DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: ENVIRONMENT TRADE CAPACITY

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 000964 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR OES/ENV RACHEL KASTENBERG, BOB WING; WHA/EPSC JUN BANDO; DEPT PASS USAID/LAC/RSD JOHN GARRISON; DEPT PASS USTR MARA BURR; WHITE HOUSE FOR USTR MARA BURR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ELAB EPA ETRD SENV DR SUBJECT: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: ENVIRONMENT TRADE CAPACITY PROJECTS FOR FY2007 CAFTA-DR FUNDS REF: 07 STATE 037718 ¶1. Summary: Per reftel this cable contains Embassy's proposals for regional and bilateral trade-related environment projects to be funded with FY2007 trade capacity funds under the CAFTA-DR free trade agreement. These proposals are in line with the CAFTA-DR Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA) and reflect the priorities of the Dominican government in keeping with the various consultative meetings among CAFTA-DR country representatives, State/OES, and USAID throughout the year. For regional and bilateral programs the breakdown in requested funding is as follows: Institutional Strengthening for Effective Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Laws: $1,500,000 Biodiversity and Conservation: $450,000 Market-Based Conservation: $800,000 Improved Private Sector Environmental Performance: $700,000 Total: $3,450,000 The labor proposals will be submitted in a separate cable. End Summary. -------------- Background -------------- ¶2. The economy of the Dominican Republic relies heavily on its natural resources in the areas of tourism, agriculture, and mining. Tourism, one of the country's leading economic sectors, generates almost 15 percent of GDP. The agriculture sector generates 11 percent of GDP and the mining sector generates a little over 1.4 percent. The country's economic well-being, present and future, is directly and intimately related to the rational and sustainable use of its rich natural resource base. ¶3. Over the past decade the U.S. Embassy, primarily through USAID, has been an active supporter of Dominican efforts to promote environmental protection and sustainable natural resource use as a means for achieving broad-based economic growth. Following the creation of the Secretariat (Ministry) of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARENA) in 2000, USAID launched a program to help develop the environmental policy framework. Through this investment, the Embassy has worked closely with the Dominican government to design a number of policy instruments (e.g., draft sector laws for Bio-diversity and Coastal-Marine Resources, Environmental Norms for Ground Water, Forestry Resources, the Disposal of Toxic Substances, and an Implementing Regulation for Environmental Enforcement). These will support the intent of Chapter 17 of CAFTA-DR. ¶4. In accordance with the CAFTA-DR Environment Cooperation Agreement (ECA),the U.S. Embassy and SEMARENA have developed various proposals for regional and bilateral trade-related environment projects to be funded with FY2007 trade capacity funds under CAFTA-DR. These proposals will target various levels of the Dominican community (e.g., national secretariats (ministries),local (municipal) government SIPDIS environment units (UGAMs),public sector entities, non-government organizations (NGOs),community based organizations (CBOs),private industry, and the university community. The intent is to create synergies and maximize the impact of USG assistance for the Dominican Republic's participation in CAFTA-DR and adherence to the ECA and Chapter 17 of CAFTA-DR. ¶5. As mentioned in other reporting, mobilizing financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects supports the priorities identified in the NSC-led Western Hemisphere Energy Near-Term Action Plan by improving energy production, diversifying fuels, and improving energy efficiency. More broadly, this effort can be a key example during the 2005-2007 Energy Cycle of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, underscoring the USG's commitment to delivering results and to mobilizing private sector financing for delivery of modern energy services. PROPOSALS FOR TRADE-RELATED ENVIRONMENT PROJECTS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶I. Institutional Strengthening for Effective Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Laws - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Specific Objective: Economic Growth Area: Environment Element: Natural Resources and Biodiversity Sub-elements: Natural Resource Policy and Governance and Sustainable Natural Resource Management and Production Funding Level: $1.5 million Description and expected outcomes: Most of the projects and activities in this section will build on the programs initiated under the USAID bilateral program. The sector laws (Biodiversity and Coastal-Marine Resources) are components of a concerted effort to formulate a comprehensive environmental policy regime. The twenty-year vision statements that correspond to the sector laws are key parts of the policy. The process of developing the vision statements serves to identify the goals to be attained in the future and to diagnose the problems. When disseminated, they will help rally civil society and promote