In the Dominican Republic, Environment Ministry officials accompanied by military personnel on Thursday halted all extraction of the semiprecious stone amber, to prevent further ecological damage at the Septentrional (northern) range of the country.

The measure comes in the heels of frequent complaints by environmentalists and area residents concerned over damages. The military detained several people for excavating the mountainside and for clearing trees, and seized amber mining equipment on the La Cumbre-Luperon tourist road near the town Tamboril.

Recently owners of land on the northern range expressed concern over squatters who use backhoes to extract amber, which the affirm damage not only areas near La Cumbre, but villages near Puerto Plata, where “businessmen” buy the resin-formed stone from farmers.

For full article, see http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/economy/2016/10/20/60992/Environment-halts-all-amber-extraction-on-ecological-damage