In the Aceitillar and Cruce de las Abejas sections of the Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-backed project has planted over 1,000 native and endemic tree species as part of a broader effort to restore land damaged by wildfires and unsustainable agriculture. This is just one front in a country that had restored 18 percent of its degraded land by 2019, the second-largest recovery in Latin America. For travellers who want their visit to contribute something tangible, these reforestation and agroforestry initiatives offer a way to engage with the Dominican Republic beyond its coastline.
The Dominican Republic restored 18 percent of its damaged land by 2019, ranking as Latin America’s second-largest land recovery.
This article covers active reforestation projects you can support or visit, from mangrove restoration in the northeast to agroforestry in the country’s southwest biosphere reserve. It also explains how community-led efforts like Plan Yaque have turned degraded watersheds into productive forest landscapes. Whether you have a day to volunteer or simply want to understand where your tourism money does the most environmental good, the options are more specific and more local than most visitors realise.
You can get involved in Dominican reforestation, but most projects require advance coordination rather than walk-in participation. The TUI Forest mangrove initiative near Sanchez offers the clearest path for short-term visitors through community planting events and nature guide training. The agroforestry work in the Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo Biosphere Reserve is more research-oriented and geographically remote, better suited to longer stays or academic partnerships.
Understanding the Dominican Republic’s Reforestation Landscape
By 2015, land degradation in the Dominican Republic had reached 50 percent, driven by agricultural expansion, forest fires, and invasive species. The recovery since then has been uneven but notable. The Plan Yaque initiative, founded in 2009, brought together 30 organisations to conserve the Yaque River basin, mobilising around 280 community leaders who receive $146 monthly for their reforestation work. This is not a top-down operation; leaders like Dulce María Fabián and Yakaira Rodríguez pioneered the revitalisation of a once-deserted area 15 years ago, and farmer Carlos Rodríguez now manages acres of cedars, Creole pines, and cypresses on land that was barren.
Short-term volunteers
Eco-conscious travellers
Academic researchers
What makes these projects distinct from generic tree-planting campaigns is their integration of local livelihoods. The Ecological Restoration and Livelihood Diversification Project at the biosphere reserve partners with 30 farmers, distributing more than 17,000 seedlings of coffee, citrus, and avocados while training participants in agroforestry techniques. It is not purely conservation; it is an economic argument for keeping trees standing. The limitation: these farms are in the southwest, far from the tourist corridor of Punta Cana, and require a dedicated journey to visit or observe.
Where to Find Active Reforestation Projects
Mangrove Restoration Near Sanchez
The TUI Forest Dominican Republic, in partnership with Global Nature Fund and the local organisation CEBSE, is restoring an additional 100 hectares of mangrove forest in the vicinity of Sanchez, planting 400,000 trees. Previous phases had already planted 3.2 million mangroves and restored over 100 hectares. Mangroves can sequester up to four times more carbon than tropical rainforests, making this work disproportionately effective for climate mitigation. The project involves local schools in reforestation events, trains more than 20 nature guides, and has created over 60 jobs. For a visitor, the mangrove adoption programme is the most direct point of entry — you can sponsor trees and, with coordination, join a planting day.
Agroforestry in the Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo Biosphere Reserve
This UNESCO Man and the Biosphere project targets areas damaged by wildfires and unsustainable practices. The experimental plots at Aceitillar and Cruce de las Abejas have planted species including the Sierran palm, guasara, and guanito de sierra. The project also tackles molasses grass, an invasive species that threatens native regeneration. Farmers receive training in agroforestry systems and forest fire prevention; over 70 people — including women and young participants — have attended workshops. Cross-border collaborations with Haitian communities are being explored, though these are not yet operational. This is not a visitor-facing project; access requires contact with the reserve management or partner organisations like Spain’s Organismo Autónomo Parques Nacionales.
The biosphere reserve project has two experimental plots — Aceitillar and Cruce de las Abejas — but neither is signposted for visitors. A dedicated local team performs monthly clearing of invasive molasses grass to protect saplings. If you visit, arrange a guide through the reserve office in Pedernales or contact the UNESCO MAB national committee in Santo Domingo.
Practical Planning for Reforestation Involvement
Most reforestation work in the Dominican Republic is not set up for drop-in tourism. The TUI Forest near Sanchez offers the most accessible model, with community planting events coordinated through CEBSE and the Global Nature Fund. For the biosphere reserve project, advance contact with the UNESCO MAB programme or the local partner organisation is essential. Plan Yaque, despite its scale, operates through community leaders rather than volunteer programmes. None of these projects charge participation fees, but transportation to remote sites is your responsibility.
| Project | Location | Visitor Access | Best Contact Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| TUI Forest DR | Sanchez (Samaná Bay) | Planting events, guide training, mangrove adoption | CEBSE or Global Nature Fund |
| UNESCO Biosphere Reserve | Aceitillar / Cruce de las Abejas | Limited; requires advance arrangement | UNESCO MAB or OAPN |
| Plan Yaque | Yaque River basin | Not open to casual visitors | Local community leaders or watershed office |
Best Time to Participate
The planting season for most projects aligns with the rainy season, roughly May through October. Mangrove planting can occur year-round in the Sanchez area, but the dry months of January to March see lower attendance because schools are on break. Workshops on forest fire prevention and agroecology are held periodically — over 70 participants have been trained so far — but schedules are not published online. Contacting the TUI Care Foundation directly for upcoming dates is more reliable than relying on general tourism calendars.