legislative support to pass the necessary environmental laws and regulations. This legislation will serve as an instrument to achieve the desired goals. Specific Projects and Activities: ¶A. Improve and harmonize laws, regulations, rules and environmental procedures ($250,000) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶1. Provide technical assistance and training to the environmental prosecutor's staff and the judiciary on enforcement and conflict resolution. (Multi-year funding; USAID bilateral program) ¶2. Provide technical assistance in the evaluation, design and development of environmental regulations for solid waste management and energy sector operations. (Multi-year funding; USAID bilateral program) ¶3. Provide technical assistance in promoting the adoption of the Biodiversity Sector Law and the Coastal-Marine Resources Sector Law and its twenty-year vision on the environment. USAID has provided SEMARENA assistance in the form of consultations, conferences, seminars, and public outreach to promote the adoption of the two laws and its twenty-year vision. In the expectation that the Minister of Environment signs and forwards these draft bills to the presidency and the bills are then passed into law in FY2007, USAID will provide technical assistance to develop the implementing regulations for the Biodiversity Sector Law and the Coastal-Marine Resources Sector Law, as well as training to implement these regulations. (Multi-year funding; USAID bilateral program) ¶4. Draft a twenty-year vision statement to develop a draft Forestry Sector Law within three years. (Multi-year funding; USAID bilateral program) ¶5. Provide assistance and training to at least 10 Municipal Environmental Management Units (UGAMs) in conducting environmental assessments and developing municipal environmental ordinances in each of the 10 UGAMs. USAID has already assisted 11 UGAMS and helped develop 23 ordinances among these UGAMS. Using FY2006 funds, USAID is currently expanding technical assistance to an additional five UGAMS. The technical assistance includes developing and implementing environmental ordinances in three UGAMs. (Multi-year funding; USAID bilateral program) ¶6. Develop the Internal Operations Regulation for SEMARENA. (Open to regional or other USG bilateral assistance) ¶B. Improve environmental compliance and law enforcement ($350,000) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶1. Provide technical assistance to design and implement a one-stop environmental permit process within SEMARENA, which is a high priority under the CAFTA-DR Environment Chapter. (Open to regional or other USG bilateral assistance) ¶2. Provide environmental enforcement training and technical assistance to 100 government technicians for more effective environmental enforcement practices within SEMARENA. To date USAID has trained 50 technicians and plans to train an additional 50 this fiscal year utilizing FY2006 funds. (Multi-year funding; USAID bilateral program) ¶3. Provide environmental inspection training for SEMARENA technicians and the environmental police (60 slots). Using FY2006 funds, USAID will have trained 100 technicians and environmental policemen. (Multi-year funding; USAID bilateral program) ¶4. Train SEMARENA technicians to implement water sector regulations upon approval of the regulation that will establish the implementation structure and procedures for effective application of ground-water regulation. In 2007, USAID plans to host a seminar for SEMARENA officials in order to promote the approval of the ground-water regulation. (USAID bilateral program) ¶5. Provide environmental enforcement and basic inspection training to UGAMs and municipal public institutions. Provide assistance to facilitate UGAM-to-UGAM exchanges to promote the exchange of information and best practices in the implementation of Municipal Environmental Ordinances. (Multi-year funding; USAID bilateral program) ¶C. Promote environmental compliance and auditing ($100,000 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶1. Support the development of a lead environmental auditor program within SEMARENA and provide training to at least 20 lead environmental auditors, assuming SEMARENA hires 20 lead environmental auditors in 2007 in accordance with their human resource plan. (USAID bilateral program) ¶2. Promote the adoption of voluntary agreements by the private sector to improve environmental compliance. (Multi-year funding; USAID bilateral program) ¶D. Strengthen environmental impact assessment review and the evaluation process for environmental permit decisions ($50,000) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶1. Create a legal instrument that regulates the public sector's response time for permit applications. (Open to regional or other USG bilateral assistance) ¶2. Provide technical assistance to develop Strategic Environmental Assessments starting with tourism, energy, and mining. (Multi-year funding; USAID bilateral program) ¶3. Provide technical assistance for SEMARENA to develop criteria to evaluate external Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) consultants. (Multi-year funding; USAID bilateral program) ¶4. Train private sector consultants on the elaboration of EIAs. (Multi-year funding; USAID bilateral program) ¶E. Strengthen