Dominican Republic deforestation history and environmental impact

The history of deforestation in the Dominican Republic is characterized by a long-standing logic of resource extraction that began during the colonial era. Initially driven by the search for gold and the subsequent export of precious woods to Europe, the depletion of natural resources continued through the 20th century.

During the mid-1900s, specifically under the Trujillo dictatorship, the sugar industry and sawmills significantly accelerated the destruction of virgin forests. This period saw the loss of much of the country's original forest cover. It was not until 1966 that the Dominican state began to implement serious measures to curb this destruction, a movement largely prompted by external pressure rather than internal collective consciousness.

The loss of forest cover has direct environmental consequences, most notably soil erosion. Without tree roots to stabilize the land, rainfall washes fertile soil layers into rivers, compromising the ecosystem's ability to filter water and prevent landslides.