At COP28, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of the Dominican Republic, Miguel Ceará Hatton, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding forest cover and preserving water sources.

Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean, praised the Dominican Republic’s reforestation efforts.

The Dominican Republic is one of the few countries that has managed to maintain and expand its forest cover in recent decades, Jaramillo noted.

Currently, the country has a forest cover of 42% of its territory, with 38% dedicated to forestry and the rest to agroforestry.

However, the Dominican Republic faces challenges related to crop cutting practices, which can lead to fires and other risks.

To address these issues, the government has launched the National Reforestation and Restoration Plan 2023-204.

The main objectives of this initiative are to contribute to the capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) and, fundamentally, regulate the country’s water levels.

Minister Ceara Hatton emphasized that the success of the project depends on the participation of the government and the community, and that the majority of the financing comes from the government.

During the panel, Minister Ceará Hatton highlighted the Reforestation and Forest Restoration Plan as a resilient and sustainable practice implemented in the Dominican Republic.

Minister Ceará Hatton led the Dominican Republic delegation to COP28 and participated in various activities related to the event.

Upon her departure, the official representation was in charge of Milagros De Camps, Vice Minister of Climate Change and Sustainability.