Santo Domingo.– Dominican ecologists warned that Jaragua National Park, famous for housing the world’s tiniest reptile, will be in danger if the green light is given to mega-hotel projects instead of ecotourism and sustainable development initiatives.

Located in the southwestern province of Pedernales, bordering Haiti, Jaragua National Park is the area with the greatest biodiversity in the Antilles. Its 1,374 square kilometers encompass forests, beaches and islands. Endemic species include the rhinoceros iguana and Ricord’s iguana, which are both threatened.

Since November 2002 the park has been one of three core areas in the biosphere designated by UNESCO, along with Lago Enriquillo and Sierra de Bahoruco parks. Aguilas Bay, a pristine seven-kilometre beach on the west coast of the park, has long attracted foreign firms interested in tourism development.

The government is considering several investment proposals. Since April it has been evaluating a plan from a Canadian mining company, whose name has not yet been revealed, to invest 850 million dollars in the construction of two hotels with golf courses in Pedernales, very close to Jaragua Park.

The project would be in Cabo Rojo, a few km from Aguilas Bay, the tourism deputy secretary for the southern zone, José Altagracia Santana, told the press. Although it is not part of the park, Cabo Rojo does form part of the same ecosystem and is within the biosphere reserve protected by UNESCO.

"Before any evaluation, the companies interested in building hotels are required to present an environmental impact study that includes all the elements established under Law 64-00," said Joselin Livian, deputy secretary for the environment and natural resources in the neighboring province of Barahona.