I wish I had time to translate this letter

[Hillbilly]

this letter was signed by 70 scientists from all over the world. Hippo must "object" to the recent bill. Or Leonel must have it torn down on 17 August.

HB
<<Áreas Protegidas_Carta abierta de Científicos2.doc>>

Esta carta la firman unos 70 científicos prestigiosos del mundo. La lista completa de ellos figura en el archivo anexo.

DSB



CARTA ABIERTA DE CIENTÍFICOS PREOCUPADOS
POR EL TRÁMITE DE LA LEY SECTORIAL DE ÁREAS PROTEGIDAS
EN LA REPÚBLICA DOMINICANA
Washington DC, Mayo 10, 2004
Señor Presidente
Hipólito Mejía
Presidente Constitucional de la República Dominicana
c/o Embajada de la República Dominicana
1515 22nd Street NW
Washington DC 20008
Teléfono: (202) 332-6280
Fax: (202) 265 8057
Estimado Presidente:
Por medio de la presente nosotros, científicos marinos y terrestres, queremos expresar nuestra preocupación acerca del proyecto de Ley Sectorial de Áreas Protegidas que está siendo considerado por el Congreso de la República Dominicana. De acuerdo con la revisión hecha de esta ley por la Academia de Ciencias de la República Dominicana, se eliminan varias áreas del sistema y se reduce significativamente la extensión de otras, en especial el Parque Nacional Jaragua, considerado como Reserva de la Biosfera por la UNESCO, y el Parque Nacional del Este que se encuentra en trámite de declaración como Patrimonio de la Humanidad. Esta ley también abre la posibilidad de realizar actividades mineras en el sistema de áreas protegidas. No obstante estas críticas alteraciones al régimen de parques existente, no existe un estudio soporte y comprensivo sobre los impactos que la aprobación de esta ley puede acarrear en el país.
Es por esta razón que le solicitamos a su gobierno obrar con cautela, y abstenerse de aprobar cambios en el sistema de áreas protegidos hasta tanto no se haga una evaluación de los potenciales impactos ambientales y económicos que esta ley propone.
La República Dominicana ha jugado un papel líder en la región apoyando la protección de la notable biodiversidad del caribe. Como parte del Protocolo sobre Áreas y Vida Silvestre Especialmente Protegidas de la Convención de Cartagena, la República Dominicana reconoció el invaluable valor de los ecosistemas caribeños, y la importancia de las áreas de conservación en la preservación de estos ecosistemas. La ecología única de la República Dominicana y su ubicación geográfica central al área de atención del Protocolo, hace aún más crítica la conservación de los sistemas ecológicos regionales.
La evolución del sistema de áreas protegidas de la República Dominicana, resultado de décadas de esfuerzo y planeación a todos los niveles de la sociedad, ha proveído las salvaguardas necesarias para la subsistencia de sus especies únicas de vida silvestre. Cualquier decisión tendiente a reducir el tamaño de estas áreas podría tener serias consecuencias para la integridad de los ecosistemas y la biodiversidad de la isla y de la región entera.
Página 1 de 7
Por lo anterior, le solicitamos posponer la aprobación de esta ley sobre áreas protegidas hasta tanto dicha propuesta pueda ser analizada con la adecuada información técnica y científica que demanda. Nosotros ofrecemos nuestro concurso para trabajar conjuntamente con los muchos y capaces científicos con que la República Dominicana cuenta, de manera que esta información este disponible.
Atentamente,
Dr. Allison Alberts,
Co-Chair, IUCN Iguana Specialist Group San Diego, California
Dr. Richard S. Appeldoorn,
Professor of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
Annette Arjoon
Coordinator
Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation
Society,Georgetown, Guyana

Charles Beeker,
Director
Underwater Science Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana

Giglia Beretta
Natural Resource
Management Environmental Sciences
University of Technology, Sydney
Australia

John F. Binns
President
International Reptile Conservation
Foundation
San Jose, California

Dr. David Booth
Dept. of Environmental Sciences University of Technology Sydney

Kelly A. Bradley
Senior Research Technician University of Texas at Arlington Dallas, Texas

[gmiller261]

Does not do a great job, but I can read it. It does mention the possiblity of mining. Oh boy.


