Dominican Republic faces forest loss and growing water crisis in rural areas

Santo Domingo.- The Resilient Caribbean Communities (CCR) Project has raised alarm over growing threats of soil degradation and water scarcity in rural areas of the Caribbean. Driven by erratic rainfall and prolonged droughts due to climate change, these issues are compromising food security and water access for thousands of families across the region.

In the Dominican Republic alone, up to 300,000 hectares of forest—nearly 14% of its total forest cover—have been lost in the past decade. The Yaque del Norte River basin, which supplies water to the populous Cibao region, is now 60% deforested, accelerating soil erosion and reducing water infiltration. A projected 20% drop in precipitation could further deepen the water crisis, highlighting the urgent need to halt land degradation.

Since 2019, the CCR Project—led by Welthungerhilfe and funded by the German government—has been using Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EbA) across the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Haiti. Over 2,400 hectares have been reforested, 2 million seedlings produced in community nurseries, and key watersheds rehabilitated. The initiative also empowers local communities through training, participatory governance, and the implementation of 14 EbA plans. Infrastructure improvements include cisterns, aqueducts, and a water distribution kiosk benefiting over 800 families.