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Deep in the Sierra de Baoruco National Park, telltale patches of devastation.
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SANTO DOMINGO.- Two prestigious ecologists yesterday warned that Dominican Republic must protect its forests to prevent droughts and the extinction of many endemic species, threatened by the high depredation levels.

Biologist and National District Environmental Information Center director Milcíades Mejía, and Botanical Garden director Ricardo Garcia, in a ceremony to mark Arbor Day, said there’s a need to face the danger of extinction of Dominican Republic’s different species.

The municipal authorities celebrated Arbor Day with the participation of hundreds of students from Santo Domingo public and private schools.

Mejía, a former director of the Botanical Gardens, urged the citizens to protect the biodiversity and together with the entire population, create awareness on the need to preserve the environment. Mejía and Garcia headed the event aimed at protecting forests.

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6 comment(s)
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Written by: soundessential, 8 May 2008 11:14 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Thank you Haiti
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Written by: soundessential, 8 May 2008 11:22 AM
From: Dominican Republic
But seriously, its simple to prevent this... when you cut a tree down, plant one in its place!... trees are a renewable resource, we just need to have some common sense

The government should also dedicate certain parts of the country for tree farming
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Written by: Anonymous, 8 May 2008 1:09 PM
From: United States
DR is twice as big as Haiti, i don't think you should blame haitians for the rainforest being depleted in DR. Thank Haiti, for their own vanishing forests on the west side.
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Written by: JCjua, 9 May 2008 9:54 AM
From: United States, New York
It's not as easy as cutting a tree and planting a new one. It takes years for the new tree to grow.
it's more like cutting one tree and planting 10 new ones.
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Written by: soundessential, 9 May 2008 3:34 PM
From: Dominican Republic
but then you'll have to spread them out as they grow.... yeah, it's simple but it requires a lot of planning and time... that's why most of those businesses are family operated, because it takes 20 to 30 years for these trees to mature
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Written by: jemesouviens1804, 11 May 2008 1:33 AM
From: United States, Spring Valley, NY
Oh yeah....Blame the Haitians "soundessential". I bet when you go home and your spouse is not in the mood you gonna blame us for that also?.........Then again, I'll take that as a compliment
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