At the border of Valle Nuevo National Park in the Dominican Republic, an abandoned community center known as “Las Golondrinas” stands as a testament to unfulfilled aspirations. Named after the endemic bird species residing in the park, the center was built in 2010 to foster social connections and promote conservation efforts for Valle Nuevo National Park.
Despite its potential, the community center fell into disuse due to a lack of financial support and ownership. This is particularly concerning given Valle Nuevo's significance. Located in the Central Mountain Range, Valle Nuevo is crucial for water, energy, and biodiversity production. Spanning over 11 provinces and 36 municipalities with a population exceeding 1.5 million people, it contains more than 700 water systems that supply fresh water to much of the country. Known as “Madre de las Aguas,” it has been designated a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
However, this ecosystem faces threats such as deforestation, pollution, invasive tourism, agricultural encroachment, and insufficient community engagement. Active participation from local communities like El Convento and La Sabina is essential for effective conservation.
The World Bank is addressing these challenges through a new project emphasizing collective effort among governments, civil society organizations, and communities. The Collaborative Social Accountability for Improved Governance in Protecting Biodiversity Hotspots Project engages citizens in biodiversity protection through collaborative social responsibility.
Partnering with the José Delio Guzmán Foundation and INTEC University, the project connects with communities and motivates local officials, leaders, and youth to participate. Training sessions cover natural resource management and collaborative social responsibility.
With assistance from the José Delio Guzmán Foundation, youth communities are empowered to advocate for conservation. They have launched an eco-tourism initiative in Valle Nuevo to generate income by showcasing picturesque locations with waterfalls and caves.
"Communities residing near Valle Nuevo depend on agriculture for their livelihoods," says Manuel Hernández from INTEC. "Through this project we engaged with communities nearest to the park to introduce environmentally friendly agricultural practices." However, Hernández acknowledges that meeting basic needs is crucial before expecting people to prioritize biodiversity.
Natalia Magradze from the World Bank emphasizes that community development requires long-term sustainable behavioral change. "We are already witnessing it happening: young people from El Convento are developing eco-tourism initiatives that benefit conservation efforts."
The project continues to build long-term capacity through training sessions on eco-tourism management and community empowerment. Weekly meetings at Las Golondrinas now focus on advancing eco-tourism initiatives, transforming it into a hub for biodiversity conservation and community development.