Environment seeks international help for forest fire
The forest fire has affected 5,000 tareas according to Minister Rojas Gomez
Tania Molina
SANTO DOMINGO. The Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources requested international assistance to deal with the forest fire that is affecting part of the Juan Bautista Perez Rancier National Park in Valle Nuevo, Constanza. According to the Minister, Bautista Rojas Gomez, they are coordinating with the United States for support in case it is necessary. They have also established communications with Colombia.
Yesterday they announced the incorporation of three aircraft since last week to fight the fire: a tanker plane that is privately owned and two helicopters from the Air Force that can deliver 400 gallons each. In addition some heavy equipment such as backhoes and tractors has joined in the work.
Rojas Gomez said that the forest fire has affected 5000 tareas (traditional measure of land, equal to 629 m2) and that things got complicated last Wednesday when rural farmers in the area took advantage of the fire to continue slash and burn farming. "These persons have been identified and will be arraigned on charges, no matter the reasons," the Minister warned during a press conference. At yesterday's press conference, Ruben Paulino Sem the head of the Dominican Army and Ramon Hernandez, the Air Force chief of staff were also present to assist in the efforts to control the fire. The Ministry of Public Works is also contributing to these efforts.
The Minister, who this morning will fly over the affected area, noted that at the present time they are fighting the fire on two fronts. One is in the area known as La Cuevita and the other in Nizaoito. This last place is more complicated because of the steep inclines that deny access by the fire fighters.
There are some 200 men attempting to control the fire, and yesterday they were joined by 40 forestry workers from Restauracion and 25 more from San Juan.
"Dominican society should understand that this is a hard job and that it will take some time," said Rojas Gomez.
They are not asking for anything on the Internet
The Minister of the Environment called the persons that are collecting money to take it to Constanza to help fight the fire "swindlers." He said that until now they are working with volunteer personnel that have their food guaranteed in an economic kitchen that was installed in the area and that has the capacity of producing 500 meals.
He recalled that the damage to the area is only to the forest, since there are no settlements or farms in the place. Regarding the pine forest that characterized the area, he said that he expects that at least 70% will recover during the rainy season.
Clamor by the Academy
Yesterday the Academy of Science of the Dominican Republic expressed it "profound worry" over the forest fire and recalled that in this area of the Central Mountains the most important rivers of the country are born. "The Valle Nuevo National Park, together with other protected areas of the Central Mountains are part of the region known as "the Mother of Waters", important elements of strategic and environmental conservation for the production of water."
The entity feels that it is fundamental that all of the measures to control and extinguish the fire be implemented, and they called upon the authorities to supply the needs and the logistics of the fire fighters that are struggling to control the devastating forest fire.
"The Academy of Science which has considered water conservation to be a strategic necessity, feels that the government and all of its institutions should offer the support that may be necessary to the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources so that they can fight the forest fire," declared the academy in a press release.
Yesterday they announced the incorporation of three aircraft since last week to fight the fire: a tanker plane that is privately owned and two helicopters from the Air Force that can deliver 400 gallons each. In addition some heavy equipment such as backhoes and tractors has joined in the work.
Rojas Gomez said that the forest fire has affected 5000 tareas (traditional measure of land, equal to 629 m2) and that things got complicated last Wednesday when rural farmers in the area took advantage of the fire to continue slash and burn farming. "These persons have been identified and will be arraigned on charges, no matter the reasons," the Minister warned during a press conference. At yesterday's press conference, Ruben Paulino Sem the head of the Dominican Army and Ramon Hernandez, the Air Force chief of staff were also present to assist in the efforts to control the fire. The Ministry of Public Works is also contributing to these efforts.
The Minister, who this morning will fly over the affected area, noted that at the present time they are fighting the fire on two fronts. One is in the area known as La Cuevita and the other in Nizaoito. This last place is more complicated because of the steep inclines that deny access by the fire fighters.
There are some 200 men attempting to control the fire, and yesterday they were joined by 40 forestry workers from Restauracion and 25 more from San Juan.
"Dominican society should understand that this is a hard job and that it will take some time," said Rojas Gomez.
They are not asking for anything on the Internet
The Minister of the Environment called the persons that are collecting money to take it to Constanza to help fight the fire "swindlers." He said that until now they are working with volunteer personnel that have their food guaranteed in an economic kitchen that was installed in the area and that has the capacity of producing 500 meals.
He recalled that the damage to the area is only to the forest, since there are no settlements or farms in the place. Regarding the pine forest that characterized the area, he said that he expects that at least 70% will recover during the rainy season.
Clamor by the Academy
Yesterday the Academy of Science of the Dominican Republic expressed it "profound worry" over the forest fire and recalled that in this area of the Central Mountains the most important rivers of the country are born. "The Valle Nuevo National Park, together with other protected areas of the Central Mountains are part of the region known as "the Mother of Waters", important elements of strategic and environmental conservation for the production of water."
The entity feels that it is fundamental that all of the measures to control and extinguish the fire be implemented, and they called upon the authorities to supply the needs and the logistics of the fire fighters that are struggling to control the devastating forest fire.
"The Academy of Science which has considered water conservation to be a strategic necessity, feels that the government and all of its institutions should offer the support that may be necessary to the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources so that they can fight the forest fire," declared the academy in a press release.
Tania Molina
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