This document can be considered as a “management tool”, product of the initiation of support actions directed to the Directorate of Protected Areas (DAP) and the Progressio Foundation, in the elaboration of the Management Plan of the Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve.
Being part of the "evolutionary" exercise based on the development of the "Situational Strategic Analysis" (AES), which will serve as a transversal axis to determine the main factors, both positive and negative, that have influenced the management of the protected area, especially its integrity. Biological and ecological, which is relevant given the category and assigned management objectives.
The AES is an exercise that the "School of Organizational Evolutionary Planning" (EPOE) uses to achieve a level of rapport with the factors of preeminence, the determination of the existing information, the identification of the information gaps and, above all, to establish the "Strategic axes" that could be used to develop an effective, efficient and pragmatic "management tool", which in this case is the Management Plan for the Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve.
Considered the AES, this document is part of the three participatory actions and a short technical study will allow the specialist in "planning of protected areas" to collect the necessary information to identify the "strategic axes" that would allow the preparation of the final version of the Plan of Management of the RCEV.
The participatory actions proposed for the AES of the RCEV are:
- Interactive interview of strategic questions of the RCEV; Workshop 1 of analysis of Comanagement of the RCEV; Workshop 2 of analysis of Comanajo of the RCEV; and Study of Tourist Load Capacity (ECCT) of the RCEV.
We consider that together the four activities will allow the development of AES that effectively guides the preparation of the Management Plan, highlighting that it will not require large financial resources, but a strong decision to participate and act in a time that has been decided It should be short in order to achieve, together with other studies and existing information, the elaboration of the Management Plan that enables the persistence of the natural resources and biodiversity of the Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve.
Finally, it should be noted that this document does not intend to present an in-depth analysis of the situation of the PA, only to systematize valuable information that the Administrator of the RCEV provides based on 16 years of experience in the management, planning, management and conservation of said area. protected.
2- Referential framework on the Strategic Situational Analysis (AES)
The “Situational Strategic Analysis” –AES- is an exercise that the “School of Organic Evolutionary Planning” (EPOE) uses to achieve a level of rapport with pre-eminence factors, the determination of existing information, the identification of gaps information and above all establish the "strategic axes" that could be used to develop an effective, efficient and pragmatic "management tool", which in this case is the Management Plan for the Ébano Verde Scientific Reserve.
Considered the AES, this document is part of the three participatory actions and a short technical study will allow the "protected area planning" specialist to collect the information necessary to identify the "strategic axes" that would allow the preparation of the final version of the Plan of Management of the RCEV.
The participatory actions proposed for the AES of the RCEV are:
- Interactive interview of strategic questions of the RCEV; Workshop 1 of analysis of Comanejo of the RCEV; Workshop 2 of analysis of Comanejo of the RCEV; and the Tourist Load Capacity Study (ECCT) of the RCEV.
We consider that together the four activities will allow the development of AES that effectively guides the preparation of the Management Plan, highlighting that this will not require large financial resources, but a strong decision to participate and act in a time that has been decided It should be short to achieve, together with other studies and existing information, the elaboration of the Management Plan that makes viable the persistence of the natural resources and biodiversity of the Ébano Verde Scientific Reserve.
The development of the present workshop is part of one of the four actions proposed as part of the development of the AES, the expected modality during it is the proactive and above all open participation of the members of the PROGRESSIO Foundation and especially of the management staff, administration and technician who manages and administers the Ébano Verde Scientific Reserve, the existence of a COMANEJO model requires, when preparing a Management Plan, to clearly assess what the role of this model has been for the management and administration of the protected area.
3- AES objectives
- Consider the historical evolution of the process of formation of the RCEV and especially of the actions that have consolidated the COMANEJO model; Establish the objectives of the COMANEJO process that the PROGRESSIO Foundation has sought to fulfill with the administration, management and conservation of the RCEV; Determine the potentialities and limitations that the COMANEJO model has faced during the administration and management of the protected area; Evaluate the tools and strategies that have allowed the "financial self-sustainability" of the COMANEJO model of the RCEV; yDevelop a qualitatively and quantitatively weighted self-assessment of the level of success of the COMANEJO process of the protected area.
