Office
    
32. Pedernales Provincial Office
    
33. Coffee Producers
    
34. Panzo River Forum
    
35. Strategic Alliance
    
36. Barahona Eco-Tourism, S.A.
    
37. Ecological Society of Cabral (SOECA)