Working with Local Communities as Key Stakeholders in the Dominican Republic’s National Ecosystem Assessment

The Dominican Republic, a Caribbean country that shares an island with its neighbor country Haiti, is mostly known for its breathtaking beaches and music but also has many hidden natural and cultural gems, such as the mountainous area of San José de las Matas (Sajoma) in the Santiago Province. It was in this place, more precisely in the Centro Plan Sierra in Los Montones, that an indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) national framing workshop was conducted from 10 to 13 August 2022 to inform the country’s national ecosystem assessment and to consult community’s ILK holders on the incorporation of ILK in the assessment process.