The provincial director of the Ministry of the Environment in San José de Ocoa, Julio César Medina, described as positive the concern of the Dominican Olympic Committee (COD) to rescue natural resources.
The official’s assessment occurred during the start of the reforestation day that took place in El Derrumbado, in the La Ciénaga de San José de Ocoa community, located 1,283 meters above sea level.
The activity, in which athletes and leaders planted 700 units of cedar plants, a tree endemic to the area, was part of the Olympic Day celebration.
“With the planting of these trees, we are rescuing and protecting every space of our environment,” said Medina, who added that the COD becomes an ally of environmental care.
Néstor Puente, from the Sports and Environment Commission of the COD, directed by Professor Felicita Heredia, detailed the benefits that the rescue of natural spaces has for humanity.
“We have fewer and fewer opportunities to access drinking water, since the rivers are disappearing due to deforestation and soil contamination,” Puente explained to dozens of athletes and leaders.
The also president of the Dominican Surfing Federation spoke about the gains that an athlete can have in his training when he trains in a clean environment.
Puente pointed out that one of the missions of the Sports and Environment Commission of the COD is to train athletes to show interest and concern for environmental issues.
Gilberto García, general secretary of the COD; Carlos Presignal, director of the La Laguna School, as well as Miguelina Santana, in charge of the Special Olympics subprogram in San José de Ocoa, as well as Jhonny Tejeda, president of the Sports Union of this province.