Nature Reserves

The Dominican Republic has four mountain ranges and contains the highest mountain in the Caribbean. At the beginning of the 20th century 85 percent of the Dominican Republic was forested. Today, 90 percent of that original forest has been cleared away for urban development and farming. The island established the first National Park in 1956, José Armando Bermúdez, but did not designate any more parks until the 1970's. At this time the government established The National Directorate of Parks. Today protected areas account for 13 percent of the total land area of the Dominican Republic.

A nesting colony of frigate birds

Several non-profit organizations have teamed with local hotel operators to focus their efforts on preserving the coral reefs and natural habitat of the region. To reduce coral damge sensitive mooring buoys have been established to reduce anchor damage. Sections of Las Calderas Bay are off limits to the public in order to help protect the last intact mangrove forest in the park which contains the habitat for the only nesting colony of frigate birds in the Dominican Republic.

Map of the National Park of the East

Classifications of Parks/Reserves/Wilderness Areas within the Doiminican Republic:

Nature Reserves, Wilderness, Areas, and National Parks (categories I and II) include all land area protected in the following IUCN (World Conservation Union) categories:

Category Ia. Strict nature reserve: A protected area managed mainly for scientific research and monitoring; an area of land and/or sea possessing some outstanding or representative ecosystems, geological or physiological features and/or species.

Category Ib. Wilderness area: A protected area managed mainly for wilderness protection; a large area of unmodified or slightly modified land and/or sea retaining its natural character and influence, without permanent or significant habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural condition.

Category II. National park: A protected area managed mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation; a natural area of land and/or sea designated to: (a) protect the ecological integrity of one or more ecosystems for present and future generations; (b) exclude exploitation or occupation inimical to the purposes of designation of the area; and (c) provide a foundation for spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational, and visitor opportunities, all of which must be environmentally and culturally compatible.