Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

27 waterfalls form part of a geological fault encased within a canyon several km long, with interesting labyrinths of tun- nels, caves, slides and natural pools, framed in thick tropical rainforest vegetation [ ] 95 Increasing local participation in local enterprise and ecological protection Within the protected area of the Llanos de Pérez lies the main focus of conservation, the Damajagua river, which rises in the massif of the northern mountain chain, resulting in 27 small waterfalls. The area also has a rich riparian forest with tall trees and a high variety of fauna and significant biological diversity. In 2005, an agreement was signed for the co-management of the protect- ed area, shared between the Environ- ment Ministry and the Damajagua River Life Guides Association. The guides keep their own accounts and charge a fee for their services, which then helps to fund micro-enterpris- es or is redistributed to partners or members. Ten adjacent communities have benefited, with loans to micro-en- trepreneurs, aqueduct construction, purchase of buses for student trans- port, donations for sports activities and scholarships for study, construc- tion and maintenance of public-use infrastructures. Other more remote communities also benefit as tour- ists carried by tour operators, pass through different communities gen- erating economic benefits to them. The protected areas surrounding Damajagua have benefited from, among others, protection against in- discriminate building; a surveillance centre for the Loma Isabel de Torres natural monument; a national park protection centre; and repair of the protection centre of the Laguna Cab- arete and Goleta natural monument. The mechanism of administration of the protected area guarantee its sustainability in that it enabled a decentralization of funds, hands- on management, the popularity of the activities at both national and international levels, and the empow- erment of the communities involved. Among the main achievements are the conservation of local flora and fauna, and emphasis on the protec- tion of the riparian forest as an object of conservation in its original state, adding value to the promotion of the site as a centre of attraction for national and foreign tourists. The dynamization of the economic activities of the community, through sales of artisanal objects, fruit, confec- tion and dairy products, has improved quality of life without degrading the environment, while maintaining the object of conservation, thus acting within the framework of the AICHI goal 14, in augmenting the connectiv- ity between protected ecosystems and increased local participation. Training for local people has facil- itated diversification of knowledge in language management, accounting principles, first aid, the ecological aspects of teaching visitors about the area’s vulnerability, developing mi- croenterprises, and, above all, to love nature and recognize the importance of the conservation of biodiversity. One of the waterfalls along the Damajagua river Dominican Republic S ince the 1980s, the Dominican Republic has formally welcomed tourists from around world, who seek active recreation and leisure, generating the opportunity to enjoy and protect the diversity of landscapes that the country has to offer. This is now benefiting local communities with their potential to host the visitors, especially to the protected area of Llanos de Pèrez and the 27 waterfalls of Rio Damajagua. Party Damajagua