the capacity to safely handle/manage hazardous materials ($50,000) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶1. Train health sector technicians on the management of hazardous wastes. (Multi-year funding; Open to regional or other USG bilateral assistance) ¶2. Provide technical assistance to SEMARENA and the Health Ministry in conducting risk analyses and developing plans to track, manage, and properly dispose of waste, toxic chemicals and hazardous substances throughout the Dominican Republic. (Multi-year funding; Open to regional or other USG bilateral assistance) ¶F. Strengthen the Pollution Release and Transfer Registry (PRTR) ($50,000) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶1. Establish procedures for the identification and registration of chemical substances in a PRTR in the Dominican Republic. (Open to regional or other USG bilateral assistance; the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plan to develop these procedures utilizing FY2007 funds) ¶G. Improve environmental information gathering, managing, and dissemination to assist the decision-makers and inform the public ($300,000) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶1. Pending SEMARENA's decision on where to house their National Environment Management System and on access to dedicated computers and software, USAID will train SEMARENA decision-makers and technicians on how to input environmental data, monitor and maintain accurate data, and how to make that data available to the policy makers and the press. (Multi-year funding; USAID bilateral program) ¶2. Support the provision and use of field environmental monitoring, inspection and evaluation equipment and instruments, and provide training to SEMARENA technicians on procedures and protocols for effective environmental enforcement and to measure environmental quality and environmental damage according to EPA standards. (Multi-year funding; Open to regional or other USG bilateral assistance) a. Provide equipment for effective environmental monitoring of air quality (mobile and fixed atmospheric emissions) and water quality. b. Provide water portable laboratory equipment and training on water sampling and laboratory use. ¶3. Develop a water quality baseline for the Dominican Republic and assist the implementation process. (Multi-year funding; Open to regional or other USG bilateral assistance) ¶H. Strengthen urban air quality management ($50,000) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶1. Develop a strategy for air quality management in the Dominican Republic. (Multi-year funding; Open to regional or other USG bilateral assistance) ¶I. Support CAFTA-DR public complaint units at the national level and non-governmental organization participation capacity and outreach ($150,000) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶1. Develop SEMARENA's internal procedures for citizen participation, which includes providing technical assistance and training to SEMARENA's trade and environment unit and the means for effective implementation of its mandate. (Multi-year funding; USAID Bilateral Program) a. Strengthen the process for receiving, managing and investigating environmental complaints in all sectors. Initiate development of complaint reception systems of all sectors. ¶2. Continue mass media environmental awareness campaign with emphasis on the Environment Chapter of CAFTA-DR and procedures to receive inputs from civil society on trade and environmental issues. (Multi-year funding; USAID Bilateral Program) ¶3. Provide training to civil society on the public submissions process and other opportunities for public participation in environmental matters. (Multi-year funding; USAID Bilateral Program) ¶4. Establish a communications program to enhance interaction between civil society and SEMARENA's trade and environment unit. (Multi-year funding; USAID Bilateral Program) ¶5. Strengthen SEMARENA's web site to include information on public submissions. (Multi-year funding; USAID Bilateral Program) ¶J. Strengthen university environmental programs and partnerships and environmental law clinics in the region. ($150,000) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶1. Develop environmental law and policy training programs at the university level in the Dominican Republic that highlight effective application of Chapter 17 of CAFTA-DR. (Multi-year funding; USAID Bilateral Program) ¶2. Initiate a university partnership program to enhance government-private sector-civil society cooperation for environmental protection. Using FY2005 funds, USAID sent 12 attorneys from SEMARENA and the environmental prosecutors office to Tulane University for a two-week course on the development of environmental policy and enforcement. These attorneys are using the skills they've learned to develop policy and enforcement measures with SEMARENA. (Multi-year funding; USAID Bilateral Program) ¶K. Pipelline/mortgage data: USAID/DR received $1,035,000 from FY-2006 CAFTA-DR funds in December 2006. The Mission immediately applied these funds to complete technical work on the two 20-year vision statements, two sector laws and other projects/activities listed above. The FY2007 requested funds will serve to expand on a number of projects that are already in progress as well as initiate many new