Agreement reached for prisoners to reforest the country’s watersheds

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Hydroelectric Generation Company (EGEHID) and the National Office for Support to Penitentiary Reform (Onaprep) have signed an agreement to incorporate inmates, under the Half-Free Prison modality, into reforestation programs for the country’s watersheds. The agreement, signed by EGEHID’s Rafael Salazar and Onaprep’s Roberto Santana, will begin with reforestation efforts in the San Juan (Sabaneta Dam) and Nizao river basins, spanning areas in San Cristóbal, Peravia, and Ocoa.

The project will be gradually expanded to other watersheds in accordance with an inter-institutional Strategic Plan and Annual Operational Plan. The initiative is part of a broader mission to make environmental management and watershed restoration a permanent aspect of the country’s penitentiary and correctional system. The program aims to restore forest cover, reduce soil degradation, and enhance water retention in dam-influenced areas, ensuring water supply for aqueducts, irrigation, clean energy production, and promoting ecotourism and fishing.

The plan includes planting native and non-native species such as Creole pine, royal palm, red and white cedar, and mahogany, along with cleaning riverbanks to eliminate waste and protect local ecosystems. This initiative aligns with Law 113-21, which allows prisoners to reintegrate into the workforce through paid reforestation work, promoting rehabilitation and environmental stewardship. The agreement was endorsed by EGEHID’s Board President, Rosa Ysabel Ruíz, and other local officials.