INTEC and CATIE present research on the challenges of sustainable development and climate resilience in the Dominican Republic
Postgraduate students revealed unprecedented data on the resilience of coastal mangroves to extreme weather events and new techniques for agroforestry health.
SANTO DOMINGO – The Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) and the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) held the seminar Advances in Research on Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources: Challenges of Sustainable Development in the Dominican Republic, in which technical findings and metrics on the management of critical ecosystems, watershed management and the optimization of national agricultural productivity in the face of contemporary environmental changes were presented.
The event was led by Carlos Sanlley, Director of Research at INTEC, and Gustavo Gandini, local representative of CATIE, along with the Dominican Association of CATIE and IICA Graduates (ADECATIE). During the meeting, indicators of ecosystem resilience and the impact of scientific training on the region's sustainability were analyzed, based on the perspectives of specialists who shared the results of field research conducted in the Dominican Republic.
In the area of agroforestry health, researcher Ingrid Franco presented findings on the biological control of the fruit fly (Anastrepha sp.) in mango plantations. She revealed that the use of native entomopathogenic fungi guarantees a mortality rate of between 98% and 100% in both larvae and adults, after an exposure period of six and four days, respectively. Meanwhile, Samuel Aybar presented erosion and sedimentation models for the Pinalito dam, developed using geographic information systems and InVEST modeling tools. These models allowed for the identification of critical hydrological and hydro-sedimentary zones to guide reforestation strategies in degraded areas of the municipality of Constanza.
The resilience of coastal environments was analyzed by Yamilette Herrera through a functional study that included the measurement of 1,244 trees in mangrove ecosystems on the northwest coast. The technical data revealed that salinity, with ranges from 0 to 55 parts per thousand, is the main factor influencing the functional traits of the species. The study highlighted a 60% abundance of red mangrove and indicated that the average mortality rate of these trees after extreme weather events in the country is 47.7%, allowing for the establishment of indicators of resistance to sea-level rise.
Regarding territorial development, Cristino Gómez analyzed the success factors in communities such as Zambrana Abajo and Bayaguana, proposing a sustainable livelihoods model that prioritizes the development of local human, social, and financial capital instead of traditional external intervention. Finally, Jafraysis Rosa presented measurement tools for the social feasibility of mangrove restoration, based on the Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) approach, to ensure that technical interventions have the necessary community viability for their long-term sustainability.
About INTEC
El Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) is a Dominican institution of higher education of a private, non-profit nature, which since its founding in 1972 has stood out for its academic excellence and its contribution to the social transformation of the country through science and technology.
About CATIE
The Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) is an academic center for innovation and sustainable development in areas related to agriculture, management, conservation, and sustainable use of natural resources. Its area of influence is the Latin American and Caribbean region, with a history spanning just over 75 years.