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"We never know the worth of water till the well is dry."
"We never know the worth of water till the well is dry."
The problems that La Cumbre, and thousands of other communities across the world face, have not arisen out of nowhere. As we burn endless fossil fuels and continue to use unsustainable agricultural practices, climate vulnerable countries like the Dominican Republic are among the first to experience the devastating effects of climate change.
Slash and burn agriculture leaves environments barren.
Remnants of the river, once 8 feet tall, and now barely a creek.
Here, Colonel shows us how high the river used to be.
80% of the deforestation in La Cumbre occurs to create space for cattle. The cows seen here are not consumed by locals, instead shipped internationally and make up the "free range beef" you find in stores. Rather than caring for the land, maintaining cows is seen as cost effective and only require one worker. The drawbacks, of course, being the destroyed and deforested land seen in the picture to the left.
Deforestation has huge effects. As trees get cut down, evaporation levels are disrupted, which dries up the moisture in the air and messes up the balance of the water cycle. This cycle creates low humidity and decreased precipitation and leads to a drought-prone climate.
What can we do to help prevent this detrimental cycle?
-Stay educated! Educate yourself on sustainability and the climate.
-Lead a more sustainable lifestyle. Carpool, cut down on red meat consumption, and conserve resources like water when you can!
-Support climate initiatives. Raise awareness about the dangers of climate change or donate money to non profits working to combat it!
-Reach out to representatives. Let your local and state representatives know that the environment matters to you and stay updated on climate policies!
Little changes can go a long way!
With everyones help, we can protect our planet.
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