{"id":8003,"date":"2017-03-02T18:51:13","date_gmt":"2017-03-02T18:51:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dominicana-online.org\/?page_id=8003"},"modified":"2018-03-28T21:08:06","modified_gmt":"2018-03-28T21:08:06","slug":"responsabilidad-ambiental-mi-labor","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.dominicanaonline.org\/en\/medio-ambiente\/responsabilidad-ambiental-mi-labor\/","title":{"rendered":"Environmental Responsibility:\u00a0My Part"},"content":{"rendered":"

If it is the job of governments and environmentally-focused institutions to look after the development of laws, assure their compliance, and strengthen the bonds that human beings have with their natural habitat, placing a value on the benefits it provides to\u00a0us, then each individual has a\u00a0duty to play their part and fulfill their quota of responsibility for environmental conservation. Every day we are more aware of this fact and we now have within our grasp a large array of better tools to achieve our goals. There are many contributions to be made, and one day at a time we can begin with some of the following issues.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bans<\/b><\/h2>\n

Human beings have responsibilities\u00a0towards the products that\u00a0we eat. We should be conscious consumers, given that the topic of nourishment is ever more complex due to\u00a0global population growth, resource depletion, and the intensification of climate change which engenders greater resource expenditure and aggressive methods of feeding the global population.<\/p>\n

Seasonal or permanent bans on\u00a0the trapping, hunting, or fishing of species\u00a0make it\u00a0illegal to sell or consume the species\u00a0in question. In the Dominican Republic there are very important seasonal bans\u00a0which\u00a0have been established to protect threatened species or species of commercial importance during their reproductive months,\u00a0something everyone must respect.<\/p>\n

Seasonal bans on various species are defined in Decree 119-12, where, for example, lobster is protected under a ban from March 1st<\/span>\u00a0until June 30th<\/span>, during which time it is illegal to catch,\u00a0process, or\u00a0even\u00a0possess the species. During this time, it is not politically correct to promote its consumption in hotels,\u00a0restaurants,\u00a0and even in the media.<\/p>\n

The ban terms addressed in Decrees 316-86, 813-08, 499-09, and 119-12 are as follows:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Caribbean spiny lobster (Panurilis\u00a0argus), spotted spiny lobster (Panurilis\u00a0guttatus), slipper lobster (Scyllarides\u00a0sp), and the sculptured mitten lobster (Parribacus\u00a0antarcticus): March 1st<\/span>\u00a0to June 30th<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Queen conch (Strombus\u00a0gigas), Atlantic triton (Charonia\u00a0variegata), king helmet (Cassis\u00a0tuberosa), West Indian top shell (Cittarium\u00a0pica), and the\u00a0Astrea\u00a0caelata: July 1st<\/span>\u00a0to October 30th<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Blue land crab (Cardisoma\u00a0guanhumi), black land crab (Gecarcinus\u00a0ruricola), and the\u00a0Ucides\u00a0cordatus: December 1st<\/span>\u00a0to April 30th<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Atlantic blue crab: June 1st<\/span>\u00a0to September 30th<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Graphic 18
\n<\/i>Informational Campaigns on Respecting Seasonal Bans. Source: Reef Check,\u00a0<\/i>Revista<\/i>\u00a0RD Verde,\u00a0<\/i>Guardianes<\/i>\u00a0del\u00a0<\/i>Oc\u00e9ano<\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Clarification is needed on why it is so important that protected species are not trapped or consumed during established ban terms. It has been determined that during these seasons, the above species go through their cycles of reproduction: therefore if we want to continue to enjoy exquisite gastronomic creations made from them in years to come, no human activity can be allowed to cause negative impacts to their\u00a0reproduction. Fisherman, merchants, and consumers are obligated to respect the reproduction period and the habitat of marine species which are used for consumption.<\/p>\n

Another species for which we must assume the same environmental consciousness, in spite of the lack of a ban term or any type of restriction on their capture is the parrotfish. The consumption of parrotfish leads to irreversible harm to the coastal ecosystems of the Dominican Republic. This type of fish, which plays one of the most important roles in\u00a0bioerosion\u00a0and in the formation of sand for the country\u2019s beautiful beaches, is a significant contributor to the quality of the principal economic activity of the Dominican Republic. In recent years the consumption of parrotfish has risen due to diminishing stocks\u00a0of other commonly-consumed fish.\u00a0This\u00a0has put greater pressure on\u00a0the species which will soon run the risk of extinction, placing\u00a0the\u00a0Dominican natural coastal patrimony of crystalline waters and fine sands at risk.<\/p>\n

