The Dominican Republic's government declared the fight against environmental terrorism a matter of high national interest through decree 615-26. ^[1] President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic signed Decree 615-26, declaring the prevention, detection, investigation and combat of environmental terrorism a high national interest and strategic priority for national security across the Dominican Republic. ^[2] Decree 615-26 orders all Dominican armed forces, with the participation of the Public Ministry (prosecutor's office), to create a national policy for the protection of natural resources including priority watersheds, forests, rivers, and other ecosystems. ^[3] President Luis Abinader said at the National Palace that the government is prepared to execute decree 615-26, supported by the new Criminal Code, and will act against anyone who affects national parks, regardless of who they are. ^[4] Maireni Rivas, deputy legal advisor of the Dominican Executive Branch, said the decree defines environmental terrorism as any act directed against natural resources, ecosystems or ecological infrastructures using mechanisms established in Law 267-08 on Terrorism. ^[5] Rivas said Decree 615-26 does not create a new criminal offense but establishes mechanisms to articulate the response of Dominican institutions to acts that could affect strategic environmental assets. ^[6] Defense Minister Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre said that all armed bodies will comply with the order established in decree 615-26, indicating military support for the government's environmental protection initiative. ^[7] The Dominican Executive Branch's decree aims to strengthen coordination among agencies responsible for national security, environmental protection and risk management, and to prevent, investigate and confront actions causing serious damage to natural resources or compromise ecological infrastructure essential for water, food, energy and ecosystem stability. ^[8]