The country hosts 16th Caribbean Forestry gathering

Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. – The country will host the 16th Caribbean Forestry Biennial Meeting of starting Monday, when around 100 representatives from 27 countries of the Caribbean, Central America, South America and the United States will gather to share their perspectives on the impact of climate change in the region.

The Environment and Natural Resources Ministry said the activity will be the most attended so far, doubling the number of participants in previous meetings over the past 30 years.

This year’s theme, "Forest management, biodiversity and climate change: promoting understanding of the dynamics of Caribbean forests and creating long-term regional networks," focuses on both the challenges facing the region’s forests to climate change, as well as the need to strengthen international networks and increase collaboration among forestry professionals.

It said Dominican Environment minister Bautista Rojas will head the opening ceremony, with lectures from representatives and officials of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the International Institute for Tropical Forestry (IITF), of the U.S. Forest Service.