NewsWhore
10-03-2006, 06:10 PM
A major accomplishment of community empowerment, the Damajagua Visitor and Conference Centers and new facilities at the Damajagua eco-tourism site were inaugurated on Friday, 29 September in the presence of United Nations representative Niky Fabiancic; Moises Pineda, director of the Inter-American Development Bank; William Brands, deputy director of USAID; Romeo Massey and Don Clark, director and deputy director of US Peace Corps; and Helene Guillot, senior trade commissioner for the Embassy of Canada. Representing the Dominican Republic were Environment Minister Max Puig, Andres Vanderhorst, director of the National Competitiveness Council; Cesar Jose de los Santos, governor of Puerto Plata, the mayors of Altamira and Imbert; Bernardita Abbott, deputy minister of Tourism; and representatives of the Puerto Plata tourism movement. Speaking in representation of the Association of Guides of Damajagua, Pablo Araujo told the story of how they got to this point and all the players involved. Special notice was given to Peace Corps volunteer, Joe Kennedy.
The event also saw the presentation of the co-management agreement between the Ministry of Environment and the Association of Damajagua River Guides (AGRD). The ceremony took place at the new center that is located at Los 27 Charcos de Damajagua, three kilometers south of the town of Imbert, in Puerto Plata province.
Although barely known by people outside the Cibao, the 27 Charcos (27 levels of natural pools and waterfalls) is an adventure tourism site that is visited by more than 50,000 people each year. The site is co-managed by the community, the Ministry of Environment and a board. RD$30 of every admission ticket sold goes to a community fund.
The Visitor Center was funded by a FIPA (Environmental Protection Investment Fund) grant from USAID and the Conference Center by PPS/FMAM (Global Environment Fund). The projects were supervised by the Ministry of Environment and the United States Peace Corps.
See http://www.27charcos.com
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#12)
The event also saw the presentation of the co-management agreement between the Ministry of Environment and the Association of Damajagua River Guides (AGRD). The ceremony took place at the new center that is located at Los 27 Charcos de Damajagua, three kilometers south of the town of Imbert, in Puerto Plata province.
Although barely known by people outside the Cibao, the 27 Charcos (27 levels of natural pools and waterfalls) is an adventure tourism site that is visited by more than 50,000 people each year. The site is co-managed by the community, the Ministry of Environment and a board. RD$30 of every admission ticket sold goes to a community fund.
The Visitor Center was funded by a FIPA (Environmental Protection Investment Fund) grant from USAID and the Conference Center by PPS/FMAM (Global Environment Fund). The projects were supervised by the Ministry of Environment and the United States Peace Corps.
See http://www.27charcos.com
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#12)