Dominican Republic adopts measures against ‘environmental terrorism’

The Dominican government has declared the fight against “environmental terrorism” a matter of high national interest and strategic priority, introducing a decree aimed at protecting the country’s most important natural resources.

Presented by President Luis Abinader at the National Palace, the decree calls for stronger prevention, detection and investigation of serious attacks on national parks, watersheds, dams, reservoirs, mangroves, wetlands and river springs.

Abinader said deliberate or systematic acts that cause severe damage to protected areas, or lead to the disappearance of national parks, will fall within the new category. He warned that the state will pursue those responsible, whether Dominican or foreign.

The president said national parks had received insufficient attention and legal protection for decades. His government has begun a process to regularize protected areas that are not yet registered in the state’s name through property titles.

He also warned about deliberately set forest fires, saying they destroy flora and fauna while threatening water sources and the country’s food security. The decree directs the National Counterterrorism Committee, the ministries of Defense and Environment, the National Police and the General Directorate of Migration to prepare a National Policy for the Prevention and Combat of Environmental Terrorism.

The policy will address deliberately set forest fires and threats to water and energy infrastructure. Cases involving attacks on the environmental heritage will be referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office to determine criminal responsibility. Abinader said the conduct covered by the framework could bring sentences of 20 to 30 years, depending on the Penal Code and the legal classification of each case.

The president also instructed the armed forces, intelligence agencies and Migration authorities to pursue both those who carry out such activities and those who order, finance or facilitate them. The decree includes confidential reporting mechanisms and technological tools to encourage public cooperation in protecting natural resources.

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High national interest and strategic priority