Dominica is not a typical Caribbean island. While it lacks white sand beaches, its beauty is evident through its lush forests, geothermal springs, rivers, and waterfalls. Dominica's forests cover more than 60 percent of the island's landmass and are home to diverse species such as the Jaco parrot and the Manicou possum.
The current state of nature reflects joint efforts by the government and local communities to restore what Hurricane Maria decimated. The Category 5 storm made landfall on September 18, 2017, causing damages estimated at US$1.3 billion and destroying 85 percent of the island's forests. In response, a government-led tree-planting initiative has enabled trees, shrubs, and wildlife to flourish once again.
Following this devastation and subsequent rebuilding efforts, the Government of Dominica aims to secure climate resilience for future generations with a focus on its forests. "The trees taught us how to be resilient – how to rise above what happened," says Her Excellency Sylvanie Burton, Dominica’s President. "If we do not have the forest, then we’ll be in trouble."
With support from the World Bank, the government is working to accelerate economic development while protecting these forests. As Forestry Commission Director Minchinton Burton remarks, “our forests, our wildlife, our biodiversity; that forms the basis of any sustainable livelihood opportunity for individuals.”
In 2022, the government adopted the National Forest Policy for sustainable management and conservation of forest resources with technical and financial assistance from PROGREEN—a global partnership including the World Bank, Germany, Sweden, and the UK. "The Forest Policy guides what citizens ought to do – and what the government is committed to doing," explains Cozier Frederick, Minister for Environment.
Beyond conservation efforts outlined in this policy lies an economic development strategy centered around ecotourism. With funding from the Global Environment Facility and support from the World Bank through Leveraging Eco-Tourism for Biodiversity Protection in Dominica project—the government aims to modernize infrastructure in protected areas while providing skills training to local communities.
This project includes an e-ticketing platform for tourists covering nearly a fifth of Dominica's land. It seeks not only to develop ecotourism but also empower communities adjacent to forests—including Kalinago Territory which experiences high poverty rates—to engage in protected area management.
"It’s not just only about tourism," clarifies President Burton who grew up in Kalinago Territories. "It’s also our cultural heritage." The work being done aims at enhancing Kalinago heritage alongside promoting their culture.
In climate-vulnerable regions like the Caribbean—Dominica charts towards a climate-resilient prosperous future balancing nature with development—Minister Frederick concludes: “We are custodians to something beautiful."