SANTO CERRO, LA VEGA.- Community and defenders of the environment and natural resources of the Cibao Central area, expressed their deep concern about what they describe as environmental abuse what is happening in this emblematic Loma del Santo Cerrowhere a private company would be carrying out massive felling of trees with the supposed purpose of building villas, summer houses and apartments in the area.
The complaint to this medium was made by Mr. José Antonio Cabrera and the coordinator of the Los Peregrinos del Cibao Group, Guanchy Compres, who called on President Luis Abinader to arrange an exhaustive investigation in relation to what the complainants call, the worst environmental damage in history caused in the area.
In that sense, they stated that, as seen in the images that they and other people from the adjacent communities have, large portions of green areas have been impacted, eliminating part of the natural landscape that for centuries has characterized this important point of the Cibao.
They express that the intervention has generated indignation among citizens who consider that the natural, historical and spiritual heritage of the country is being attacked, so they call on the authorities to act accordingly.
José Antonio Cabrera, resident in the area.
“El Santo Cerro is not only a religious center where the historic Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes stands, but also a place of profound historical value. According to historical records, it was in this area where the Spanish established one of their first settlements in Cibao and where one of the first churches in the region was built, making it a symbol of Dominican colonial history,” says José Antonio Cabrera.
For its part, Guanchy Compres urgently called the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as the municipal and provincial authorities, to investigate whether this intervention has the corresponding environmental permits and whether the ecological and heritage protection regulations are being respected, but above all whether local environmental studies were carried out for the logging carried out in the area.
Guanchy Comprés, from the Los Peregrinos Group.
“La Loma del Santo Cerro cannot become just another real estate project. Not only is wood being cut down here, part of our identity is being uprooted. The community demands transparency, technical supervision and, if necessary, the immediate cessation of any work that threatens the environmental balance and the historical value of the area,” Compres said.
