Gland, Switzerland.- Mammals, birds, fish, insects and even plants are about to disappear in the Dominican Republic, as reported by the World Nature Union (IUCN), which included them on its red list.
The warning includes species like the Hispaniola Parrot, an emdemic species first taken to Spain by Christopher Columbus five centuries ago.
The report focused on the impact that humankind has on the environment, a topic for which there is growing awareness, but a lack of global and coordinated actions.
The Dominican Republic has 111 species in danger of extinction, and even plants do not escape to the effects of human depredation. A total of 30 of them are on a call list by IUCN, which expressed concern at the increase of endangered species.
According to IUCN, the country does not have a coherent program for protection, and this is complicated by the lack of qualified personnel and the impact of tourism.
A recent report from the Dominican Republic Central Bank put tourism as the main foreign currency income source, followed by remittances sent from abroad.

I think that applies full force here since people think more about feeding their family and paying the rent ( or, getting a government handout ) than anything else.