Through the present we, scientific marine and terrestrial, we want to express our worry about the Sectorial government bill of Areas Protected that it is being considered by the Congress of the Dominican Republic. According to the done revision of this law by the Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic, several areas of the system are eliminated and the extension is reduced significantly of other, especially the National Park Jaragua, considered like Reserve of the Biosfera by the UNESCO, and the National Park of the east that is found in procedure of statement as Patrimony of the Humanity. This law also opens the possibility to carry out mining activities in the system of areas protected. Nevertheless these critical alterations al existing state of parks, not a study backup exists and comprehensive on the impacts that the approval of this law can lead to in the country. It is for this reason that we request to its government to do with caution, and to be abstained to approve changes in the system of areas protected to so much themselves not an evaluation of the potential economic and environmental impacts be done that this law proposes. The Dominican Republic has played a role leader in the region supporting the protection of the notable one biodiversidad of the Caribbean. As part of the Protocol on Areas and Wild Life Especially Protected of the Convention of Cartagena, the Dominican Republic recognized the invaluable value of the Caribbean ecosystems, and the importance of the areas of conservation in the preservation of these ecosystems. The unique ecology of the Dominican Republic and its central geographical location al area of attention of the Protocol, does still more critical the conservation of the regional ecological systems. The evolution of the system of areas protected of the Dominican Republic, effort decades result and planning to all the levels of the company, has provided the necessary safeguards for the subsistence of its unique species of wild life. Any decision tending toward reducing the size of these areas would be able to have serious consequences for the integrity of the ecosystems and the biodiversidad of the island and of the entire region. Page 1 of 7 By the previous thing, we request it to postpone the approval of this law on areas protected to so much said proposal can be analyzed with the adequate scientific and technical information that demands. We offer our contest to work jointly with the many and capable scientists with which the Dominican Republic counts, so that this information this available one. Attentively

[Keith R]

http://www.elcaribecdn.com.do/

Rep. Dominicana: Asonahores pide al Presidente que no promulge la Ley de Áreas Protegidas

Excerpt:

Bernal precisó que los legisladores mandan al mundo una idea negativa sobre el país al actuar arbitrariamente.

"Es sumamente preocupante el hecho de que están en juego áreas que han sido declaradas patrimonio de la humanidad y se envía una señal negativa al mundo entero. Le estaríamos diciendo a la comunidad que nos observa que existe un grupo que acomoda las leyes como le viene en gana".

This whole story is so sad, such a blight for the DR's record. I have come to expect such stupidity from Hippo -- make a secret deal to develop park land that violates existing Dominican law, and then seek to legalize by simply changing the law, regardless of the consequences.

But I am disappointed that the Congress would be so hell-bent on joining him in the stupidity. When the only people voicing support for this bill have been the very parties that will benefit directly, while the tourism industry association, all business organizations, scientists, the Environment Minister himself, NGOs from home and abroad, the Church, UN officials, the ambassadors of donor nations, the World Bank, all tell not to pass this law.... Obviously the Spanairds and their local business allies have greased every palm very well.

If Hippo promulgates this law (and there's no reason to expect him to start doing the right thing now, so he will promulgate it), then I hope that Moya Pons will be brave enough to do all he can to impede its implementation until Leonel takes office on 16 August. And I sincerely hope that one of Leonel's first acts will be to suspend the law, open a corruption investigation involving the case (if for no other reason, so that Members of Congress get the point!), ask the Supreme Court for an opinion about the constitutionality of that agreement Hippo signed with the Spaniards before it was legal, and about the new law itself, and send to Congress a bill to revoke the new law outright. Leonel needs to signal that he won't stand for this BS.

Keith

[Dolores]

I think this bill is going through as part of commitments taken on by congressmen and the President himself. Once it passes and is signed into law these people have fulfilled their part of the deal.

I think this bill will be easily invalidated by the Supreme Court.

