Dominican Republic prioritizes national park land titling

The Dominican Republic is making a concerted effort to solidify state ownership of its national parks, a move hailed as a crucial legacy for future generations. Many of these vital environmental areas have historically lacked official titles, with some even remaining in the hands of private individuals.

Minister of the Presidency José Ignacio Paliza highlighted the widespread issue, noting that "honorable exceptions aside, all national parks in the Dominican Republic are not titled to the Dominican State, or in some cases, even worse, their ownership is still held by third parties." This lack of clear ownership has long hampered national environmental preservation efforts.

During an official ceremony, the government formalized the titling of over 12 million square meters of land across the Loma Novillero and Montaña La Humeadora national parks. President Luis Abinader emphasized that securing these titles will be a significant achievement of his administration. To expedite the process, a specialized commission has been established to identify and regularize the land within protected areas.

The president pledged that these land incorporations into the state inventory would become a regular, possibly monthly, occurrence. Currently, efforts are underway to title the Los Haitises and Loma Siete Picos national parks. Abinader warned of "mafia attempts" to seize adjacent lands, underscoring the importance of this titling process for safeguarding these natural resources for present and future Dominicans.