Punta Bergantín develops native species nursery to support sustainable tourism and conservation

Puerto Plata.- The Punta Bergantín tourism development project is advancing its environmental sustainability strategy with the creation of a nursery dedicated to native and endemic plant species, aimed at preserving biodiversity and restoring natural ecosystems along the Dominican Republic’s North Coast.

Developed in partnership with the Provincial Directorate of Environment of Puerto Plata and the Santiago Botanical Garden, the initiative includes the incorporation of 355 specimens of threatened species and the planting of 1,260 native trees. The effort seeks to strengthen ecological restoration and conservation measures within the project area.

According to Leonela Vólquez, Director of Community, Sustainability and Research for Punta Bergantín, the nursery represents a long-term investment in environmental protection and sustainable tourism. She explained that the facility will help regenerate landscapes, protect vulnerable species, promote environmental education, and reinforce the region’s identity as a nature-focused destination.

Vólquez emphasized that the project is designed to ensure that Punta Bergantín’s growth is accompanied by concrete actions to conserve and restore natural resources. She added that the nursery will play a key role in producing native and endemic species while supporting a tourism model that is more resilient, environmentally responsible, and closely connected to its surroundings.

As part of its conservation efforts, the nursery will also house 11 species listed as endangered or critically endangered during its first year of operation. The facility serves as a core component of Punta Bergantín’s Environmental Management Plan and its Tree Transplanting, Compensation, and Reforestation Program, which guide the project’s sustainability and environmental protection initiatives.