SANTO DOMINGO – In a significant move toward enhanced environmental governance, Dominican President Luis Abinader has officially inaugurated the steering committee for the Observatory of Environmental Policies and Protected Areas. The ceremony, held at the National Palace, marks the operational launch of this multi-sectoral entity established under Decree 105-26.
The newly formed Observatory is designed as an independent consultative body with a mandate to strengthen oversight, conservation, and sustainable management of the nation’s natural resources, placing particular emphasis on protected areas. It represents a collaborative governance model, integrating representatives from prominent environmental organizations, academic institutions, and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
A core function of the initiative is to promote the generation of and public access to environmental information. It aims to foster cooperation across government agencies, civil society, and the academic sector, with future plans to transition into a formally established non-profit organization. The decree mandates the steering committee to finalize its legal incorporation and define its operational framework within a 45-day period. Subsequently, the body will be tasked with developing a sustainability plan and securing necessary resources in coordination with the Ministry of Environment.
This establishment underscores the Abinader administration’s commitment to transparent, accountable, and participatory environmental policy management in the Dominican Republic.