Above: Haitian and Dominican officials signing the agreement (Photo: OPDR)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Haiti and the Dominican Republic have signed a memorandum of agreement to protect the environment of the island of Hispaniola.

The agreement was signed during bilateral talks this week in the Dominican city of Jimani.

In a statement, the two sides said they “recognized the urgent need to protect the environment and conserve the natural resources of the island” and protect biodiversity on the island.

The agreement will involve the joint running of programmes and projects and the “rehabilitation of binational basins.”

The two sides said they would continue to “strengthen” binational dialogue, aiming to “find solutions to the cause of environmental degradation on the island.”

Haiti, in particular, has been hit hard in recent years from an environmental standpoint, with just 2 percent of forest cover remaining. Haiti President Michel Martelly has made improving the country’s an environment a major stated priority.

The two sides also said they would look to strengthen environmental protections in the border areas between the two countries, with the goal of a “green border.”

Last year, Haiti and the Dominican Republic launched a bilateral project aimed at promoting reforestation.