Lauren: Bonao

On Saturday June 7th our group along with some members of Justicia Global visited mountain community in Bonao. We were welcomed warmly into their meeting center with fresh fruit and ice water. From the moment we arrived I could feel an intense connection between the residents. A leader of the campesino federation, Esteban, shared their story of organizing with our group as well as a group of high school students from the surrounding area.
The story begins in the early 1990's when the Dominican government declared bonao in una zona preservado or an area meant to be preserved for nature. Not long after this declaration in 1992 Falcon Bridge Mining Company entered the area and the construction of a hydroelectric dam began. At first, community members or campesinos didn't realize how detrimental this mining company would be. The federation came together to analyze this issue and found may contradictions in the values and policies of the government. Their land was being exploited and their people neglected and disrespected. Because the mining project needed electricity the hydroelectric dam was constructed. Meanwhile campo or mountain residents were not added to the grid.
The federation came together to mobilize communities and respond to the atrocities they faced. They wrote a letter to the company explaining that their ancestors had been displaced by Trujillo and they would not allow this to occur again. Falcon Bridge finally understood what the federation was about.
Negotiations began in 1996 and led to agreements solidifying the presence of the Federation, adding local communities to the power grid, creating new schools, allowing education past 3rd grade, and a new health clinic. These improvements in health and education were extremely necessary to the people. In 1993 four children died of measles, a virus that can easily be avoided with proper vaccinations. Education was also a difficult issue. Nearby schools only offered curriculum until the 3rd grade, beyond that students were required to travel.
Aside from the immediate concerns regarding the intrusion of Falcon Bridge, there are many issues stemming from it. Watersheds were becoming damaged inhibiting the survival of local wildlife. The environment is exceptionally important to those who live in Bonao as there neighborhood is made up of an agricultural mountain side. A contamination of the area would lead to an obvious decrease in harvest and income. In an area where relocation options are limited a sound income becomes ever more important.
Esteban described the concept of migratory agriculture a result of lacking educations. Farmers will often use the slash and burn technique burning damaged earth with hopes in later years it will become arable. This is not the case: slash and burn erodes soil, destroys biodiversity, and deforestation leads to less CO2 absorption. The Federation has taken on the issues of the environment and global climate change in their everyday mission.
Ecotourism is one source of income the federation has been working on recently. The idea is to attract tourists to a more genuine, true part of Dominican culture and lifestyle. Local people can work as tour guides offer to share their home with visitor while continuing to live and prosper in the mountains. The Federation stressed the importance of a community ownership of ecotourism business. In addition to the construction of hotel and rabbit farm, local young men have been learning the art of bamboo structures.