In the eastern province of El Seibo is an unspoilt paradise of natural beauty called Miches. It is here that the government will launch a major sustainable development project as part of their commitment to the United Nations Millenium Development Goals. Managed by a group of government entities including the Presidential Commission for Millenium Goals and Sustainable Development, The Economy, Planning and Development Ministry, the Environment Ministry, the Ministry of Education, the Municipality of Miches and the First Lady's Office, the plan seeks to benefit the area's population of 20,000 and it's fragile natural environment. Miche's is one of the country's poorest municipalities and will also benefit from plans for social development including improvements to its schools and health facilities.

The initiative takes on a wide range of community and environmental projects - reforestation, cleaning polluted water sources and a micro-hydro project for electricity generation. All projects are planned to use existing natural resources without harm to the environment. It will also insure that future tourist exploitation is sustainable, environmentally friendly and beneficial to the local populace.

Dominican authorities will be joined by technical advisors from New York's Columbia University in thet planning and execution of the project.