Good news surprises.

[Rocky]

Will keep this as short as possible.
Sosua is fast becoming environment friendly, maybe even developing into role model for other DR communities.
Upon Ringo's invitation to meet Garry Kooy, who has been mentioned for his recent achievements in environmental clean ups and education, (See Trash solution for Cabarete and Sosua starting at post 244, as well as Sosúa-News
we went over this morning and met with several environment officials in various capacities and functions, all from this area.
This is the most impressive group of concerned environmental high achievers, one could ever hope to meet.
I can't tell you how impressed I was.
Bright educated people, on a mission to change this country's "bad habits".
As it happens, this particular meeting was not about the clean up project that Garry is involved with.
I will post the agenda in the next post, but not without repeating that these folks are the real thing.
Brilliant educated well spoken folks with a genuine concern and love for nature, in all it's aspects.

[Chris]

Very nice! But I'm giggling a little ... its high time that the environmentalists get a break instead of being called dreamers, tree huggers (although I like the name), unintelligent know-nothings, against development, and a few other not so nice names.

Some of you may know that I do some web development in my 'spare time' and every single one of my customers are now busy including an environmental focus to their businesses and their sites. Nice! The awareness is growing.

[Rocky]

Reforestation - Environment Education - Green House Project - Sosua

Description
This project consists of creating and developing a green house which would serve as a base for growing trees, flowers and plants, which would be used for reforestation and beautification of the municipality of Sosua, as well as the protection of the mountainsides and riverbanks of its 4 major rivers, and a basic educational environment program on the appropriate usage of ornamental plants, fruit trees and forests, then the actual execution of said plans. (planting, maintaining, protecting, etc)

The main goals are,
1) To put forth a program of short courses and activities which would contribute in elevating the awareness level of the environment, in order to stimulate an eco-friendly culture in the municipalities.
2) To build and develop a municipal green house and nursery, where 75% of the necessary plants, flowers and trees would be grown for the above mentioned reforestation and beautification of the Sosua municipality.

[Rocky]

Somonca (SOsua - MONtellano - CAbarete) is another environmental non profit organization, in which Garry participates/heads up, with regards to clean up/anti pollution/etc projects.
I don't know all the details yet, but to mention that they exist, that they are non profit, that they have already accomplished certain goals and are moving onto making these 3 communities, cleaner eco friendly places to live. ( Sosúa-News )

Contact info:
Garry Kooy
Pedro Clisante 143,
El Batey, Sosua,
Tel: 809-571-4285,
Cel: 809-880-1505

[Ringo]

Rocky, thank so much for attending this meeting. Your input and insight was very constructive.

I too was impressed by the quality of people and could feel their energy. I also could share in thier frustration as noted in some of the following notes. I, as a guest living here and from an enviornment of "getting things done", I pressed upon this group that planning and talking is a needed part of the process, but to gain any real momentum/support, they need to prove by action and not just words. This North American thinking, I hope, will take root and we can hope that some action will be implimented. The two parks in Sousa part of this discussion. (But then again, I must learn that I'm not in North America either.)

There are also projects in the works for solar and wind power generation for the North Coast as well as other enviornmental projects. Education is seen as a major key and programs that are now being used can be expanded upon along the way.

This is a good start.

Regards, Ringo

Notes from Mrs. Ringo. (much better then mine.)

The meeting that Rocky references was originally scheduled so that members of the nonprofit environmental group, Somonca, formed to help correct environmental problems in Monte Llano, Sosua and Cabarete, could meet with the Mayor of Maimon, who is also the President for the Dominican Republic of an environmental foundation funded by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called Fundacion Boliveriano. Also, Garry Kooy is now the director of Environmental Services for the City of Sosua, and it appears that the Mayor of Sosua wants to prevent some of the environmental damage that is being done here, more specifically the deforestation of the area. According to Garry, the Mayor is concerned that in a couple of years, at the rate we are going, all the trees will be gone.

