Dominicans Reaffirm their Commitment to Protect Biodiversity during Dominican Chapter of Citizen Dialogue

Santo Domingo, September 18, 2012

On Saturday, September 15, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE) successfully concluded the Dominican Chapter of the Citizen Dialogue on Biodiversity, during the initiative “World Wide Views on Biodiversity,” organized by the Technology Council of Denmark, with support from the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity. Twenty-five countries, including the Dominican Republic, were selected to participate in the global consultation process.

The activity, which took place between the hours of 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at FUNGLODE Headquarters, included the participation of dozens of persons from throughout the country, who were consulted on matters of biodiversity and the environment.

Opening remarks were delivered by Omar Ramírez, Director of the Center of Environmental Studies at FUNGLODE. Mr. Ramírez highlighted the importance of the global gathering in the country: “The Dominican Republic was selected for this consultation based on its biodiversity and other environmental attributes. Our island ranks third in terms of relative biodiversity.”

Cesareo Guillermo, Representative in the Dominican Republic of WWViews, explained that the initiative seeks to raise awareness and obtain the opinions of every day citizens, with the objective of stimulating citizen involvement in decision making on matters of global concern. Inputs will be submitted to representatives attending the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 11), to be held in Hyderabad, India, October 8-19, 2012, with the objective of informing ministers and other stakeholders of the perspectives of the citizens they represent.

Additionally, Michel Rosario, Representative of Consorcio Ambiental Dominicano (Dominican Environmental Consortium), urged attendants to put in practice the knowledge they acquired about the environment, and to help to ensure that all citizens become agents of social change.

GFDD and FUNGLODE were pleased to take part in this important international event that strives to advance policy aimed at protecting the plants, animals and microorganisms that inhabit the planet, and the genetic diversity among species.

GFDD and FUNGLODE and the Environment
Environmental stewardship has been at the forefront of the mission of GFDD and FUNGLODE since their conception. Through the organization of conferences, workshops, exhibits and film festivals, and the creation of online and print publications, GFDD and FUNGLODE work to promote environmental protection, conservation and sustainability.

Related links:
www.drenvironmentalfilmfestival.org
www.environmentaldictionary.org
www.globoverdedominicano.org
www.wwviews.org
www.padf.org
http://www.cbd.int/cop11/
http://biodiversity.wwviews.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/WWViews-on-Biodiversity.pdf
http://biodiversity.wwviews.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/p11_Letter_of_Invitation.pdf