4- General notions on Comanejo concepts
One of the measures that in the last decade has proven to be effective in the management, planning, management and administration of "protected areas" is the "Co-administration" models. Management instrument that has managed to maximize key "protected areas" where "civil society, government institutions and companies" can fully and / or partially assume the management, planning, management and administration of conservation units. The effective management of protected areas and biological resources must be achieved with coordinated participation and with shared responsibilities among the different actors that directly and indirectly affect their conservation.In turn, there must be a common vision and objectives consistent with it and be clearly established. The different relations existing between the State (including the central or local government) and the various sectors of civil society (including those with national and local projection) and other entities that participate in the management of a PA are considered in this work as "Models" of participation. (See Annex 5)
The Co-administration is a model of Co-management of Protected Areas, whose main purpose is to complete the actions of the states (government), it is important that when building a management tool that allows the conceptual and operational development of the policy and strategy Co-administration, for this it is important to reflect considering the following strategic questions. Are governments alone capable of achieving all the conservation objectives of their protected areas and meeting social needs?Some consider this to be simply impossible. Fortunately, there is a considerable abundance and diversity of conservation-relevant knowledge, skills, resources and institutions available to indigenous, mobile and local communities, as well as to local governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector. Co-management of sites is one of the most effective ways to mobilize these resources for conservation. But how can the participation of these agents be achieved to achieve satisfactory results?
Comanagement: when any Institution or civil society group supports the administrator of the Park or protected area in the execution of a specific activity or program. For example, an NGO is solely responsible for the environmental education activities of a protected area.
Co-administratio n: a dynamic process between the State and one or more entities of non - profit civil society, in order to share responsibilities in technical legal field, and financial support for achieving the objectives of the protected area.
Delegation: mechanism by means of which the State delegates or transfers the responsibilities for the management and administration of a protected area to a non-profit civil society group.
During much of the 90s of the 20th century, the term One of the most used is "comanejò", coming from the English term co-management, suggested to define actions of "delegation" which is generally the term " legal ” used to indicate the process of total and / or partial transfer of goods, services and functions of any governmental activity to the private sector or civil society. Co-administration, although it has been used in parallel for a long time, its almost official inclusion as a term in the Latin American region begins in 2001, through the workshops developed by PROARCA / CAPAS that it is decided to adopt in several countries. (Melgar, M. 2006)
5- Development of the AES
5.1 Review and feedback of participatory actions
On behalf of the Management of the Ébano Verde Scientific Reserve, Ramón Elías Castillo, requested the revision of the Memory Aid of the "Interview of Strategic Questions", in order to make some corrections and especially additions on proposals and information that they were not discharged during the first participatory action.
The review was made through reading aloud by Mr. Ramón Elías Castillo, before the participants of the "Microtaller", proceeding to make the additions or comments on the numbers of the Memory Aid of the day 12/07 / 06, below are the additions to the memory aid:
Additions to number 3.2: How has the evolution of the coverage and use of the core area been since its declaration to date.
It is important to consider that the coverage has been restored very favorably within the natural ecosystems of "cloud forest" and "humid forests", there being some kind of lethargy in the so-called "ferns" as a result of the aggressiveness of the "fern" as a pioneer species, caused by the degree of soil degradation. This has prevented the development or restitution through secondary succession of the original forests, so the development of an assisted process for these ecosystems should be considered.
Consultant's note: Considering the added information and in the revision of the “Secondary Information”, the document “Restoration of native species in the Ferns of the Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve ” was located and identified (Preliminary Trials and Design of a Plan of Performance). Product of a study developed from 1996 to 2001, by a team of researchers made up of doctors T. Mitchell Aide, from the Department of Biology of the University of Puerto Rico; Jess K. Zimmerman, of the Institute of Ecosystem Studies of the University of Puerto Rico; Matt Slocum, of the Department of Biological Sicences of Lousiana State University, and Luis Navarro, researcher of the Department of Plant Biology of the University of Vigo Spain. This document should be considered as a planning and future implementation tool for the RCEV Management Plan.
Additions to number 3.3: Today the zoning of the RCEV will be carried out, which would be the proposal that you as administrator of said AP
When considering the zoning originally proposed by the AP Management, as a result of the first planning meeting, it was concluded that it was necessary to consider new areas that were coupled to the management and conservation framework of the Scientific Reserve, therefore Which I choose for the following zoning:
The proposed zoning is:
- Primitive and Research Area Recovery Area Public and Administrative Use Area Confieras Plantation Area Contradictory Use Area.
Description
Primitive and Research Zone (ZPI): Central area of the reserve made up of natural broadleaf vegetation, manaclares, up to the limit of the big-booby area.
Recovery Zone (ZR): Includes the areas where currently the product of anthropogenic actions or natural activities the original ecosystems have been disturbed and are in the process of natural or assisted restoration.