projects. It is the Embassy's goal to ensure that these projects and activities will help the Dominican Republic comply with the ECA and improve the environment for the Dominican people as trade grows under the CAFTA-DR free trade agreement. ¶L. Linkage to ECA/CAFTA-DR/enhanced trade: The projects and activities listed under &institutional strengthening for effective implementation and enforcement of environmental laws8 are directly linked to the ECA work-plan, section 1.1 (strengthen environmental law compliance and enforcement systems) and its subsets and articles 17.1, 17.2, and 17.3 of CAFTA-DR. ¶M. Local buy-in: USAID staff worked closely with SEMARENA officials to include the Secretary (Minister) of Environment and municipal leaders in developing each of the stated projects and activities. SEMARENA and municipal leaders are excited about these projects and are anxious to implement them. ¶N. Public diplomacy/outreach: The Embassy has already developed a robust public diplomacy/outreach program that covers USAID activities in support of CAFTA-DR trade-related environment programs at the national and local levels. The Embassy will continue to expand this program to maximize coverage of these FY2007 bilateral and regional projects using a range of media to include print, video, and Internet. The Mission also plans to engage local media and to encourage this important sector to report on these CAFTA-DR related projects through the Mission's public affairs section. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - II. Biodiversity and Conservation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Specific Objective: Economic Growth Area: Environment Element: Natural Resources and Biodiversity Sub element: Biodiversity Policy and Governance Funding Level: $450,000 Description and outcomes: Beginning in FY2006, the USAID bilateral program developed four strategy documents: a sustainable finance approach, a co-management blueprint, an analysis of the National Protected Area System's (SINAP) legal foundation, and an analysis of the system's institutional structure. With prior year funding, USAID trained 150 park and forest rangers. The bilateral program also launched an initiative to work with community groups to develop and implement micro-watershed management plans, which protect farmlands that export organic agricultural commodities under CAFTA-DR. FY2005/06 funding has also been used in continuing the Environmental Investment Protection Fund (FIPA),which was started by USAID in FY2004 and is now a very successful program to promote financially sustainable environmental protection and natural resource management investments. The FY2007 proposals will expand on these past and present gains and add in other critical program areas. Specific Activities: ¶A. Improve protection and conservation of fauna and flora (including CITES) ($375,000) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶1. Provide technical assistance to implement the National Protected Area System (SINAP) and concentrate on the expansion of co-management of parks and protected areas. The implementation of the SINAP is critical to protect Dominican bio-diversity and natural resources, and to promote eco-tourism. USAID has developed seven areas to provide technical assistance, but plans to focus on one area each year due to SEMARENA's human resources constraints. (Multi-year funding; USAID Bilateral Program) ¶2. Increase training for enforcement of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs),especially the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES),within SEMARENA. USAID plans to provide a training seminar on enforcement mechanisms of MEAs in 2007 with FY2006 funds. (Multi-year funding; Open to regional or other USG bilateral assistance) ¶3. Increase capability of municipalities to implement and regulate natural resource conservation/ management and sustainable development practices at the local level. (Multi-year funding; USAID Bilateral Program) ¶4. Train park rangers and land owners within protected areas and buffer zones on natural resource conservation practices. Although USAID has trained more than 150 park and forest rangers and 25 park managers since 2002, a change in administration resulted in many lay-offs for these rangers in ¶2005. The new administration hired new park and forest rangers who need training. USAID is working with SEMARENA to implement regulations that protect these jobs from administration changes. (Multi-year funding; USAID Bilateral Program) ¶5. Fund four new environmental investment protection fund (FIPA) projects to promote conservation of endangered species. (Multi-year funding; USAID Bilateral Program) ¶6. In addition to enhancing existing micro-watershed protection programs with four local groups, USAID will assist in the development and implementation of at least five new community watershed committees. The committees are expected to develop one micro-watershed management plan each. Protecting these watersheds is paramount to protecting the farmlands that grow organic agricultural commodities that are exported under CAFTA-DR. (Multi-year funding; USAID Bilateral Program) ¶B. Promote small scale fishery management while reducing incidental sea turtle capture ($50,000) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶1. Provide