Save Quita Espuela

[NewsWhore]

Directors of the Fundacion Loma Quita Espuela in San Francisco de Macoris are warning that the National Drinking Water Institute (INAPA) is committing an ecological crime with the construction of an aqueduct that cuts through the scientific reserve. Juan Gelabert, the foundation's press officer, said that engineers have cut a 2.5-kilometer highway inside the reserve, which enables any illegal logger to enter and cut down trees in that area in the space of an hour. They said that in order to open the road they have cut down dozens of thousand-year old mahogany, cabirma, cola and other trees, in violation of Environment Laws 64-00 and 202-04. They complained that since the start of the work, INAPA has operated without the legal permits from the Ministry of Environment. Gelabert said they are exploiting a limestone mine in addition to building work and housing without a thought for the mountain's natural resources, a source of main rivers. They also claimed that the building company is washing its vehicles in the Los Morones River. Gelabert said that Elizabeth Zabala, the INAPA engineer in charge of the work has refused to comment and said that she has authorization from the previous director (Richard Martinez, today drinking water advisor to President Fernandez) to carry out the work. New INAPA director Frank Rodriguez said that the construction had received a permit from the Ministry of Environment dated 22 August 2007, after Max Puig was removed from his ministerial post. The work has been in process for a year.
In an editorial on Sunday, Listin Diario warned of the serious dilemma between the aqueduct's construction, and the need to preserve more rivers and forests from accelerated destruction, as has occurred in other parts of the country, saying that it is a national duty to preserve this forestry reserve intact without any more negative human intervention.

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