RVS Laguna Cabral Management Initiative,
Dominican Republic

Coordinated by DU-LAC Program and Grupo Ecologista Tinglar

The Laguna Cabral Wildlife Refuge (LCWR) comprises approximately 4,700 hectares (11,614 acres), including Laguna Cabral, the largest freshwater wetland in the country, and surrounding tropical and subtropical dry forest.  The LCWR remains one of the few areas where the unique tropical and subtropical eco-region and a unique wetland ecosystem meet resulting in a very rich and special combination of fauna and flora.  Data from the Ducks Unlimited (DU) Waterfowl Surveys program reveals that LCWR ranks among the top three wetlands of importance for migratory waterfowl in the Central America, Caribbean and northern South America region, is an Important Bird Area under BirdLife International’s program, and is in the process of being designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971).

Unfortunately, the tropical and subtropical dry forest surrounding the lagoon is one of the few remnants in the country due to increased deforestation for agriculture, and the hydrology of Laguna Cabral has changed following the construction of two upstream dams and the drainage and dredging of canals that determine the water levels of the lake.  In addition, despite its protected status, the LCWR continues to be threatened by persistent illegal hunting and fishing, unsustainable use of water for irrigation, erosion problems due to overgrazing, uncontrolled fire use, and charcoal making.  Lack of information is another problem.  The refuge limits have not been delineated properly, land tenure in the area has not been legally established, refuge personnel lack adequate training to manage the area, impacts caused by the modifications in the hydrology of the Yaque del Sur river (building of dams and canals modifications) are not fully known, and there have been few ecological studies of the Laguna Cabral.  While there is little doubt the hydrological modifications, as well as other human impacts, have induced changes at both the landscape and wildlife population level, a clearer understanding of the hydrology and ecological process of LCWR are necessary to understand how changes have occurred and how the refuge should be managed.

In 2004, the Secretaría de Estado de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (Ministry of the Environment) published the “Programa Nacional de Valorización de Areas Protegidas” (National Program for the Evaluation of Protected Areas).  The publication indicates the need for evaluation of threats and development of action strategies, for all protected areas in the country and with the participation of the local communities.  This same document includes operational plans for all protected areas.

The ultimate objective of the Laguna Cabral Management Initiative is the conservation and wise use of the lagoon and its surrounding areas through a strategic plan based on scientific and technical information, and with full participation of local communities and other stakeholders.

Click on the following links for more information on the Laguna Cabral Wildlife Management Initiative:

RVS Laguna Cabral Management Initiative - Final Report, August 2007
(only in Spanish, 3.79MB PDF)