Dominican Republic launches Marine-Coastal Ecosystem Monitoring Manual

Santo Domingo.- As part of the Ocean Forum of the Biological Corridor in the Caribbean and World Environment Day, a new monitoring manual and protocol guide was launched yesterday, titled “Monitorea: Integrating Evaluation of Marine-Coastal Ecosystems”. The initiative aims to collect vital scientific information to develop management strategies for coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds in the Dominican Republic.

The project, funded by the French Embassy in Santo Domingo with €525,000, is implemented by the Dominican Foundation for Marine Studies (Fundemar) with the support of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. The main goal of the manual is to strengthen the monitoring network of these ecosystems at the national level, promoting collaboration among different organizations committed to their study.

The project’s findings highlight the importance of conservation and restoration efforts, as coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds are key ecosystems for stability and resilience in the face of climate change. According to evaluations conducted in the Southeast Reefs Marine Sanctuary (Samar) since 2019, between 40 and 60% of live coral cover has been lost due to diseases and increased ocean temperatures.

The Monitorea program aims to expand information to other priority sites in the country, including mangroves and seagrass beds. French Ambassador Eric Fournier emphasized the importance of “true political will and cooperation among multiple actors” to achieve sustainable development.

Fundemar Director Rita Selllares highlighted the program’s focus on integrating marine and coastal ecosystems, as well as creating a national network of monitoring to track these ecosystems in space and time. The manual was developed with scientific and technical contributions from The Nature Conservancy’s CoralCarib project and the support of the Biological Corridor in the Caribbean.

The launch event concluded with a presentation by Dr. Aldo Cróquer, manager of The Nature Conservancy’s Marine Program for the Central Caribbean, detailing the document’s scope and implementation plans at the national and regional levels.

The Monitorea initiative will be launched in key sites across the Dominican territory between October and November 2024, with the participation of academic organizations and local NGOs. The manual can be accessed free of charge through Fundemar’s website. Additionally, training and awareness actions are being implemented to create local capacity and research opportunities for young scientists.