Dominican Republic
Welcome to the Dominican Republic Ocean National Consultation page, where you can find resources related to the National Consultation and implementation of SDG 14 : Life below Water in the Dominican Republic. Consultations took place at various locations throughout the country on 8, 10, 12, 15 and 17 May 2017 (see below for full details).
The Dominican Republic, a small island developing state (SIDS) in the Caribbean, relies heavily on foreign revenue from tourism. As a result, all ocean and ocean conservation-related issues are intrinsically linked to the tourism sector, and a multidimensional approach is needed when considering ocean issues in the country.
Healthy coastal ecosystems are vital to the Dominican Republic; they protect the white sandy beaches essential to the country’s tourism, provide habitats for commercial fish populations and options for future economic growth.
Healthy coastal ecosystems are also the most cost effective way to protect coastal areas and populations from the impacts of climate change, particularly in a country like the Dominican Republic, considered one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change. 76% of the country’s coastal areas are legally protected under the national system of Protected Areas. However, the management of these protected areas requires considerable strengthening to achieve their objectives.
The country’s coastal and marine biodiversity is of regional and global importance. For example, Samana Bay and the wider marine sanctuary protect a major percentage of the North Atlantic population of female calving humpback whales. The Dominican Republic Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2011–2030 is harmonized with the global biodiversity strategy, and as such, many of its goals contribute to the fulfillment of SDG 14.
