The Dominican Republic is located on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. The country occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island, and Haiti inhabits the western third. The two nations have similar histories, filled with various European entities attempting colonization, slavery, a plantation culture, piracy, rebellion etc. Yet the 20th century produced a fork in the path for Haiti and the Dominican. Their people and governments chose differing priorities, resulting in two now very different cultures.
If one were to look down upon the Haitian-Dominican border from a height of 20,000 feet or so, one would see a very stark difference between two lands. On the western side we have Haiti, represented by a barren brown land with few trees and even fewer homes. On the eastern side of the border is the Dominican Republic, brown desert land with gentle brushstrokes of green vegetation and trees. In fact, the border itself is visible from 20,000 feet up because of a man-made tree line crossing the entire island.
In 1930 one of the most oppressive dictators to rule the Dominican Republic took office, Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. He is most infamous for his murder of political dissidents, including two of the three Mirabal sisters. Trujillo was well known for his obstinate repression, torture and megalomania. Yet there is one aspect of his 31 year terror hold on the Dominican people that was beneficial: Trujillo created a tradition of nature conservation policies.
Charcoal mining that destroyed millions of trees was put to an end. Bauxite has always been an important export for the Dominican, as it is the main source for aluminum. However, due to deforestation mining of bauxite was suspended in many areas in order to allow time for significant reforestation efforts to take place. Trujillo ordered the torture and murder of thousands of people, yet rather ironically he was also responsible for progress in healthcare, housing, pensions, education and the building of roads. It is because of his negotiations that an undisputed border with Haiti was formed, and forested.
The aboriginal traditions of the island of Hispaniola also play a part in the conservation that takes place in the Dominican today. Through decades of recovery from oppression and slavery, Taino communities have formed all over the country. Their low-impact lifestyle is respected by all Dominicans, and is a great example to all other nations of the world.
If one were to look down upon the Haitian-Dominican border from a height of 20,000 feet or so, one would see a very stark difference between two lands. On the western side we have Haiti, represented by a barren brown land with few trees and even fewer homes. On the eastern side of the border is the Dominican Republic, brown desert land with gentle brushstrokes of green vegetation and trees. In fact, the border itself is visible from 20,000 feet up because of a man-made tree line crossing the entire island.
In 1930 one of the most oppressive dictators to rule the Dominican Republic took office, Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. He is most infamous for his murder of political dissidents, including two of the three Mirabal sisters. Trujillo was well known for his obstinate repression, torture and megalomania. Yet there is one aspect of his 31 year terror hold on the Dominican people that was beneficial: Trujillo created a tradition of nature conservation policies.
Charcoal mining that destroyed millions of trees was put to an end. Bauxite has always been an important export for the Dominican, as it is the main source for aluminum. However, due to deforestation mining of bauxite was suspended in many areas in order to allow time for significant reforestation efforts to take place. Trujillo ordered the torture and murder of thousands of people, yet rather ironically he was also responsible for progress in healthcare, housing, pensions, education and the building of roads. It is because of his negotiations that an undisputed border with Haiti was formed, and forested.
The aboriginal traditions of the island of Hispaniola also play a part in the conservation that takes place in the Dominican today. Through decades of recovery from oppression and slavery, Taino communities have formed all over the country. Their low-impact lifestyle is respected by all Dominicans, and is a great example to all other nations of the world.
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