{"id":2630,"date":"2025-08-29T19:41:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T19:41:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/centralromana.com.do\/?p=2630"},"modified":"2025-08-29T19:41:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T19:41:08","slug":"center-for-marine-studies-inaugurated-on-land-donated-by-central-romana-corporation-ltd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/centralromana.com.do\/en\/center-for-marine-studies-inaugurated-on-land-donated-by-central-romana-corporation-ltd\/","title":{"rendered":"CENTER FOR MARINE STUDIES INAUGURATED ON LAND DONATED BY CENTRAL ROMANA CORPORATION, LTD."},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Dominican Foundation of Marine Studies (FUNDEMAR) inaugurated the facilities for its Investigative Center MARE-DR, an innovative space created for the scientific study of coral reefs and the protection of Dominican Republic\u2019s marine habitat.<\/p>\n

The center, located in the coastal area of Bayahibe, was built on a plot of more than 2,250 square meters of land donated by the company Central Romana Corporation, Ltd.<\/p>\n

FUNDEMAR is an organization dedicated to the conservation, investigation and education of marine ecosystems and its biodiversity. Under the executive direction of Rita Sellares, the center has become a pioneer in assisted coral reproduction at an international level, with the goal of protecting Caribbean coral species and reintegrating them into the sea.<\/p>\n

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Dr. Leo Matos, the Executive Vice President of Central Romana, emphasized what an honor it was for the company to partner with FUNDEMAR on this project. \u201cReaffirming our common compromise with the conservation of our natural resources, Central Romana believes that the protection of our marine ecosystems requires solid and long-term alliances. For this reason, we have given this plot of land with full confidence in FUNDEMAR\u2019s technical and human capabilities,\u201d clarified Matos.<\/p>\n

The new MARE-DR building is dedicated to the memory of professor Idelisa Bonnelly, founder of the institution and the first Dominican marine biologist.<\/p>\n

Representatives from the private sector who have been part of a strategic cooperation alliance with FUNDEMAR, like OceanKind, MSC Foundation, RIU Hotels & Resorts, Cordap and CEPM, also participated in the event. It also featured the presence of Carlos Augusto Batista, Deputy Minister of Protected Areas and Biodiversity of the Dominican Ministry of the Environment.<\/p>\n

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More on Central Romana\u2019s support of FUNDEMAR<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

For more than a decade, the support and contribution from Central Romana has played a key role in the expansion of FUNDEMAR and its marine biodiversity research. In recent years, the company backed the project for the rehabilitation and reintegration of three captive manatees, who were successfully released into the ocean. Juanita, Pepe and Lupita underwent a quarantine period in a natural bay located on Central Romana\u2019s private land, which allowed biologists from FUNDEMAR to take care of, feed and safely prepare these manatees for their release into the waters of the Caribbean Sea.<\/p>\n

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