Both the City of Sosua and Somonca are hoping that the Fundacion Boliveriano can contribute some funding so that a nursery can be established here in Sosua, both to grow plants to beautify the city, but also to replace the trees that have been taken down. We are hoping that this meeting can be rescheduled soon to continue to pursue these efforts.

Also present was the Director of Environmental Services for Puerto Plata, Juancho, who is a wonderful man that really wants to make a difference, but is struggling with many of the same issues that we keep hearing about elsewhere in the country. The City of Puerto Plata operates on RD$50 million per month, but no funding is going to Juancho's efforts. He is paying for his own gasoline and everything, and is getting very frustrated with the politics.

Milo, the number three man in Edenorte in the country and President of Somonca, and his colleague Marino, were also there. As Rocky says, these are all very impressive people who truly want to make a difference for this area and for the Dominican Republic. Change will take time, but it is encouraging to see this quality of people involved, and hopefully they will be able to begin a process of change that can affect the entire country.

Garry will be taking an inventory in the Sosua area, neighborhood by neighborhood, to establish a baseline on the tree population, and is writing up rules, that will be supported by the Ayunimiento, hopefully, that prohibit cutting of any trees without Garry's permission. Any tree cut would need to be replaced by ten new trees planted somewhere in the area, or the person wanting to cut the trees would need to pay a fine or go to jail, under these proposed rules.

Two other areas he would like to affect are the park near the entrance to the beach, which was basically destroyed when the casino was starting to be built, and the triangle of land in front of Banco Popular, which the City wanted to beautify. In the latter case, they took out what trees were there, instead of working around them. So there is a long way to go, but hopefully some of these efforts will start to begin to make a change that can grow and spread to other parts of the country.

Garry's work is very important, and I hope that some of you will choose to support his efforts. Because he has the support of the city government, has good relationships in other areas of the country due to his past good works, and has worked to establish Somonca, this could be the beginning of a significant change for the environmental situation in the Dominican Republic.

[Lambada]

Thanks to all for the great reports. For sure the 'tree' issue in Puerto Plata is swamped in politics - both Parque Central & the roundabout near the baseball stadium. Word has it that the president of the company contracted to provide the new mature palm trees is the husband of one of the city councillors.............

More here:
LLEGO LA HORA

[Ringo]

Hi Lambada. Thanks for posting the link to the article. I will pass it onto Garry, who IS working with Jauncho in Puerto Plata. (I will need time to better translate it for myself.)

I also know some of the Kunhardt family....

btw: palm trees are great... but, give limited shade and rate very low in cleaning the air, providing oxygen.

Regards, Ringo

[Rocky]

Originally Posted by Lambada

Thanks to all for the great reports. For sure the 'tree' issue in Puerto Plata is swamped in politics - both Parque Central & the roundabout near the baseball stadium. Word has it that the president of the company contracted to provide the new mature palm trees is the husband of one of the city councillors.............

More here:
LLEGO LA HORA

Why am I not surprised?
I guess we (in Sosua) can consider ourselves lucky that Garry is so non political.
Hopefully, his tree project mentioned in post 2 will be funded in the way Ringo explained, and circumvent the problems you are having in Puerto Plata.

My initial interest was the clean up/environmental education project and it still remains a high priority.
I have already received a request to arrange a meeting here to bring Garry's group and us together on this matter.
Any suggestions?
Any interest on your part?
I know that Puerto Plata affairs keep you more than busy, but your input would be appreciated.

[Keith R]

Rocky, Ringo or Garry -- would anyone be willing to write a note (doesn't have to be fancy, and I'd be more than happy to help proof or edit) about this for The Green Team blog? Would love to help get the word out.

[Lambada]

Originally Posted by Rocky

Any suggestions?
Any interest on your part?
I know that Puerto Plata affairs keep you more than busy, but your input would be appreciated.

They do but thank you! My physical presence anywhere for the next couple of months would be a bit tricky as I'm needing to respond to interest in my book which has come from a group I hadn't expected, educated bi-lingual Dominicans. However, once I've cleared the inbox give me some time to come up with ideas if the old brain is still capable..........
And if I come across articles of interest whilst I'm scouring local papers I'll send them on to you.