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SANTO DOMINGO. - The Environment Ministry (MIMARENA) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched the project Bolstering Dominican Republic’s Local Wood Industry, to directly benefit 244 small and medium timber producers nationwide.

MIMARENA Forest Resources vice minister Manuel Sierra, FAO representative  Deep Ford, and Farming and Forestry Development Center (CEDAF) director Juan Jose Espinal unveiled the project, which will count on FAO’s technical and financial support.

The projectds aims to motor the sustainable development of the Forest Industry subsector, promoting initiatives toward higher efficiency and competitiveness, to improve the living conditions in the rural communities surrounding the forests.

Its objectives include training lumber workers on how to cut, mill, cure and preserve wood, access to markets, business management and norms and provide technical advice on the industrial processes, technological transference and contributing equipment for pilot projects.

The owners of the beneficiary sawmills will work with raw materials from the forest plantations managed by the project, which will prioritize operations located in the most impoverished zones with important lumber production, such as Monte Plata, Cotuí, Villa Altagracia, Monción and Restauración.

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COMMENTS
12 comment(s)
Written by: Ricardolito, 15 Feb 2012 4:22 PM
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
This seems to be a wonderful project ...I think we need to have an election more often so we can have all these good plans and better control of the criminals ..It is almost as if this is a totally different government this year than we have had for the years before ,,,now they are working much better
Written by: anthonyC, 15 Feb 2012 5:31 PM
From: United States
In every democracy the "economy" loosens up during an election year. Nature of the beast.
Written by: RonEvane, 15 Feb 2012 8:12 PM
From: United States, Gaithersburg, Maryland

"The projectds aims to motor the sustainable development of the Forest Industry"

"Sustainable" is the key word. Without it, you have desertification and/or top-soil erosion.
For every tree fell, at least two or more must be planted.
Also, according to the US forestry commission, the rate of harvesting should never exceed one tenth the size of the forest, in acreage.
Written by: RoyStone, 16 Feb 2012 8:25 AM
From: Australia
The article does not state what was on the land before. If they are clearing indigenous forest to plant fast-growing timber-producing trees then it is a backward, not a forward step for the environment. However if it is on land already degraded by farming, etc. then it is a good move.
Written by: stillhere, 16 Feb 2012 8:52 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Money put into managed forestry without putting it also into native forest protection is pointless... As most mills can proses more timber than can be grown, so they will start sourcing more timber from somewhere else to keep working...
I would like to see more info on their idea of what they call "sustainable development" as most farmed forestry is very heavily subsidized world wide...

But if done right this is a good way to help small farmers and put more money into "impoverished areas"..
Written by: RoyStone, 16 Feb 2012 8:56 AM
From: Australia
Can anyone explain what "manage what's in front, to prevent what's in back" means? Bad translation?
Written by: Atabey, 16 Feb 2012 11:43 AM
From: United States, NYC

All I see is an excellent opportunity to have the prison population contribute some labor and give back to society a greener, healthier environment.

Written by: RoyStone, 16 Feb 2012 12:10 PM
From: Australia
Atabey,
How much labor would you expect them to contribute before heading off into the forest?
Written by: stillhere, 16 Feb 2012 12:41 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Prison labor and army labor, as they don't seem to be doing anything any time... what is it they do for all the money proud into the armed forces here???
Written by: RonEvane, 16 Feb 2012 3:44 PM
From: United States, Gaithersburg, Maryland

What does the Army do? More harm than good, I can tell you that!
Their "raison de etre" is to harass, abuse and extort money from the public, among other things!These fwcking parasites, have no other purpose in life! ..Coño, malditos!
Written by: RoyStone, 16 Feb 2012 4:43 PM
From: Australia
Good idea, stillhere,
the crims and the military are used to working together towards a common goal.
Written by: jasfalon, 9 Mar 2012 8:02 AM
From: United States
Does this mean that the generals can't sell the rights to people to cut mahogany anymore, which is illegal? I doubt it. The government will never stop illegal activities by generals. The US knows all about this general and ex-general mafia that controls illegal activities in the country.
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