Dominican Republic
National Fund for the Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA Fund)
Created to develop and finance environmental projects, the National Fund for the Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA Fund) is an organization created by Law 64-00, which began operations in 2009. The Fund channels financial resources for community initiatives, education and research, and has an endowment fund dedicated to financing special programs and projects in favor of the country's National System of Protected Areas (SINAP). The Fund has sponsored the construction of small community hydroelectric plants, sustainable forest management with a payment for ecosystem services model, environmental education, and training for its partners. In late 2016, a partnership agreement was signed with the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund to improve the management of the country's marine protected areas.