Public Use and Administration Area (ZUPA): The ZUPA´s the following areas can be identified in the scientific reserve:
- ZUPA 1: Trail “El Casabito - Arroyazo Center” with a distance of STM (Necessary the development of a Study of Tourist Load Capacity, due to the Category and Objectives of Management and Conservation of the protected area) ZUPA 2: Arroyazo Interpretive Trail - La Sal with a distance of 10 Km. (Necessary the development of a Study of Tourist Load Capacity, due to the Category and Objectives of Management and Conservation of the protected area).
Coniferas Plantation Zone: Covers the deforested zone of Caribbean pine (Pinus Caribae), which have or were partially affected by Cyclone Jorge that occurred in 1998-. The area currently has a dense forest, without management and with an exotic species such as Pinus Caribea.
Contradictory Use Zone (ZUC): Area where currently, contrary to conservation and management objectives, illegal activities are carried out, in this case a small area is designated where telecommunication antennas have been installed in the area of Casabito.
The following percentage area of each zone has been tentatively defined with respect to the total surface of the protected area.
- ZPI = 73,000% ZR = 10,000% ZUPA = 0.043% ZPC = 14,957% ZUC = 2,000%
100,000%
Additions to section 3.4: Many times the protected area planning teams are carried away by the trends of social interaction, they take care of collecting, analyzing and reflecting on community needs but not on the true needs of the administrator and / or managers of the protected area. Planners undervalue the technical, social contributions and / or even delay perception of those who face the social, economic and environmental reality of the protected area and its buffer zone.. For this reason, it is important to consider the perspective or vision of the problems that arise for the administrator in his protected area. Considering the previous point, you as the administrator of the RCEV, what are the main problems and needs that you have faced, are facing and think you will be facing:
Addition to numeral b: Financial Management.
When deepening the methods used by the PROGRESSIO Foundation to achieve financial self-sustainability, other tools were identified that together, already expressed in the original memory aid, allow the effective management of the protected area. Among them we can mention:
- Periodic and annual raffle activities;
- Gala activities (dinners, cocktails, etc.);
- Artistic activities (singers, orchestras, etc.);
- Brand promotional;
- Sale of agricultural products (palm hearts, fruits, etc.);
- Allocation of a% of the VISA-BHD-PROGRESSIO credit card.
5.2 Comanejo Evaluation
As indicated in the previous memory aid, the process for the formulation of the Management Plan for the Ébano Verde Scientific Reserve will be based on the development of the “Situational Strategic Analysis” in order to give the “Consultant” the opportunity to understand not only the historical, institutional framework, classic management and administration of the protected area. But consider above all the main aspects of management, development and strategy that the current managers of the protected area propose for the elaboration and implementation of the Management Plan of the protected area.
During this process of "evolutionary thinking" it has already been possible to determine some "transversal axes" that, when integrated into the Management Plan, will allow the "biological, administrative and financial self-sustainability" of the protected area in the medium term. Among the strategic axes identified so far we can mention:
- Evaluation of the COMANEJO model of the RCEV; Integration of the “ecotourism” development framework into the management of the RCEV; Proposal and future elaboration of a Land Use Plan (POT) for the micro-basins (included communities) of the Buffer Zone of the area protected;
Logically, these strategic lines emerged from the first concertation and analysis actions, and may vary or integrate others depending on the progress and evolution of the process of preparing the Management Plan.
I must emphasize that despite the effort I make not to carry out any type of analysis on the information provided by the actors who guide the management of the Protected Area, therefore, and trying to rescue the framework of this document as "Memory Aid ", 5.2.1 "Conservation Objectives Assessment"
The first analysis exercise seeks to establish a parameter or starting point that both the "managers" and members of the planning team consider due to the ecological, biological, and above all legal characteristics that constitute the protected area as a "Scientific Reserve" and therefore as the maximum classification of conservation and protection objectives, according to the designation of categories of the Interaction Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and considered as the official one for the Dominican Republic through the "Environmental Law 64-00 ”and the“ Sectoral Law on Protected Areas 202-04 ”.
When referring to this step, we must retake that methodologically the development of a Management Plan as an initial step the establishment of conservation objectives and therefore the management category, since legally in the Dominican Republic there is a definitive allocation through A Decree by the “Legislative Branch”, said process of identification and assignment of objectives and management category, does not have a priority framework, but this should not undermine its usefulness, especially so that the managers and local actors themselves understand the why? This territory was declared as a protected area.
