Low Emissions-High Effect: DREFF Sets Out To Offset Carbon Footprint

Low Emissions-High Effect: DREFF Sets Out To Offset Carbon Footprint
Santo Domingo, September 27, 2013

On Sunday September 8th, GFDD/FUNGLODE held a reforestation activity in the Parque de la Biodiversidadin Monte Plata to mark the final day of the III DR Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) which took place at 19 screening sites and 8 cities across the Dominican Republic from September 4 to 8, 2013.

The event, held in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources was aimed at restoring the degraded farm lands of Monte Plata. Upon arrival at the location, the participants, which included a mix of volunteers and international guests from the festival as well as staff members, helped plant 2,000 endemic tree species. This achievement, which will help sequester 309 tons of Co2 over the course of the trees’ life, symbolizes the spirit of the festival which is to preserve our environment and to be conscious of the impact that our activities generate on our natural surroundings.

In keeping with this objective, with each passing year, DREFF strives to make the event more sustainable. 2013 was a remarkable step forward for DREFF as it secured several screenings inside the LEED certified Agora Mall at the Palacio del Cine in Santo Domingo. DREFF also continued to build on its partnerships with the Ministry of the Environment, and organizations like; Puntacana Ecological Foundation,  Fundación Propagas, Fundación Siempre Mas, Fundación Vida Azul, Listin Diario’s Plan Lea as well as companies such as Centro Cuesta Nacional, who are helping to educate communities about environmental issues through their programs, community activities and corporate social responsibility campaigns.

In addition to the reforestation activity, the III DREFF also included two additional community activities, a beach cleaning activity, which has become a permanent fixture within Festival programming,  and the Mogote Clean Up Environmental Excursion, both aimed at mobilizing youth, community leaders and encouraging positive actions in defense of the environment through community work. The activities brought together over 300 students from across the country to learn more about the negative environmental impact of trash on our planet, in particular plastic waste, and the importance of adopting actions to reduce, reuse and recycle.

However, ensuring the long term sustainability of DREFF also means reducing our carbon footprint–a work  in progress that can continuously be improved upon. With this in mind, the staff continues to promote the use of reusable water bottles, and recyclable plates and cups in order to minimize waste and encourage the use of sustainable materials, such as egg shell paper for printing of marketing materials, wherever possible.  

The DREFF’s above listed accomplishments are strong reminders that by coming together all participants can help put the festival on course to gradually offset all of its carbon footprint.