The Cap Cana Foundation was recognized for its Native and Endemic Threatened Plant Reproduction Program, an initiative that seeks to recover the native flora of eastern Dominican Republic and protect endangered botanical species.
The recognition awarded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP) validates the foundation's commitment to environmental sustainability by promoting the reproduction, care, and reintroduction of endemic plant species to their natural habitats. Through this practice, the foundation contributes to rehabilitating ecosystems, preserving biodiversity, and encouraging the use of native flora in landscaping, reducing dependence on exotic plants that require additional resources.
A press release highlights that the native and endemic plant propagation program has successfully reproduced more than 12,100 plants to date from seeds, cuttings, and rescued specimens. These plants represent some 122 species from the eastern region of the country, of which 12% are endemic and 88% are native. The Cap Cana Foundation planted 1,000 Bayahibe rose plants in Cotubanamá National Park and has reached more than 600 people with environmental awareness talks about native plants.
“For the Cap Cana Foundation, this award represents a commitment to continue and strengthen its conservation and ecological restoration efforts in the Destination City and the province of La Altagracia. Thanks to its Native and Threatened Endemic Plant Reproduction Program, it is ensuring that numerous botanical species, many of them endangered, remain present in the country’s forests, wetlands, and green areas, but especially in the city of Cap Cana, contributing to biodiversity, environmental resilience, and the well-being of the communities,” the document states.
During the recognition ceremony, the president of CONEP highlighted that this catalog already positions the Dominican private sector as "an agent of transformation capable of generating real changes in people's lives and in their environment," while Ana María Díaz, UNDP resident representative in the Dominican Republic, emphasized the value of the selected initiatives, capable of promoting sustainable development, inclusion, and environmental protection.
The foundation invites partners, public institutions, non-governmental organizations, academia, and citizens in general to join this conservation mission. Together, we can protect our natural heritage, restore ecosystems, and ensure that future generations know and enjoy the rich plant life of our land.