Thus, considering a preliminary analysis with the team of managers of the RCEV, we proceeded to establish a referential framework of why the exercise on the premises established in the two preceding paragraphs (also as part of the process of strengthening human capital that is part of the framework for the elaboration of the Management Plan), for this process a simple quantitative classification key was used to evaluate the “fulfillment” of the conservation objectives and therefore of the management category as “Scientific Reserve” considered as “Category I ”(ò 1a), being the definition of the category"Terrestrial and / or marine area that possesses some outstanding or representative ecosystem, geological or physiological feature and / or species, destined mainly for scientific research and / or environmental monitoring activities" said keys are specified below:
Table 1: Description of the quantitative key for the classification of compliance with conservation objectives:
| Weighing | Description |
| 0 | The management, administration, as well as the intrinsic characteristics of the protected area do not meet the establishment of the PA management and conservation objective. |
| one | It partially meets the conservation objectives, but there are serious limitations for the conservation and management of the natural resources and biodiversity of the protected area. |
| two | There is good compliance with the conservation objectives, although with deficiencies caused by administrative, financial or human resource limitations. |
| 3 | There is a satisfactory fulfillment of the conservation objectives, which allows the biological, ecological and social viability of the Protected Area. |
Source: Melgar, M. 2006.
When describing the framework to the workshop attendees, it was arranged that each of them would make a direct rating on their perception of compliance with the conservation objective as a result of the actions of management and conservation of the protected area, the quantitative rating is described below:
Without going deeper into the analysis, it can be seen that there is a fairly positive perception on the part of the managers of the protected area, which is reflected in the management actions within the limits of the RCEV, although it is necessary in the participatory actions and above all Interpretive analysis clearly establish the degree of acceptance of management of the Protected Area and above all the fulfillment of conservation objectives and management category.
5.2.2 Identification of potentialities and limitations
The second exercise was to identify the potential and limitations that RCEV and model COMANAGEMENT during the initial framework also arose the interest of identifying "opportunities" in a generic way, the results of this process is presented below without falling in analysis, to be carried out in later phases.
Table 3: Identification of potentialities
| Not. | Comanejo | Protected area |
| one | Recognition of the PROGRESSIO Foundation at national and international level as a non-profit entity. | Recognition by the communities in favor of the RCEV and the PROGRESSIO Foundation. |
| two. | Experience and structure in obtaining financial resources, to be channeled in the management and conservation of the RCEV. | A small area contains a series of ecosystems, endemic flora and fauna of great biological value at the national and international level. |
| 3. | Possibility in the effectiveness and development of agreement and strategic alliances with the social, economic and governmental sectors. | Geographical location allowing its optimization for the development of eco-tourism and scientific tourism projects. |
| Four. | There are trained human resources with work mystique for the protection and conservation of the RCEV. | Facilities at the infrastructure and personal level for visitors to the protected area. |
| 5. | Relationship between the PROGRESSIO Foundation and the communities resulting from the implementation of development projects. | Regional increase of scenarios or areas for the development of eco-tourism activities. |
| 6. | Existence of its own infrastructure, which contributes to providing facilities for the actions of protection, management and conservation of the protected area. | Favorable climatic conditions for the development of eco-tourist activities. |
| 7. | There is a legal framework that defines and clarifies the Comanejo model hit system. | Application of the species of Green Ebony as a “Species Flag” to protect, which socially links the protection of the RCEV. |
| 8. | 16 years experience in the management and administration of the Protected Area. | |
| 9. | Support of the Dominican businessman through the development of activities that contribute to the financial self-sustainability of the RCEV. |
Source: Prepared by Melgar, M, taken from micro-workshop data.
Table 4: Identification of limitations
| Not. | Comanejo | Protected area |
| one | Lack of promotion and inclusion for the fulfillment of the scientific objectives of the objectives and management category. | Shortage of scientific personnel who identify with the conservation actions of the protected area. |
| two. | Instability in the political framework that prevents cementing the COMANEJO model and the long-term vision of conservation and development. | Socio-environmental conflicts that generate pressure on the natural resources and biodiversity of the protected area. |
| 3. | There is still a lack of financial support for the management of the protected area, especially at the time that a Management Plan is to be implemented. | Problems in land tenure, it is necessary to develop property sanitation activities. |
| Four. | Lack of infrastructure and equipment for protection and eco-tourism development. | Risks due to environmental factors such as drought causing forest fires and ferns, as well as hurricanes. |
| 5. | Lack of human capital for the protection of the protected area. | Lack of radio communication equipment, transportation. |
| 6. | Lack of application of the legal framework both at the core zone level and the buffer zone. | Need to strengthen the technical capacities of technical and operational personnel in the protected area. |
| 7. | The COMANEJO model is missing from the systematization. |
Source: Prepared by Melgar, M, taken from micro-workshop data.
