Environment demolishes 33 houses in embattled national park

Pedernales, Dominican Republic.-The Environment Ministry dismantled 33 shacks built illegally within Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, near the villages El Cielo and Los Arroyos, southwestern Pedernales province, where tree poaching is common.

The action forms part of Environment’s operations conducted since last week at Bahoruco and Los Haitises (northeast) national parks, to halt the various environmental crimes.

Environment said the shacks destroyed were built by Haitians and Dominicans who clear and burn areas to plant short cycle crops at Sierra de Bahoruco, in violation of the Environment and Natural Resources Law 64-00.

Warehouse torched

In a statement Environment said that after the operation, the suspects proceeded to burn a storage facility in the area, to subsequently blame the authorities through social networks.

The statement adds that Environmental Protection Agents seized 28 baskets of rebar which were ready to build six columns at the same site.