The 5^th Forum in the Fight Against Desertification and Drought in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean was opened yesterday with the Dominican Foreign Minister and representatives from 60 countries were there as it took place. 

Vice President Rafael Alburquerque headed the inauguration by calling for wider actions to revert the effects of the problem, which after a recent diagnosis staggeringly affect 70 percent of the territory and some 5 million Dominican people. 

Sergio Zelaya who is from the United Nations Convention for Desertification and is the representative for Latin America and the Caribbean said that the nations must all prioritize the fight against desertification to reduce its poverty levels and has suggested greater inter-regional cooperation to obtain this goal. 

The Forum officially concludes on Thursday with a visit by the ministers and delegates to the Yaque Sur and Artibonito rivers. 

Environment minister Max Puig said desertification isn’t an islolated fact and that’s totally related to climatic changes. 

Today however prompting more action Environment Ministers from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Venezuela, Mozambique and Argentina will all meet to draft the final Declaration of Santo Domingo, a document that will be submitted to the Forum so they can assume its contents.