Table 5: Identification of opportunities
| Not. | Comanejo |
| one | Growing concern on the part of the population of environmental problems and the need to protect the RCEV. |
| two. | Support from the business sector. |
| 3. | Management Plan in process of elaboration. |
| Four. | Interest in the scientific community in investigating endemic species of mist ecosystems. |
| 5. | Feasibility and future use of environmental compensation models through Payment of Environmental Services (PSA). |
| 6. | Comparative advantage over the geographical location, access and facilities with respect to other protected areas of the central mountain range, which may favor ecotourism use. |
| 7. | Development of a financial self-sustainability project based on the Protected Area Management Plan. |
Source: Prepared by Melgar, M, taken from micro-workshop data.
5.2.3 Identification of information gaps
When carrying out a review of the existing information, it is necessary to collect the following documents that make the “diagnosis phase” of the preparation of the Management Plan viable:
- Information on biological studies, referring to the investigations developed at the ecosystem and / or species level; List of flora and fauna (ichthyofauna, herpentofauna, mastofauna, ornithofauna, etc.) that exist within the protected area; Historical chronology on the evolution of management, conservation and protection of the protected area; Inventory of self-financing models developed during the 16 years of management of the RCEV; Visiting statistics of at least the last five years of PA management; Diagnoses, characterizations, studies of the surrounding communities and with direct interaction with the protected area; Management framework, planning and implementation of projects developed in the core zone and buffer zone of the protected area; Institutional and operational framework of the PROGRESSIO Foundation;Legal framework of the RCEV.
- Conclusions and recommendations for the Management Plan
The Situational Strategic Analysis (AES), is a diagnostic and research tool of the "School of Organic Evolutionary Planning" (EPOE), which allows participatory identification of the "hidden" strategic axes that an organization, institution or territory carry out or they are necessary to carry out, to consolidate the “strategic planning” actions that allow the strengthening of the proposals to be developed within the process of elaboration and implementation of the Protected Area Management Plan.
The AES is carried out based on the inconsistent aspects of the technical, administrative and operational personnel of the protected area, being they the "key and strategic actors" of this study. Starting from the premise that most of the current planning frameworks in “protected areas” largely dismiss the contributions that the administration teams themselves can make to the process to strengthen it.
Considering the previous points and using a series of collection, analysis and feedback tools, at a qualitative and quantitative (ponderative) level, it was possible to determine three (3) strategic axes, which are presented and defined below
First “Strengthening of the participatory COMANEJO Model of the RCEV”:
It is evident that the efforts of the PROGRESSIO Foundation are a model that allows visualizing the efforts of shared administration of a protected area, it is important to consider aspects of systematization, monitoring and evolution, in order to provide a database that allows a true “Valorisation” of the PROGRESSIO Foundation model with respect to the RCEV, since at present it is not possible to define at a descriptive, qualitative and quantitative level the real and pragmatic contributions that more than 15 years of COMANEJO has provided to the conservation of Resources Natural and Biodiversity, it is important to consider for the strengthening the development of the following actions:
a- Development of an evaluation at a quantitative and qualitative level of the contributions of the COMANEJO model, considering the use of the following management evaluation tools:
- Methodology of the World Commission on Protected Areas - IUCN. Methodology of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Brazil. Methodology of Effectiveness of Protected Areas of Peru. Methodology of Measuring the Effectiveness of Management of Protected Areas IUCN / WWF / GTZ, 2000. Monitoring Strategy for Protected Area Management. PROARCA-CAPAS. (Courrau José, 1997).
b- Establish biophysical evaluation elements, in order to establish the impact at the level of natural resources and biodiversity of the COMANEJO model in the protected area, recommending to use:
- Development through the “Geographical Information System” (GIS) of an “evolutionary map of land use and coverage” at the level of the core zone and buffer zone of the reserve, using images close to the start period of the process of COMANEJO to date: Development and implementation of a "biological indicator monitoring and evaluation system".
c- Develop and implement a "Comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation System", which allows the systematization of the experiences at the social, economic and environmental level of the COMANEJO model.