The fact that even more absurdities were incorporated into it in the Senate makes me even believe that efforts were made to facilitate the work of the Supreme Court. The mere fact that new changes were made in the Senate, when they only are legally able to approve or disapprove what the Chamber of Deputies approved, makes this a likely posssibility. When you think of names being changed (Pico Trujillo?), this seems to make sense and there were people in Congress willing to do their best to at the end sabotage it, despite everyone getting their part of the pie with the passing of the bill.

Under this scenario, anyone that goes ahead to actually invest under the new terms established by the Sectoral Bill for Protected Areas is just committing financial suicide. This not taking into consideration that a Sectorial Bill cannot modify the Environmental Law 64-00 which was not modified in Congress. No way can this law stand a review by the Supreme Court.

On the positive side, it is probable that the bill will be subject to some serious professional expertise so that the country may come out of this whole mess with an excellent environmental piece of legislation, much better than the first one submitted by the Ministry of Environment.

[Dolores]

While the bill makes its way to Supreme Court review, have been told a RD$200,000 public relations campaign has been funded to discourage investors from any constructions in the protected areas that would be authorized under the bill that President Hipolito Mejia is expected to sign into law.

[Yan-Yan]

Do you guys know if there is a website or someone collecting signatures from the public to try to prevent this tragedy?

I wish I could somehow help fight this senseless act of destruction.... What can we do from where we stand!!!????

[Yan-Yan]

Originally Posted by Keith R

Obviously the Spanairds and their local business allies have greased every palm very well.

Who are these Spaniards? Are they any of the Hotel/Resort companies already established in the DR?

[Tony C]

Charles Beeker,
Director
Underwater Science Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana

Well if Charles Beeker says its bad then it must be! "Underwater Science" in Indiana?

Anyway. I see no problem with this bill. It will open up unused land for tourist to see some of the D.R.'s splendors and also allow economic development.

[dms3611]

...you start to ridicule them. Beekers credentials speak for themself.

Yet, agreeing with Tony - as far as the bill goes - how many of you in here have even been down to Pedernales or into the Jaragua National Park area....do any of you even know precisely where the development will go? What it actually will destroy? Do any of you who have really travelled the DR honestly believe you will ever even see ANY real tourism projects down in the southwest in your lifetime? In the next 50 years? This is a "pipe dream" ....no one goes to the southwest and it will not develop into Punta Cana for a LONG LONG TIME.

As far as developing mineral resources...if the country is going to truly "develop" how will that happen if natural resources are not developed? Remember this...if its not grown, then its mined....and the DR is DEFINITELY NOT being developed off the backs of agriculture.

While this bill is no good in its present form, some type of organized and planned developmental bill will be essential to carry the DR fiscally forward in the future.

[Dolores]

The Spaniards interested in building a hotel in the National Park of the East are an affiliate of Air Europa group. They are the only group of the select beneficiaries of the change of the law that has gone public. You can start a protest movement in Europe.

From 3 February 2004 DR1 Daily News:

"Spanish travel conglomerate Globalia Corporation is behind the intent to slice 4 million square meters from the National Park of the East, a protected area. The newspaper explains that Globalia is lobbying the Dominican Congress for approval of an initiative that would legalize the use of the land for the construction of 1,200 rooms. In 2001, a similar effort was attempted, but floundered under pressure from environmental and tourism groups. The newspaper mentions that President Mejia then signed two decrees, one dated 30 August 2000 and another dated 7 November 2000, whereby the 4 million square meters would be allotted to the planned hotel construction.
El Caribe says that interest in the hotel project was revived after the Executive Branch sent a bill to the Senate on 14 January to exclude sections 20-A and 24-A (containing the 4 million square meters purchased by Globalia in 1999) from the National Park of the East. The bill contends that the role of the Dominican government is to promote the development of tourism nationwide to capitalize on the fact that it is a leading hard-currency generator. Opponents of the hotel development expressed concern after a Spanish travel magazine published statements made by Globalia president Juan Jose Hidalgo, who said the government had given them the green light to proceed.
El Caribe reports that the Ministry of Environment has independently from the President's Office expressed its opposition to the partitioning of the park area on the grounds that until the Sector Bill of Protected Areas goes through, the limits of the protected areas cannot be varied, as this is a requirement established in Environmental Law 64-00, according to a statement from the Ministry of Environment itself."