An international recognition that places the island of Samaná on the global map of plant conservation.
At the heart of Samaná Bay, where the Caribbean Sea meets one of the Dominican Republic’s most biodiverse regions, conservation and sustainable tourism have reached a historic milestone.
The arboretum at Cayo Levantado Resort, developed in partnership with Fundación Eco-Bahia, has received Level I accreditation from ArbNet and The Morton Arboretum, becoming the first accredited arboretum in the Dominican Republic.
This recognition makes Cayo Levantado part of an international network of institutions committed to the conservation, research, and education of trees and plants, while highlighting years of work dedicated to understanding, protecting, and raising awareness of the island’s biodiversity.
But what exactly is an arboretum?
An arboretum is a dedicated space for the cultivation, conservation, and study of trees and other woody plant species. More than simply a garden, it serves as a true living museum of nature, where conservation, research, and environmental education come together.
At Cayo Levantado, this concept takes on particular significance. Through the collaborative efforts of Fundación Eco-Bahia and the Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso National Botanical Garden, 308 plant species found on the island have been identified and documented.
These include native, endemic, and threatened species, among them the emblematic guaiacum tree, a species of significant value to the Dominican Republic’s natural heritage.
In this way, the trails of Cayo Levantado also become an outdoor learning environment. Through QR codes located throughout the island, visitors can learn about the species they encounter along the way and discover the remarkable richness of Dominican plant life.
Protecting biodiversity is not simply about preserving species. It also means understanding them, recognizing their importance, and raising awareness of the need to safeguard them.
This is one of the main objectives of the Cayo Levantado arboretum: to bring nature closer to people and turn every visit into an opportunity to learn about the natural heritage of Samaná.
As Alex Matas, Country Director of Fundación Eco-Bahia, explains: “This arboretum not only protects the endemic flora and threatened species of our region, but also serves as a learning environment that encourages both the local community and visitors to become advocates for the environment.”
The ArbNet accreditation therefore represents much more than an international distinction. It is also a recognition of the scientific and conservation work being carried out on the island and an opportunity to further strengthen environmental education.
The project forms part of Cayo Levantado Resort’s sustainable tourism model, in which the conservation of the natural environment plays a central role in the guest experience.
The aim is to demonstrate that tourism and biodiversity conservation can move forward hand in hand. A stay on the island can be, at the same time, an opportunity to enjoy its landscapes and ecosystems and to understand why protecting them is so important.
“Making our island home to the Dominican Republic’s first accredited arboretum demonstrates that it is possible to provide an exceptional guest experience while actively protecting biodiversity,” says María Lamarche, General Manager of Cayo Levantado Resort.
This vision allows visitors not only to appreciate the natural surroundings, but also to develop a deeper connection with Samaná’s ecosystems and with the shared responsibility of preserving them.
The ArbNet Level I accreditation marks an important milestone, but it also represents the beginning of a long-term conservation journey.
Fundación Eco-Bahia and Cayo Levantado Resort are already working on the expansion of the arboretum, with the aim of continuing to incorporate and protect additional species and further strengthening the Dominican Republic’s presence within the international ArbNet network.
Every newly documented species, every protected tree, and every person who learns to recognize and appreciate the island’s flora contributes to building a more sustainable future.
From Cayo Levantado, nature conservation becomes a living experience: a place to research, learn, protect, and connect with the Dominican Republic’s extraordinary biodiversity.
Because conserving a tree means more than protecting a species. It also means preserving an ecosystem, a history, and a natural legacy for generations to come.
Recycled Paper Workshop in Playa del Carmen
Eco-Bahia Drives Marine Conservation in Riviera Maya