Santo Domingo. – The Los Haitises Carst Foundation (FUNKARST) and The Nature Conservancy will collaborate jointly to protect the Los Haitises National Park and improve the living conditions of the population living within the protected area.

The wide reaching agreement aims to turn Los Haitises into a self-sustained region that will meet its conservation goals, with technical support for its protection as well as for conservation, research and development.

It will also promote and develop training events and publications aimed at preserving the protected area and its influence zones and spur a dialogue of collaboration with environmentalist groups and government agencies.

“We’re committed to support FUNKARST to fulfill the park’s conservation objectives, as well as with promoting research and development projects defined for this protected area,” said The Nature Conservancy Central Caribbean director Marianne Kleiberg.

FUNKARST president Frank Rainieri thanked the environmental organization for its support and called on private entities and government agencies to collaborate to safeguard Los Haitises.

Environment minister Ernesto Reyna pledged to cooperate with the effort, noting that the government is a facilitator in protecting the natural resources.