Second "Development of the Land Use Plan of the Buffer Zone":
One of the most interesting strategies that the PROGRESSIO Foundation has used to date, in regards to the administration of the protected area, is to think of “BIG”, the management, conservation, research and supervision, has not been restricted to its “ core area ”, for the administration of the RCEV the protected area has 115.31 km 2, adding up to 23.1 km 2 of the “ official ” core area, 13.9 km 2 of the land acquired by the PROGRESSIO Foundation to expand the core area, and the 78.31Km 2of the buffer zone that covers 13 communities. This form of work is strategic to broaden the vision of management and conservation of natural resources and biodiversity, being important its strengthening, that is why it is proposed the development of a "Land Management Plan" for the proposed buffer zone, due Consider the following points:
- Consider the model of the Land Use Plan developed for the Upper Basin of the Yaque del Norte River, where the object of planning and management are the "hydrographic micro-basins"; Outline as a "participatory and consultation process", but where the knowledge of the "Biophysical capabilities" of the territory are the main axis of the research process, for its subsequent presentation, validation, feedback and consensus with the communities and development sectors that intervene in the proposed buffer zone; Formation of a "Community Committee of the RCEV ”, It is meritorious to integrate people or community organizations that participate in the process of elaboration and future implementation of the Land Use Plan of the proposed buffer zone;Consider the planning of at least one hydrographic micro-basin as an experience of "Territorial Planning", having as a management tool the "Payment of Environmental Services", as a means of "environmental compensation", towards the goods and services provided by the RCEV.
Third "Strengthening and socialization of" Ecotourism "actions:
Another “hidden” strategy, which has consolidated the management and administration of the protected area, is the development of “ecotourism” actions within the RCEV, to date it is carried out in a “timid and restrictive” way, since the administrators agree that Because it is a “Scientific Reserve”, the category and management objectives dedicate the area to “conservation and research”, the development of recreational activities is excluded.
Being a reality, that the protected area has "comparative advantages" with respect to other "protected areas" of the "central mountain range", being able to mention among them:
- Distance from the main urban centers such as Santo Domingo, Santiago, La Vega, Bonao, Constanza, among others; Easy road access, starting from the "Duarte Highway", despite the winding path, offers a comfortable transit, as well as landscapes that are integrated into the ecotourism tour; Trained technical and operational personnel, to provide acceptable guidance to national and international visitors; Interpretive trails properly conditioned, with a safe route and as determined in the Diagnosis of Capacity for Public Use, is appropriate for be used by people with physical conditioning limitations; comfortable visitor infrastructure, providing interpretation service, restaurant, souvenir shop and bathrooms.
Based on the above, it is proposed to carry out:
- A comprehensive project for the "ecotourism" use of the RCEV, considering it as the "gateway" to the mountain ecosystems contained in the "central mountain range", economically strengthen the "comprehensive project for ecotourism use of the RCEV", based on the fact that the promotion and having adequate facilities, encourages the visitation, under parameters established in the Diagnosis of Capacity for Public Use (DCUP); Promote and implement at least one “community” ecotourism project in order to strengthen the nexus of the communities with the RCEV and greater equity in the distribution of profits as a result of the ecotourism promotion of the resources of the RCEV; Build infrastructure for overnight stays of tourists, in order to increase the visitation time and with it a higher level of satisfaction, which has an impact on promoting RCEV
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MOSCOSOA, Milciadez Mejia, Ricardo García, Francisco Jiménez, Barbecue-Casabito Phytogeographic Subregion: Floristic Wealth and its Importance in the Conservation of the Flora of the Spanish Island; 2000.
MOSCOSOA, Thomas May, Vegetation Response in a "Calimetal" of Dicranopteris pecnitata, after a fire, in the Eastern part of the Central Cordillera, Dominican Republic, 2000.
Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Center for Urban and Regional Studies, Socioeconomic Studies of the communities in the surroundings of the Scientific Reserve of the RCEV, Loma de la Sal, Arroyazo, La Palma, Palmarito and Paso Bajito, Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, January 1993.
Proposed Management Plan for the Yaque del Sur River Basin (Las Cuevas and Grande del Medio River Basin) JICA and Sur Futuro 2002.
Secretary of State for Agriculture / Undersecretary of State for Natural Resources / Department of Wildlife, Foundation for Human Improvement (PROGRESSIO), Preliminary Study on the Fauna of the Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve, July 1992.
Secretary of State for Agriculture / Undersecretary of State for Natural Resources / Natural Resources Inventory Department, Final Report "Soil Study of the Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve and its Buffer Zone", Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, May 1996.
