Boca del Soco, in the south of the DR on the Caribbean coast, is an important mangrove area. The 2,100-acre Río Soco Wildlife Refuge is rich in biodiversity and plays a crucial role in water conservation and climate change mitigation. Tree species include the black, buttonwood, and red mangrove, and mahogany. There are many birds such as the tricolored heron and flamingo; and many fish, reptiles, and amphibians.
Most local people are farmers, but an increasing number work in tourism. To protect the vital ecosystems of the refuge, the community wants to foster environmental stewardship among children and youth. They will transform a school garden into an educational nursery for mangroves and coastal species, and add a rainwater harvesting system. Community planters will showcase local species, and new murals will feature native plants and animals. The community will improve waste management – always a tough issue in downriver communities in the DR – with community workshops. They will install trash and recycling bins at schools and busy areas of town.
To build community involvement in conservation, there will be wetland cleanups and trainings on mangrove ecology and sustainability. The project will also promote sustainable fishing and harvesting methods in the wetland areas. Community members will learn how to monitor the mangrove areas and track wildlife populations with GPS and mobile apps.
Our project partner is the Eco-Bahia Foundation, a local nonprofit founded by the Piñero Group’s Bahia Principe Hotels & Resort. It has successfully implemented initiatives that benefit the environment, encourage sustainable development, and improve the wellbeing of communities.
