ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY
From its inception, Grupo Jaragua has ben actively fighting for the preservation of the Dominican Republic´s natural heritage in many ways. It has provided technical guidance to the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources on a wide range of topics, from proposals for international designation of protected areas such as the Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo UNESCO Biosphere Reserve ato the creation of Ramsar Convention Sites (wetlands of global importance), to specially protected areas under the Cartagena Convention (SPAW Protocol) from the ONU Medio Ambiente. We have also supported the creation ofa National Biodiversity Strateg and supported official delegations in various conferences of the parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Furthermore, we have coordinated workshops and technical analyses for the identification of Important Areas for Bird and Biodiversity (IBAs), as well as Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) of the DR. We have actively participated in the national red listing process of threatened species.
At the same time, we have raised our voice against the violation of our environmental laws, especially our protected area system framework and the unsustainable use of native and endemic species. All our advocacy actions and educational campaigns we try to bring our best technical expertise to decision makers and the general public. This work has benefited from the collaboration of numerous international allies, such as our partner BirdLife International, Vermont Center for Ecostudies, Mongabay and Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Some of our recent advocacy campaigns :
