Resource information
This report discusses the affects of
rapid economic growth and increased urbanization on the
environmental quality of the Dominican Republic's
natural resource base (e.g., water resources
management--water quality, quantity and watershed management
and solid waste collection and disposal have become major
environmental concerns). It notes that the lack of
systematic data limits an accurate and detailed assessment
of the scope of the problems, however, the consensus is
that: (i) the overall poor quality of surface, groundwater
and coastal water resources is the result of a lack of waste
water management and agricultural run-off, causing health
problems that disproportionately affect the poor; (ii) water
scarcity is a regional problem resulting from poor demand
management in irrigation, urban water supply and tourist
infrastructure in drier regions; (iii) weak watershed
management leads to soil erosion and amplifies the damage
and frequency of flooding; and (4) the overall lack of solid
waste management pollutes water sources, causes disease and
is a nuisance for both inhabitants and visitors. To rectify
these problems, the country established the Secretariat for
the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARN) in 2000,
bringing all public institutions dealing with environmental
issues under one roof. The World Bank has supported SEMARN
through a Learning and Innovation Loan, and SEMARN has made
significant progress since its inception by issuing
environmental regulations, standards and impact assessment
procedures, among other reforms and improvements. This
report provides some indicative priority setting the
Government could adopt or adjust in function of political
and economic factors.