technical assistance to reduce incidental sea turtle capture and mortality. The Dominican government needs assistance with enforcement mechanisms of MEAs, specifically CITES. Although CCAD plans to provide CITES guides and posters to SEMARENA, additional assistance is needed. (Multi-year funding; Open to regional assistance or other USG bilateral assistance) ¶C. Identify sources of invasive aquatic species related to trade and develop measures for reducing this threat ($25,000) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶1. Train SEMARENA technicians to carry out invasive species risk assessments. (Multi-year funding; Open to regional assistance or other USG bilateral assistance) ¶D. Pipeline/mortgage data. USAID used $75,000 of FY2006 CAFTA-DR funds in the area of improving protection and conservation of fauna and flora. Funding requested for FY2007 will build on the progress of these programs and develop new programs (e.g., reduce sea turtle capture). ¶E. Linkage to ECA/CAFTA-DR/enhanced trade: The projects and activities listed under &biodiversity and conservation8 are directly linked to article 17.12 and Annex 17.9 of CAFTA-DR, and sections 1.3 and 2.2 of the ECA work-plan. Enhanced trade is also linked to the protection of the watersheds, because it allows farmers to grow organic agricultural commodities and export these goods under CAFTA-DR. ¶F. Local buy-in: USAID staff worked closely with SEMARENA officials to include the Secretary (Minister) of Environment and municipal leaders in developing each of the stated projects and activities. SEMARENA and municipal leaders are excited about these projects and are anxious to implement them. ¶G. Public diplomacy/outreach strategies: As noted above, the Embassy has already developed a robust public diplomacy/outreach program that covers USAID activities in support of CAFTA-DR trade-related environment programs at the national and local levels. The Embassy will continue to expand this program to maximize coverage of these FY2007 bilateral and regional projects, using a range of media to include print, video, and Internet. The Embassy will also endeavor to promote MEAs, especially CITES, within the country and work together with SEMARENA to inform tourists of CITES obligations. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - III. Market-based Conservation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Specific Objective: Economic Growth Area: Environment Element: Natural Resources and Biodiversity Sub element: Sustainable Natural Resource Management and Production Funding level: $800,000 Description and Outcomes: USAID has applied a combination of policies (the biosphere strategic plan and enforcement regulation) and programs (FIPA organic farming, micro-watershed planning and implementation) to promote market-based conservation. FY2007 funding will continue to promote these successful ongoing activities, such as FIPA, as well as other complementary initiatives (e.g., a policy instrument to promote clean technology in the tourism sector and an accreditation mechanism for clean production). The fusion of the &ongoing8 with the &new8 will significantly increase Dominican trade under CAFTA-DR while simultaneously underlining Dominican compliance with Chapter 17 requirements and the ECA. Specific Activities: ¶A. Develop sustainable tourism and alternative income sources. ($400,000) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶1. Develop a policy instrument to facilitate the application of clean technology in the tourism sector. USAID is currently working with the hotel associations and the Secretariat of Tourism for buy-in. (USAID Bilateral Program) SIPDIS ¶2. Fund three (3) sustainable tourism FIPA Projects. Currently, USAID is working with 6 FIPA projects in sustainable tourism and has had great success. FIPA projects focus on promoting a positive impact on the environment while being financially self-sustaining. (Multi-year funding; USAID Bilateral Program) ¶B. Develop sustainable agricultural and forest products for better natural resource management ($400,000) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶1. Initiate process of creating a Dominican organic farming accreditation strategy. (Multi-year funding; USAID Bilateral Program) ¶2. Develop an economic policy instrument to promote organic agriculture. (USAID Bilateral Program) ¶3. Fund three (3) sustainable organic agriculture FIPA Projects. (Multi-year funding; USAID Bilateral Program) ¶C. Pipeline/mortgage data: USAID applied a significant proportion of FY2006 funds to finance a set of FIPA projects dealing with organic agricultural production and ecotourism. All of these investments are market-based. The majority of the FY2007 funds will be applied to support similar initiatives. A portion of the resources will go to the development of a policy instrument to facilitate the long-term success of FIPA activities and similar investments. ¶D. Linkage to ECA/CAFTA-DR/enhanced trade: The listed projects and activities in this section of &market-based conservation8 are directly linked to article 17.4 and Annex 17.9 of CAFTA-DR, and sections 2.2 and 2.3 of the ECA work-plan. Development of sustainable organic agricultural projects is directly related to enhanced trade. ¶E. Local