The molasses grass (Yaragua) that chokes native saplings in the biosphere reserve is also widespread in other degraded areas. If you join a planting event, expect physical work in full sun and high humidity — not a ceremonial photo opportunity. Bring long sleeves, sturdy boots, and more water than you think you need.
On the Ground: What to Know Before You Go
What to Pack for a Planting Day
Reforestation sites lack shade, running water, and seating. A wide-brimmed hat, high-SPF sunscreen, and a hydration pack are non-negotiable. The DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo is useful for documenting planting progress from above — its vertical shooting mode captures the contrast between cleared invasive grass and newly planted native groves in a single frame. For close-up identification of saplings, the Sierran palm and cigua prieta are distinguishable by their leaf shapes; the reserve project provides laminated ID cards for volunteers.
Local Etiquette and Cultural Context
Community leaders like those in Plan Yaque receive monthly payments for their work — $146 per leader. This is not volunteerism in the Western sense; it is compensated labour within a community-managed system. Showing up without prior coordination can disrupt schedules. If you arrange a visit, bring something practical: the community nursery revitalised by the biosphere project relies on heavy-duty garden gloves and pruning shears, items that are not always in stock locally. Avoid distributing cash directly to farmers; contributions to the project fund are handled through the partner organisation.
- Contact CEBSE or the TUI Care Foundation at least three weeks before your trip to arrange a mangrove planting day near Sanchez.
- The biosphere reserve project in the southwest is not set up for casual visitors — plan a multi-day stay in Pedernales if you want to see the plots.
- Bring your own work gloves, hydration system, and sun protection; planting sites have no facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Reforestation in the Dominican Republic
Can I just show up and plant trees?
Not reliably. The TUI Forest project near Sanchez runs scheduled events with schools and community groups, but walk-ins risk arriving on a day when no planting is happening. Contact CEBSE directly to confirm dates. The biosphere reserve and Plan Yaque projects do not accommodate spontaneous volunteers.
How much does it cost to participate?
Participation in planting events is free, but you cover your own transport, accommodation, and meals. The mangrove adoption programme through the TUI Care Foundation allows you to sponsor trees at a set contribution, which funds saplings and maintenance. No project charges a participation fee.
Which project has the biggest environmental impact?
Mangrove restoration near Sanchez sequesters carbon at roughly four times the rate of tropical rainforest, making it the most efficient per-hectare. The biosphere reserve project, by contrast, focuses on biodiversity recovery in a fire-prone ecosystem. Both matter, but for carbon metrics alone, the mangrove work is more impactful.
Is reforestation in the DR a greenwashing exercise?
Some criticism is fair. The country’s GDP reached $89 billion in 2019, and tourism development continues to clear coastal vegetation. However, the specific projects covered here — particularly Plan Yaque and the TUI Forest — have verifiable metrics: 3.2 million mangroves planted, 18 percent land restoration, over 17,000 seedlings distributed to farmers. The tension is real but the results are documented.
Can I combine reforestation with a beach holiday?
Yes, if you choose the Sanchez area. Sanchez sits near Samaná Bay, roughly an hour from Saona and Catalina Islands, so a planting morning can pair with an afternoon on the water. The biosphere reserve in the southwest is far from Punta Cana and Samaná — plan a separate trip.
Reorienting Your Itinerary Around Impact
The Dominican Republic’s reforestation story is not about guilt offsets or eco-branding. It is a working landscape where 280 community leaders collect monthly stipends to keep watersheds alive, where farmers plant avocados between native hardwoods, and where mangroves are being restored at a rate that actually moves the carbon needle. If you want to see that landscape rather than just fly over it, prioritise Sanchez and the Yaque basin over the southwest reserve — the access is better, the projects are more visitor-ready, and the results are visible from the water. The Dominican food culture that relies on these restored watersheds depends on the trees staying in the ground.
Sources and further reading
Advancing sustainable agroforestry in the Dominican Republic biosphere reserve. UNESCO, 2024.
The Dominican Republic reforests a fifth of the country in just 10 years. Optimist Daily, 2024.
TUI Forest projects in Mauritius and the Dominican Republic. TUI Care Foundation, 2025.
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