Global Nature Fund has been working in the Dominican Republic for years and project after project, we renovated our commitment in trying to protect the local environment and to give the communities a possibility for a better livelihood.
Dr. Thomas Schafer, GNF head of the Conservation Unit, during one of his project trips, got to know Patricia Lamelas, executive director of CEBSE- Centro para la Conservación y Ecodesarrollo de la Bahía de Samaná y su Entorno . From this acquaintance, the idea of our project was born!
CEBSE is an organization that works in Samaná Bay and has to be confronted daily with the local reality which is the degradation of the Mangroves ecosystem in Mangroves of the Lower Yuna National Park and the always more difficult economic and social situation of the surrounding community of Sanchez.
GNF and CEBSE have then decided to join forces and apply for one of the grants offered by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), which will help restoring 80 hectares of precious mangroves forest and create a new park management plan, as well as giving to the local community a large number of new economic opportunities. The restoration of those mangroves in fact, not only will involve the local inhabitants in the rehabilitation activities in a service-to service exchange, but also give room for brand new Eco-touristic activities and pro-biodiversity businesses.
Within the three-year project, we commit to carry out numerous activities to raise awareness about the value and the benefits provided by the Mangroves of the Lower Yuna National Park. Moreover, we will offer workshops to form and train the local community to establish new business activities that respect and benefit from a preserved ecosystem.
We will not stop at only theoretical trainings but also give to the local inhabitants different concreate economic opportunities. GNF and CEBSE will in fact establish a new route to offer a Kayak and bout eco-tour in the Mangroves of Lower Yuna National Park, build a new trail for birdwatching guided-tours as well as create a new women organization that will be provided with tools and guidance to start new business activities and much more.
Global Nature Fund wants to thank the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), that approved our grant and the Tui Care Foundation, that accepted to co-fund this project and make our idea a concreate reality