Dominican Republic

Project Name

Strengthening regional climate resilience and supporting green economic recovery through Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and sustainable livelihoods

Duration (start -end)

June 2023 – June 2026

Location

Azua Province; physically active communities include Puerto Viejo (Los Negros), Proyecto 2C, Las Clavellinas, and Terreras.

Intervention area

Refugio de Vida Silvestre Puerto Viejo. Approximate center point: 18.350362269068324, -70.8416912304924 

Total size of project area

Expected direct restoration targets in Azua are 80 ha of mangroves, 40 ha of riparian forest, and 0.8 ha of coral reef restoration/monitoring. These interventions are focused on the Manglares de Puerto Viejo Wildlife Refuge, the Francisco Alberto Caamaño Deñó National Park coastal sector, and the middle and lower Jura River basin and adjacent areas. Total expected direct intervention area: 120.8 ha.

Responsible implementors and local partners or collaborators

  • Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC)
  • Consorcio Ambiental Dominicano (CAD)
  • UNEP-WCMC
  • Community groups, fishers, beekeepers, producers and local authorities in Azua

Type of ecosystem addressed

Mangroves, riparian forest, coral reefs, coastal wetlands, and associated coastal-terrestrial transition areas.

Type of EbA interventions carried out

Mangrove restoration and protection, climate-resilient livelihood support such as sustainable fishing, beekeeping, ecotourism, and sustainable agriculture. Priority species include mangroves such as Rhizophora mangle, Avicennia germinans, Laguncularia racemosa and Conocarpus erectus, together with associated coastal biodiversity.

Name of Protected areas where work is carried out

Manglares de Puerto Viejo Wildlife Refuge; Francisco Alberto Caamaño Deñó National Park; middle and lower Jura River basin and adjacent buffer areas.

Relevant climate risks

Prolonged drought, stronger hurricanes, storm surge, coastal flooding, shoreline erosion, saline intrusion, ecosystem degradation and rainfall variability.

Relevant historical events

  • Hurricane Georges (1998): caused severe damage to housing, crops, coastal infrastructure, and local livelihoods in Azua.
  • COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021): disrupted fisheries, trade, tourism, mobility, and household income in coastal and rural communities.
  • Tropical Storm Franklin (2023): intense rainfall generated flooding risk, river overflow, and impacts on vulnerable settlements and productive activities in Azua.
  • Hurricane Beryl (2024): dangerous waves, strong winds, heavy rainfall, and emergency alerts affected coastal activities and preparedness in Azua.
  • Recurrent droughts and irregular rainfall in recent years have reduced water availability, affected agriculture and beekeeping, and slowed ecosystem recovery.
  • Hurricane Melissa (2025): emergency alerts, heavy rain, coastal hazards, and strong winds affected preparedness and vulnerable livelihoods in Azua.

Socioeconomic impacts

Local livelihoods depend on artisanal fishing, beekeeping, small-scale agriculture, livestock, and emerging ecotourism. Climate change is reducing water availability, increasing soil salinity and erosion, damaging coastal habitats, and affecting fish abundance and crop productivity. These pressures reduce household income, increase seasonal unemployment, and weaken food security, especially for women, youth, and families with limited adaptive capacity in exposed coastal communities.

Beneficiary communities and population/groups (direct and indirect) in relation to the intervention

Beneficiary communities include Puerto Viejo (Los Negros), Proyecto 2C, Las Clavellinas, and Terreras, with direct and indirect benefits for fishers, beekeepers, farmers, youth groups, and community organizations linked to restoration and resilient livelihoods.

Relevant vulnerable groups

Women-led households, unemployed youth, artisanal fishing families, small producers, elderly residents.