Yale ranks Dominican Republic 33rd greenest country

DOMINICAN TODAY  |  Economy - 24 April 2009, 8:27 AM 

Green, white, and blue. Isla Saona. Santo Domingo. - A recent YaleUniversity study ranked Dominican Republic 33rd among the greenest countries,Environment minister Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal said Thursday. “To be amongthe world’s top 35 greenest countries is a recognition of the efforts bynongovernment and government organizations, academies and the Dominican peopleto benefit the environment and natural resources” Fernandez said.

He recognized however that it also represents “a challenge becausefrom now on it’s necessary to improve that position.” Yale University’sEnvironmental Performance Index (EPI) evaluated carbon and sulphur emissions,water purity and conservation practices.

Fernandez, taking part in the closing of the 8th technical meetingof the Biological Corridor of the Caribbean, said the project seeks tointegrate Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba and Jamaica, among others islands ina common effort to draft joint policies to defend the biodiversity, protectnature and develop the natural resources’ common potentialities. In themeetings during three days in the Santo Domingo Technological Institute(INTEC), the technical delegations proposed a Joint Operation Plan among thecorridor’s current members.