SEMERN / DAP / PROGRESSIO / GTZ / KfW Foundation, Socioeconomic Update Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, November 2005.
The Nature Conservacy (TNC), Fire Management Assessment in Highland Ecosystems of the Dominican Republic, Technical Report, Dominican Republic, November 2004.
IUCN. Vision of Water and Nature. Global Strategy for the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Water Resources in the XXI century.
IUCN, World Report on the Status of Protected Areas, November 2004.
IUCN, Guidelines for the development of financial self-sustainability models for protected areas, 2002.
Open University for Adults (UAPA), Rildes Aquino Sánchez Sánchez, Ángela Margarita Rodríguez Peralta, Incidence of the Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve in the Development of Ecotourism in the Municipalities of Constanza and Jarabacoa, 2001-2003, Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, December 2004.
Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Marcia Josefina Beltré Díaz, Graduate Thesis "Bachelor of Biology", Preliminary Study of the Populations of Spindalis Dominicensis in the Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve, Dominican Republic, September 2003.
Annexed:
Annex 1: Management category objectives
CATEGORY I Strict Nature Reserve / Wilderness Area: protected area managed mainly for scientific purposes or for nature protection purposes .
CATEGORY The Strict Nature Reserve: protected area managed mainly for scientific purposes.
Definition
Terrestrial and / or marine area that possesses some outstanding or representative ecosystem, geological or physiological feature and / or species, destined mainly for scientific research and / or environmental monitoring activities.
Management objectives
- preserve habitats, ecosystems and species in the most natural state possible; keep genetic resources in a dynamic and evolutionary state; safeguard the structural characteristics of the landscape or few outcrops; maintain established ecological processes; have examples of natural environment to conducting scientific studies, environmental monitoring and educational activities, including reference areas, to which access is not permitted, unless essential; minimizing disturbances, through careful planning and conducting research and other approved activities; and limit public access.
Selection guidelines
- The area must be large enough to guarantee the integrity of its ecosystems and allow the management objectives for which it is protected to be achieved.The area must be considerably free from direct human intervention and be able to remain in these conditions. Conservation of the area's biodiversity must be able to be achieved through protection and this should not require intense habitat management or manipulation activities (cf Category IV).
Organic responsibility
Ownership and control should be in the hands of the national government or other levels of government, through a professionally qualified body, or a private foundation, university, or institution that performs a recognized research or conservation role. Adequate safeguards and controls regarding long-term protection should be established prior to designation. Exceptions (for example, Antarctica) can be made in international agreements on regions that are subject to national sovereignty at issue.
Annexes 2: Population structure and natural reproduction of ten species of a cloud forest in the Dominican Republic T homas May
This study is a clear contribution to the growing interest in studying the population structure of some species of economic importance, including seedlings, and their patterns of reproduction and dispersal.
In the mountain ranges of the Dominican Republic, on the slopes exposed to the trade winds, at altitudes of approximately 1,000 to 2,000 meters, there are cloud forests, characterized by a high frequency of arborescent and epiphytic ferns, both vascular and bryophyte. Since the 1940s these forests have suffered from different types of human pressure. For its conservation it is important to understand the dynamic processes that occur in them. In this regard, it is important to study the population structures of the most valuable tree species, including seedlings, and their patterns of reproduction and dispersal.
Aspects of the vertical structure (distribution of height classes) and horizontal (distribution of diameter classes) were studied in 10 tree species present
in well-preserved areas, not intervened in recent times, in the Ébano Verde Scientific Reserve in the Dominican Republic. It is a protected area managed by the non-governmental organization PROGRESSIO, Foundation for Human Improvement, in coordination with the National Parks Directorate. The forests in this area were described by Hager & Zanoni (1993) as "Magnolia pallescens forests". In addition to analyzing the structural aspects of tree populations, observations were made on characteristics related to the reproduction and dispersal of the species studied.
The study area is located in the Northeast part of the Central Dominican Cordillera, in the vicinity of the Cibao Valley and the Bonao Valley, which covers an area of 35 km2. The area has abundant rainfall that probably exceeds 3000 mm, has high cloud cover and its winds are almost permanent. The geological substrate is of magmatic-vulcan-sedimentary origin, from which acid to moderately acid soils have been formed, with a loamy to clayey texture. The thickness of the organic horizon varies from a few centimeters to half a meter.
Annex 3: Management of Natural Resources in a Sustainable Way in the Dominican Republic (CAD) Foundation for Human Improvement (PROGRESSIO)
The project: Promotion of Alternative Models of Agricultural Production and Environmental Education.
