Guaraguao, Dominican Republic.- Using wood and other forest products seized nationwide, the Environment Ministry built 38 houses in the village Guaraguao, Duarte province (northeast), to help families living under the constant of flooding by the Amazonas river, near the Los Haitises National Park’s buffer zone.

Three local families have been already living in the first of the homes, while the entire group of new owners is expected to occupy their dwellings by the end of January.

Environment minister Bautista Rojas said the pilot project will have far-reaching consequences because it will benefit low-income families and that the ministry plans to build more houses of this type across the country.

He said his agency has a large inventory of forest products such as thousands of boards, including mahogany, oak, pine and cedar," wood that will be earmarked for the construction of housing for low-income people."