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SANTO DOMINGO. – Seventy percent of Dominican Republic’s land is becoming a desert and more than 90 percent of that is in the Southwest, where the zone’s poverty spurs deforestation, said Environment minister Omar Ramirez yesterday. “That’s not to say that Dominican Republic is going to turn into a desert in the short term, rather in real terms the potentiality of becoming so in the country’s South zone from the climatic conditions it shows and the region’s type of ecosystem.”

He blamed the zone’s poverty on what he called few opportunities for production, due to the lack of jobs and industries.

Interviewed in the Hoy Mismo program, Ramirez said another element is that despite the region’s sheer size, it’s home to the country’s most arid forests.

However, the official said the Environmental Police, the Armed Forces and other agencies coordinate the vigilance to prevent the desertification and its effect on the environment and natural resources.

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14 comment(s)
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Written by: bankai, 3 Jul 2008 10:15 AM
From: United States, Long Island
I think they should protect the environment and if people want jobs they can join the army or goto school and learn a vocation.
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Written by: anthonyC, 3 Jul 2008 11:08 AM
From: United States
"I think they should protect the environment and if people want jobs they can join the army or goto school and learn a vocation."

So simple even a caveman can do it right?

Sure join the Dominican Army. The D.R. needs a 1 million man fighting force.
Learn a vocation...great. I have a diploma...where's my job?
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Written by: arcatype This user is banned, 3 Jul 2008 12:48 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Thank you illegal haitians for destroying our forest's in the south west. Thank you again. And to the inept border guards thank you for being a bunch of worthless human beings soon we will lose our country.
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Written by: pappabowie, 3 Jul 2008 2:18 PM
From: Afghanistan, BAF
Why not plant trees and create a sustainable timber industry ? Privatisation is the only answer , Unfortunatly navegating the Dominican real estate system is akin to being pecked to death by ducks , private industry could manage the rescourses and provide jobs for the uneducated masses, Arid ? there is a water table. simple drip irrigation could transform this desolate plain into a thriving center of industry, certinly more sustainable than tourism. Alcaicia would be ready for harvest in 3 to 4 years and by rotation there would be steady work, start a plywood industry , support the fledgling bio-mas energy movement, there IS oppertunity but clearly the whole of the Dominican Govt. could not be trusted with the running of a turkish brothel let alone the vast rescourses at their disposal.
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Written by: anthonyC, 3 Jul 2008 2:23 PM
From: United States
The area is arid and dry. Little to offer for sustainable Timber industry. Of course irrigation could be used but it would take a massive public works effort to move the water from the east to the west. The costs would be astronomical and we all know the track record for Dominican Public works projects.
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Written by: pappabowie, 3 Jul 2008 2:29 PM
From: Afghanistan, BAF
On my last trip to Lago Enriquilo , I saw much of the land and feel it IS possible drill the wells on site , and trust nothing to the 'public works' of the Dominican Govt.
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Written by: PuntaCanaMike, 3 Jul 2008 4:21 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Papa....not often that we agree...but...you are correct. Many areas of the world face similar conditions yet thrive in one market or another...all it takes is initiative to get it done...but here initiative is usually very self-serving.

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Written by: rom1804 This user is banned, 3 Jul 2008 4:27 PM
From: Zimbabwe
Thank you very much arcatype. WE HAITIANS enjoyed destroying your forests very much. Hey what did you expect you ignored us for years knowing of the dangers of deforestation. You heart filled with hatred you say to yourselves let them destroy they forest that is none of our business. But now that we are done with ours we would like to take yours. AND THAT MY FRIEND is what we are doing and there is nothing you can do about it.
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Written by: arcatype This user is banned, 3 Jul 2008 4:58 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Rom1804 you are a living testament of what haitians represent misery self destruction and poverty. If the Dominican Republic becomes deforested like Haiti i will wish that upon them in a way, you know why? Because the father of the Dominican nation said that he rather see the whole island sink then to create a fusion with Haiti. Juan Pablo Duarte thank you for reminding me who the real enemy is!!!!! and thank you rom1804 for your candid hatred.
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Written by: jonbonz, 3 Jul 2008 5:52 PM
From: Dominican Republic
One of the problems is that there are few small family farmers, only squatters and the big mega farms which is what is going to be the down fall of the island. If say a concerted effort to introduce date palms to the dryer regions of the country then some one with two or three teraes would have a small legal cash crop with in a few years. The under story could be used to grow other shade loving crops such as Pigeon Peas or Taro root.
As long as every idea to make the island strong involves some kind of long term government project it will always be doomed. Look at every other public works project on the island as an example.
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Written by: arcatype This user is banned, 3 Jul 2008 5:54 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Funny name JonzBonz cool though James Bond!
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Written by: jonbonz, 3 Jul 2008 5:59 PM
From: Dominican Republic
When I was akid my cousins called me John Bones and I shortened it. I was really skinny. My 265lb butt cant match the nick name any more.
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Written by: HAYkickyouintheSHIN, 3 Jul 2008 10:16 PM
From: Haiti
Arcatype I clearly understand that you don't like Haitians but do you ever accept that some problems in the DR are due to Dominicans themselves? Do you seriously believe that every frickin problem in your country is due to Haitian people? Are you that shallow? Maybe just maybe one day you'll acknowledge that perhaps it is possible that it is Dominicans that contribute to some problems in your country.
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Written by: hectorvargas, 3 Jul 2008 11:02 PM
From: United States
This statitic is not entirely true cause is not more than seventy percent that is turning into desert. The geography of D.R. is widespread into different regions which produce different agricultural products and minerals this is why D.R. can be self-sustaining but some poeple want to place fear on unsuspecting people. For what reason, maybe they are looking for money. As far as education, there is no education in the world -- what exist is -- INSTRUCTIONS --- this is why people remained ignorant even with a dotorate degree. One problem for D.R is that presently there are more and more people that are graduating with no where to go. Eventually a high school diploma will be required to pick up garbage just as in the U.S. Don't blame people cause they had not received the proper instructions, thats a responsibility of government and governments had been working to rid itself of responsibility. -- How much true do you know ---
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