San Cristóbal.- Mining activities in the Borbón and Pomier sections of Hato Damas, San Cristóbal, are endangering 1,700 rock art samples in the Pomier Caves, including over 1,000 Taino paintings and petroglyphs. These ancient artworks share the underground space with vital water reserves and bat colonies, forming a unique ecosystem now at risk.
The use of explosives to extract limestone causes vibrations and pollution that threaten the caves’ integrity. Additionally, heavy truck traffic on the only access road further disrupts the area. Despite a 2015 management plan developed by experts, authorities have yet to implement protective measures.
In response, the Social Sciences Commission of the Academy of Sciences has urged the government to halt mining in buffer zones, ban explosives, implement remediation efforts, and enforce the reserve’s management plan. Protecting the Pomier Caves is crucial to preserving the country’s cultural heritage and biodiversity.