buy-in. In addition to receiving local buy-in from SEMARENA officials to include the SEMARENA and municipal leaders, the Mission is engaging the hotel association and the Secretariat (Ministry) of Tourism to involve them in the process in order to strengthen local buy-in. ¶F. Public diplomacy/outreach strategies: As listed above, the Embassy has already developed a robust public diplomacy/outreach program that covers USAID activities in support of CAFTA-DR trade-related environment programs at the national and local levels. The Embassy will continue to expand this program to maximize coverage of these FY2007 bilateral and regional projects, using a range of media to include print, video, and Iinternet. The Embassy also plans to engage local media and encourage this important sector to report on these CAFTA-DR related projects through the Mission's public affairs section. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - IV. Improved Private Sector Environmental Performance - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Specific Objective: Economic Growth Area: Environment Element: Clean Productive Environment Sub element: Clean production Funding Level: $700,000 Description and Outcomes: To date, the Mission has financed 30 FIPA projects, which are implemented by non-governmental organizations. The bilateral program has assured private sector active participation in the design of environmental policy instruments. The USAID program has also trained the private sector in watershed management, sustainable tourism, and protected area management. The Embassy has also launched an important initiative at both the policy and program levels to address the critical environmental impacts of swine production practices. The current bilateral program has conducted a series of seminars with the private sector on the benefits of clean production. The FY-2007 proposals include policy and project-level programs that will broaden the progress achieved in incorporating the private sector into processes that promote sustainable economic growth and environmental protection. Specific Activities: ¶A. Promote the competitiveness and compliance of industries employing clean production practices ($300,000) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶1. Provide technical assistance to private investors to promote environmental awareness, action and application of clean production/technology. USAID has engaged the private sector with positive results and plans to build on these successes with FY2007 funds. (Multi-year funding; USAID Bilateral Program) ¶2. Provide technical assistance to enhance ongoing clean production partnership between SEMARENA and swine industry in Licey al Medio, Salcedo and other swine-producing areas in the Dominican Republic. USAID is currently promoting bio-digesters technology with the swine and coffee industries. (Multi-year funding; USAID Bilateral Program) ¶B. Mobilize financing for clean production and clean energy initiatives and support for these practices ($400,000) - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶1. Support public information programs on cleaner production methods and technologies. (Multi-year funding; open to regional or other USG bilateral assistance) ¶2. Fund five (5) FIPA projects on renewable energy. USAID has already helped fund one windmill project and two solar energy projects. One solar energy project dries fruit for the domestic and export markets and the other project dries sawed lumber from legal lumber yards for the domestic market. (Multi-year funding; USAID Bilateral Program) ¶C. Pipeline/mortgage data: FY2006 CAFTA-DR funds were used to provide technical assistance to private investors to promote environmental awareness, action and application of clean production/technology, promote bio-digesters technology with the swine and coffee industries, and fund several FIPA projects. FY-2007 resources will continue the process of supporting private sector participation in environmentally-sustainable economic investments. ¶D. Linkage to ECA/CAFTA-DR/enhanced trade: The listed projects and activities under &improved private sector environmental performance8 are directly linked to article 17.4 and Annex 17.9 of CAFTA-DR, and sections 2.1 and its subsets and 3.1 of the ECA work-plan. Each of the proposals enhances trade while preserving the environment. ¶E. Local buy-in: In addition to receiving local buy-in from SEMARENA officials to include the Secretary (Minister) of Environment and members of the private sector, the Embassy plans to engage private sector associations that represent both domestic and international industries in order to strengthen local buy-in and effect change. ¶F. Public diplomacy/outreach strategies: As listed above, the Embassyn has already developed a robust public diplomacy/outreach program that covers USAID activities in support of CAFTA-DR trade-related environment programs at the national and local levels. The Embassy will continue to expand this program to maximize coverage of these FY2007 bilateral and regional projects using a range of media to include print, video, and Internet. The Embassy also plans to engage local media and encourage this important sector to report on these CAFTA-DR related projects through the Mission's public affairs section. HERTELL