Parque Nacional del Este, Dominican Republic

Abstract

The CARICOMP site in the Dominican Republic is in Parque Nacional del Este, a protected marine and coastal area on Hispaniola’s southeastern coast. It features leeward conditions with calm seas, currents, and a tropical semi-arid forest on coral/limestone bedrock. Disturbances are minimal, mainly from boating, diving, and fishing. Ecosystems include a fringing mangrove forest (Catuano), a shallow seagrass bed (Hierbas los Cocos), and a 10 m deep coral reef (El Perron). Conservation efforts include mooring buoys and fishing regulations to preserve one of the Caribbean’s largest pristine marine environments.