Cerro Gordo environmental controversy in Baní, Dominican Republic

Environmental concerns are mounting in Peravia province following reports of heavy machinery excavation and vegetation clearing on the foothills of Cerro Gordo. The works, reportedly carried out by Constructora Danilo Cintrón, S. R. L., have stripped native dry-forest vegetation and exposed the underlying limestone rock.

Cerro Gordo is a vital ecological buffer for the Baní River basin, housing over 304 vascular plant species, including many endemic to the island. The site holds significant historical value, as the municipality of Baní was formally founded on land originally part of the Cerro Gordo colonial estate. It was designated an Ecological Heritage site by Baní City Hall in 2010.

Official documents indicate conflicting regulatory stances. The National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI) notified the Mayor of Baní that it had no objection to the work, which involves repairs to the Marcos A. Cabral irrigation canal berm. While the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources issued a certification stating the plot lies outside the National System of Protected Areas, the Ministry clarified that this document does not constitute an environmental permit or authorization for land modification. The developer has stated the land is private property and intends to develop eco-tourism facilities, including villas and hiking trails.