Dominican Republic
Between 2001 and 2020, the country experienced a loss of 330,679 hectares of tree cover.
Between 2001 and 2020, the country experienced a loss of 330,679 hectares of tree cover.
Restoring forests in the Dominican Republic is crucial for several reasons:
1. Environmental Stability: The country's forests, covering almost 40% of its surface area, are vital for biodiversity and ecological balance.
2. Climate Change Mitigation: The restoration efforts help combat climate change, to which the Dominican Republic is highly vulnerable.
3. Supporting Communities and Agriculture: These efforts assist in supporting local communities and sustainable agriculture, balancing development with conservation.
4. National Reforestation Plan: The government's plan focuses on reforesting various landscapes, helping create a new, healthier wooded environment across the country.
of the Dominican Republic forests remain
tree species are endemic
Our partner, Plant With Purpose, partners with the Dominican government on reforestation projects, enhancing family incomes through savings groups. Local churches engage with communities in needs-based initiatives. Crop diversification, in response to diseases affecting cash crops like coffee, improves soil health and income sources. Our agroforestry work in the Dominican Republic focuses on planting native trees like cacao, avocado, mango, and citrus in a natural forest-style arrangement, benefiting soil, wildlife, and plants. Purpose Groups facilitate savings and loans, while local churches work with communities to rebuild relationships and meet local needs.
Our partner’s efforts are focused in the provinces of Elias Piña, San Juan, Sanchez Ramirez, Mosenor Nouel, and Monte Plata in the Dominican Republic. These regions experience high to medium-high levels of marginalization. Our work aligns with the crucial needs of these communities, encompassing environmental restoration, economic empowerment, and spiritual renewal. The watersheds in these areas are vital, supplying essential ecosystem water services to both Santo Domingo and the Artibonite Valley in Haiti.
In our partner’s’ program, we have three key watersheds, 386 savings groups, and a participation of 10,989 families. This effort has impacted 50,000 people and has been supported through 173 church partnerships. Notably, our partner, Plant With Purpose, has successfully planted 17,824,406 trees, contributing significantly to environmental restoration.