Bordered by 1,389 km of coasts, the Dominican Republic presents a very rich composition of coastal and marine ecosystems ranging from sandy beaches, rocky coasts, estuaries, mangroves, marine prairies and coral reefs. Domninican Republic has 18% of its Territorial waters as Marine Protectes areas. This is a fair numbers since the average of Latin and Caribbean Area is 17.1%. Jus to drop an example very few countries/territories have more than 50% (Monaco, Hong Kong, Palau, New Caledonia…). The average of European Union is 22.2, North America is 20.9. The coastal and marine zones are divided in 7 macro areas:
- The North-West (Montecristi) –
- The North (Puerto Plata, Sosua, Cabarete)
- The North-East (Samaná peninsula)
- The East (Bávaro – Punta Cana)
- The South-East (La Romana – Bayahibe) – characterized by sandy beaches (the ones in the Parque Nacional del Este are in their natural state) and cliffs. The area is very important for tourism development and with a high potential for the cruise industry.
- The capital area (Boca Chica, Juan Dolio, Guayacanes and Santo Domingo)
- The South
The Dominican tourism industry faces a series of environmental challenges, nominally the availability of water services (sewerage and drinking water) and the lack of disposal of solid waste. Consider that only 10-15% of smaller hotels in DR (less than 50 rooms) have a water treatment plant, Evidence suggests that growth in certain tourism poles has been very high, posing threats on the sustainability of the industry itself. However thera are also great news. For example while mangroves exploitation for subsistence charcoal production was a concern during the 70s and 80s, it no longer constitutes a problem. FInd out what marine life looks like in Dominican Republic. Vertebrates -Fish and Mammals in Bayahibe – Dominican Republic
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