DR signs co-management agreement for Padre Nuestro ecological and archaeological trail

Bayahíbe, DR.- In a collaborative effort to strengthen sustainable tourism and environmental conservation, a co-management agreement for the Padre Nuestro National Park, Cotubanamá Sector, was signed this week by Minister Miguel Ceara Hatton; Ana García-Sotoca, representing the Romana-Bayahíbe Hotel Association and Tourism Cluster, Lidia Pereyra of the Padre Nuestro Guides Association, and renowned biologist Felicita Heredia Lorenzo of the Dominican Foundation of Marine Studies.

The Padre Nuestro Ecological and Archaeological Trail, a natural treasure with a rich cultural history, is located in the Bayahíbe area, just minutes from the Dominicus hotel zone. This trail not only offers a walk through a lush tropical forest but also houses archaeological vestiges dating back to the first inhabitants of the region.

Padre Nuestro, an integral part of Cotubanamá National Park since 2000, is home to freshwater springs and a diversity of endemic flora and fauna. This place, which historically housed pre-Hispanic communities that left their mark on nearby caves such as Berna and Panchito, represents an invaluable link to the island’s ancestral past.

In addition to being an impressive natural refuge, Padre Nuestro is home to emblematic species such as the Bayahíbe rose. This flower, a symbol of the region’s biodiversity and beauty, has inspired FIFA to create Taní, the new image of the U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The signed agreement establishes the creation of a Co-Management Council, made up of representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MMARN), the AHRB, the La Romana-Bayahíbe Tourism Cluster (CTRB), and other local and community entities. This council will be responsible for overseeing and implementing a comprehensive plan to restore and improve the trail, with the aim of strengthening its infrastructure and promoting sustainable tourism in the region.

“This agreement represents a significant milestone for the conservation and promotion of Padre Nuestro’s natural and cultural heritage,” highlighted Miguel Ceara Hatton, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. “We are committed to working hand in hand with the private sector and the community to ensure that this trail is accessible and sustainable for future generations.”

The Romana-Bayahíbe Hotel Association (AHRB) also emphasized that the signed agreement will focus on the rehabilitation of infrastructure, improvement of trails, and promotion of environmental conservation practices, which represents a great milestone in the region.

This joint effort not only seeks to revitalize Padre Nuestro as a tourist attraction but also as a model of sustainable management that preserves its natural and cultural wealth for future generations.