Tropical paradise Dominican Republic seeking a natural method to go back to its bountiful era

Of all the water on the planet, just 0.5% is freshwater available for industrial, agricultural and domestic purposes. But in recent years, the supply has come under serious threat from deforestation, habitat degradation and expansion of cities.

Latin America has the most water sources globally. However, 36 million people in the massive region currently lack access to clean drinking water, highlighting the pressing need for nature-based solutions to achieve water security for the future.

Dominican Republic seeking natural solutions to crisis

The BBC recently covered the Dominican Republic, reporting on a serious crisis unfolding in the tropical paradise. Forests on the mountainous Caribbean island are being cut down for grazing land, putting a serious stress on the water supply. Is afforestation the solution?, it asked.

Dominga Reynoso and her neighbours, living in the capital Santo Domingo, sometimes go without running water for a staggering 22 days. The concerning situation has become a common occurrence across the country, the BBC report highlighted.

But the Dominican Republic didn’t always have the crisis. Historically, the country has relied on bountiful natural supplies of water. Over the past century, however, the supply has been under threat, due to increased demands from tourism, mining and agriculture.

“Reforms and greater investments are urgently needed to ensure sustainable use and safe water supply for businesses and households,” said Chloe Oliver Viola, a senior water supply and sanitation specialist at the World Bank.

Dominican Republic must rebuild from the beginning

Decades of deforestation for cattle grazing, natural disasters destroying fragile sewer systems and infrastructure, and mismanagement of natural resources have resulted in the country experiencing the current unprecedented water shortages.

Franciso Núñez, the Central Caribbean director of The Nature Conservancy, expressed concern over the situation, noting: “To build a dam … is not enough – we need nature to provide water, we need to go back to the ecosystem and rebuild from the beginning.”

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