SANTO DOMINGO - The General Directorate of Public-Private Partnerships (DGAPP) yesterday delivered to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MIMARENA) the property title certificates in favor of the Dominican State corresponding to the protected areas of Pedernales, which border the Cabo Rojo Tourism Development project, which is being carried out in this area of the country.
The executive director of the DGAPP, Sigmund Freund, delivered to the Minister of the Environment, Miguel Ceara Hatton, the Title Certificate No. 3000658469 which corresponds to part of the Jaragua National Park and three polygons of the Cabo Rojo-Bahía de las Águilas National Recreation Area with an area of 293,223,437.33 m2, and, the title certificate No. 3000658362 with an area of 878,648.55 m2, which corresponds to another portion of the Jaragua National Park.
“We are fulfilling our promises to society and environmental groups that these areas would not be contributed to the trust nor would they be subject to any hotel development,” Freund stated, explaining that these titles are the result of the subdivision process of the property identified in Parcel 215-A, of Cadastral District No. 03, with an area of 361,978,762.00 m2 , a process that had among its objectives the protection of the lands of the National System of Protected Areas, in accordance with current environmental regulations and standards.
“Today we are handing over these title certificates to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MIMARENA) so that, together with the National Assets Office, they can be safeguarded and protected. This is another action demonstrating the responsibility, transparency, and deep commitment of this Government and President Luis Abinader to the protection of our natural resources, a commitment that both the Pro-Pedernales Trust and the General Directorate of Public Administration (DGAPP) assume as entities responsible for the tourism development of Cabo Rojo-Pedernales,” the official emphasized.
He emphasized that the proposal to grant titles to protected areas and national parks was an initiative of the late Minister of the Environment, Orlando Jorge Mera. “It is a great privilege for me to honor the memory of our beloved Orlando by presenting these titles, which is also a recognition of his genuine concern for achieving greater guarantees of respect for the biodiversity and environmental wealth of these lands,” Freund stated.
He said that after the State managed to recover the lands of this parcel 215-A from private hands, which included the Jaragua National Park and the lands of Bahía de las Águilas, through a litigation that lasted more than 25 years and the sacrifice of a great team of jurists, defenders of the Homeland, it is right to put this heritage in safekeeping, under the protection and oversight of MIMARENA.
About the process
Through a long litigation process in the courts initiated in 1997 and concluded in mid-2019, the Dominican State managed to recover, from private hands, parcel 215-A, of cadastral district No. 03, with an area of 361,978,762.00 square meters, registration No. 0600006285, located in Enriquillo, Barahona, which included the protected areas of the Jaragua National Park and areas of Cabo Rojo-Bahía de las Águilas.
In an effort to demarcate the lands that would be contributed to the Pro-Pedernales Trust for the Pedernales Tourism Development Project and that do not correspond to the protected areas, a subdivision of parcel 215-A was carried out, resulting in the issuance of Title Certificate No. 3000658469, which corresponds to part of the Jaragua National Park and three polygons of the Cabo Rojo-Bahía de las Águilas National Recreation Area, and Title Certificate No. 3000658362 with a proportion of the Jaragua National Park.
