Quisqueya

Why This Is Important

This year, 2012, The United States government along with the Dominican Government of Marine Forces of the island  announced that they are looking forward to establishing a Military Base in the Island of Saona, a national and international treasure for conservation.

This move could ultimately destroy and contaminate the seas around the Island of Saona which are rich in wildlife, with many species of birds and tropical marine fish that currently inhabit is a government protected nature reserve and part of a legally the protected national park, Parque del Este.

Additionally it may also threaten the historical heritage of  the Island Saona which was baptized “Saona” by Christopher Columbus, who discovered it in may 1494 on his way to the Americas.

By building a military base on the Island of Saona, there is a risk  that the  lack of sustainable control would not only would  cause excessive environmental degradation, but it would threaten well-being of traditional cultures and way of life  for the local community through westernisation and adverse impacts to the environment.

Saona Island is home to several endemic, threatened, or endangered plant and animal species (Abreu & Guerrero 1997), most notably the Hispaniolan Parrot (Amazona ventralis) and the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). the Hispaniolan Parrot is categorized as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN 2010), Currently, the Hispaniolan Parrot is categorized as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN 2010), while the Hawksbill Turtle is categorized as Critically Endangered by the same entity.

Over 112 bird species have been found, 8 species are endemic to the island, 11 species endemic to the Caribbean; including the White Crown Pigeon declared as extinict by the International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN). Amongst other species of animals in danger of extinction, you can also find the Manati on the Island of Saona.

It is also of extreme importance to highlight that every year, between December and April, around 3,000 humpback whales come to breed in the warm waters off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Until recently it was believed that only 85% of Atlantic humpback whales are born in Dominican waters and return annually to mate and reproduce. But a recent study revealed that all populations of the North Atlantic come to breed in our waters.

The humpback whales that come from the seas of Iceland, Greenland, Canada, and North America, reaching the Caribbean Sea to care their children in hot water. From January through March, thousands remain in Samana Bay.

In addition to destroying this nature reserve, the construction of such would destroy the livelihood and economy of the local communities, as the area currently  specialises in Ecoturism, as small business and fishermen currently entertain a growing number of tourists from all over the world for organised  excursions every day.

Furthermore it would be a setback and potential failure to a number of sustainable projects that currently involve the local communities of the Dominican Republic and have been initiated by the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Tourism around the country in recent years. Such setbacks may have further negative outcomes for conservation projects such as the Grupo Jaraga’s sea turtule conservation program supported by the internationally acclaimed World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF, for its initials), and the program renewable energy unvieled by the Environment Ministry’s Climatic Change Department this year.

Research has shown that ecotourism and sustainability have a multiplier effect on the economies, because local products, materials, and labor are used (Cater, E., 1994), as well as  lifelong learning opportunities (Sustainable Community Rating 2012)

This effect is mainly due to the fact that local communities are encouraged to play more responsible and active roles in the development  and conservation of their enviroments. (Natural Resource Perspectives, 2002.) This sense of responsibility creates to achieve a strong sense of pride, belonging and identity (Sustainable Community Rating, 2012). Therefore, halting these programs  may potentially have negative impacts on the morale  of the locals. 

Dear Excelentísimo Presidente Leonel Fernandez, we urge to put an end to this project for the survival of the natural resources of our beautiful island and the importance of the establisment of a strong sense of  national pride.

We, Citizens of the Dominican Republic and the World.

-Please consider signing onto this petition. Gracias!

Team Quisqueya