The project in brief:
The project guides its actions to improve the condition of the basic resources of the Ébano Verde Scientific Reserve and reduce soil degradation in the buffer zone, promoting agroforestry and soil conservation practices. The project plans to continue the environmental education component aimed at teachers in the area.
Context:
The pressure of the population on natural resources is manifested in the mountains, where immigrants arrive in search of land for agriculture. This uncontrolled activity, using inappropriate practices, has caused conflicts of use and deterioration of resources, affecting the production and quality of water. One consequence of this deterioration is migration from the countryside to the city, since young people have no interest in remaining in these areas under conditions of poverty. Although the pressure on the Reserve can be considered low, the threat is latent.
Objectives and Expected Results 1999 - 2001:
For this period, the project has set itself the objective of having reduced soil degradation in the buffer zone of the reserve./p>
The expected results are:
Having managed to get 40 farmers to maintain agroforestry plots.
Have maintained 20 plots with soil conservation practices.
Having trained 80 teachers on environmental education methods.
Having reached 560 students, with environmental education actions, directly, and about 4,800 students indirectly.
Main lines of action: The main axes of the project are:
Environmental education and training.
Protection and surveillance of the reserve.
Inter-institutional coordination.
Agroforestry.
Soil conservation.
Infrastructure.
Community participation.
Work strategy: The project bases its work on the participation of communities in sustainable agricultural production activities (soil conservation, organic coffee management and environmental education for the protection of natural resources). Activities are carried out at the El Arroyazo visitor center, to motivate teachers to visit the Reserve and use simple teaching-learning methods with their students.
Area of influence: The project is carried out in the Ébano Verde Scientific Reserve, located in the municipalities of Jarabacoa and Constanza.
Institutional framework: The project is executed by the Foundation for Human Improvement (Progressio), within the framework of the Dominican Environmental Consortium (CAD).
Annex 4 "Observations on the Camu River, waters that are born in the RCEV and feed the vegan people"
(elsoberano.com) LA VEGA.- This river, living legend and main aquifer source linked to the life and history of La Vega, is dying before the indifference of an entire indolent country. The Camú river, a wonderful gift of nature, which embraces the rugged anatomy of the city of La Vega, quenching the thirst of all the municipalities it touches, especially that of the agricultural land of the extremely poor lands of the La Vega valley Real, it continues without mourners to cry out and work for the arrest of the vile assaulted victim.
The Camú, water where the first Christians of the American continent were baptized, was also used in the early 19th century to transport the merchandise and agricultural products that energized the economy of this region, for which schooners and flat-bottomed boats were used to In order to avoid getting stuck in shallow points.
Today, vegans have inconsistently and unjustifiably changed their course and history. Today the Camú is nothing more than a dirty and contaminated place that has been indiscriminately extracted sand, gravel and gravel from its entrails, mistreating and deforesting its basin and exhausted almost all of the streams that feed it.
This crime had the complicity of a population that, out of fear or complicity, remained silent, some for fear of retaliation by the sicarios of the tyranny and others for the benefits they obtained from it. Only two female borrowers of this society dared to oppose this action, exemplary women who raised the banner of dignity. They were Professor Rhina Espaillat and Mrs. Delia García Godoy, who because of their position were arrested and harassed by the regime. These were the only voices of outrage that were heard, so they deserve our respect and consideration today.
Today this generation has paid dearly for this action and the consequences have been unfortunate in loss of human life and material damage, the river has claimed the evil that those of yesterday did to it and the indifference and irresponsibility of the citizens of today.
El Camú, the main river in the province of La Vega, is born in the Cordillera Central, on the hill of salt, in the ebony green reserve, making a tour of the vegan plains and the Central Cibao of 101 kilometers, ending in El Yuna, in the province of San Francisco de Macorís. Its main tributaries are: the Licey river, with 64 kilometers, Jima, with 39, and the Yamí, Bayacanes, Pontón, Guaigüí and Cenoví streams. Its basin, located between parallels 8-05 and 18 –21 north latitude and 70-30 and 70-38 west longitude, with an area of 2,351 km2, where more than 375 thousand people live, with a population density greater than 145.9 inhabitants per square kilometer.
The salvation of the Río Camú is an obligation of all vegans and all Dominicans, without distinction of social, economic, political, or religious position, in short, it is an urgent commitment of this generation. The war cry has been released, hopefully we will be able to reflect on this disgrace. Hopefully the Dominican State will give the importance that Camú deserves. The death of Camú will be the death of La Vega !.
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