All Dominicans should take on responsibility for the conservation of the parrotfish. Though consumption of the fish is not prohibited, it is encouraged that it not be eaten\u00a0in order\u00a0to reduce incentives for fishermen and merchants to continue with its capture.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Waste Production<\/b><\/h2>\n

More and more waste is being generated in the Dominican Republic. The country generates 10,000 tons daily,\u00a051%\u00a0of which\u00a0is composed of organic matter, 16% is paper and cardboard, 10% is plastics, 6% is glass, 4% is textiles, and 2% Tetra\u00a0Paks.<\/p>\n

In Santo Domingo alone more than 900 tons of waste are generated daily. With a growing population and increasing visitors due to tourism, waste production is projected to increase as well.<\/p>\n

Though there is no federal government-level recycling program, municipal-level initiatives have been implemented to classify the different types of waste and\u00a0assure their proper disposal. On the other hand, the private sector has begun to identify\u00a0business opportunities that exist in waste<\/a>\u00a0generated\u00a0throughout the country. In turn, small businesses have sprung up with\u00a0the objective\u00a0of collecting domestic waste\u00a0and\u00a0principal aim of selling it to recycling companies. This newly-created market segment has provided the domestic-level opportunity of meaningful contribution to environmental conservation through in-home classification of various types of waste. By means of this process,\u00a0recyclable\u00a0materials can be used for\u00a0other purposes\u00a0after they have left our hands.<\/p>\n

Depending on the country and established systems of collection and recycling, waste can be classified into different types. The easiest separation which businesses tend to engage in is of paper, plastic, and Tetra Pak containers. Classification of waste produced at home is also very simple:\u00a0it only needs to be taken into account that materials be free of organic matter, chemicals, or liquids\u00a0\u2013 and clean enough to\u00a0assure proper classification.\u00a0Once this is done, they\u00a0are ready to be entrusted to a recycling or collection center.<\/p>\n

Recycling and collection centers are locations to which solid waste can be sent after classification. The main goal of these centers is to prepare the materials for transportation to locations which can better use them, such as recycling companies. This prevents recyclable material\u00a0from ending up in landfills, as tends to happen when it is mixed with all other types of waste, and allows it to be used as raw materials in the creation of something new.<\/p>\n

In the following table,\u00a0the locations\u00a0of some recycling and collection centers around Santo Domingo are pointed out.<\/p>\n

Graphic 19
\n<\/i>Location of\u00a0<\/i>some collection centers around Santo Domingo. Source:\u00a0<\/i>Revista<\/i>\u00a0RD VERDE)<\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After\u00a0having\u00a0disposed of waste at the nearest\u00a0collection center, there is still one type of waste with an incredible amount of potential: organic waste.\u00a0One\u00a0interesting fact is that organic waste can be used as compost for garden plants and home gardening. It is easy and fun to\u00a0make compost<\/a>\u00a0(link in Spanish), and the knowledge of nature acquired through it is very educational.<\/p>\n

Having the opportunity to make compost in our homes also makes us more conscious of the non-biodegradable products we consume and motivates local consumption which foregoes unnecessary bags and extra packaging.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Energy Conservation<\/b><\/h2>\n

Texts extracted and adapted from the\u00a0Practical Guide to Energy, Efficient and\u00a0Responsable\u00a0Consumption<\/a>\u00a0(link in Spanish).<\/span><\/p>\n

Energy is a scarce and exhaustible commodity in nature that should be shared and looked after by all. Its indiscriminate use results in negative impacts on environmental health of a planet which we are obligated to conserve. Responsible energy use is fundamental to the sustainability and future of\u00a0our planet. The behavioral patterns of Dominican families are critical in achieving\u00a0efficient use of energy resources. Some things which\u00a0should not be forgotten along with a number of steps which can be taken to begin to include best practices on energy use are as follows:<\/p>\n

Energy Consumption and Storage<\/strong><\/p>\n