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| Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division (Dominica) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division |
| Jurisdiction | Commonwealth of Dominica |
| Headquarters | Roseau |
| Parent agency | Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment (Dominica) |
Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division (Dominica) is the statutory agency responsible for management of forest resources, wildlife conservation, and protected area stewardship in the Commonwealth of Dominica. The Division operates within the administrative framework of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment (Dominica) and implements policies aligned with regional instruments such as the Caribbean Community and international agreements including the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Its mandate intersects with agencies and entities such as the Dominica Meteorological Service, Dominica State College, World Wildlife Fund, and multilateral initiatives like the Global Environment Facility.
The Division traces its origins to colonial-era forest management practices under the British Windward Islands administration and subsequent post-independence restructuring after Dominica independence (1978). Early institutional predecessors coordinated with bodies including the United Nations Development Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization, and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute to develop silviculture, reforestation, and protected area frameworks. Landmark events shaping the Division’s evolution include responses to natural disasters such as Hurricane David and Hurricane Maria (2017), collaborations with the International Union for Conservation of Nature for biodiversity assessments, and incorporation of recommendations from commissions like the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund reviews.
The Division is organized into technical and administrative units mirroring models used by agencies such as the Forest Service (United States Department of Agriculture), with directorates for forest management, wildlife protection, parks administration, and enforcement. Functional subunits align with international counterparts including the United Nations Environment Programme frameworks and regional offices like the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre. Staffing and capacity-building have been supported by exchanges with institutions such as the University of the West Indies, Smithsonian Institution, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and the Island Resources Foundation.
Mandated responsibilities encompass sustainable management of timber and non-timber forest products, species conservation, invasive species control, and ecotourism site management in areas comparable to Morne Trois Pitons National Park. The Division undertakes forest inventories, implements community forestry programs modeled after Forest Stewardship Council principles, enforces wildlife protection statutes parallel to Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and supports disaster risk reduction aligned with Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. It collaborates with organizations including Pan American Health Organization, Caribbean Natural Resources Institute, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, and regional emergency management agencies.
The Division manages and co-manages a network of terrestrial and freshwater protected areas, working closely with UNESCO-recognized sites like Morne Trois Pitons National Park and designations under the Man and the Biosphere Programme. Biodiversity management priorities target endemic flora and fauna listed with partners such as the IUCN Red List assessments and studies by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. Key species of concern include those studied by researchers at The Peregrine Fund, BirdLife International, and regional universities, while habitat restoration projects draw on methodologies from The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International.
Programmatic work includes reforestation campaigns in collaboration with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, community-based wildlife monitoring modeled after Wildlife Conservation Society protocols, and invasive species control informed by Global Invasive Species Programme guidance. Initiatives also span eco-education with schools linked to Dominica State College curricula, sustainable livelihoods through partnerships with Caribbean Development Bank, and climate resilience projects funded through mechanisms tied to the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund.
The Division implements legislation and policy instruments harmonized with regional and international law, working within statutory measures inspired by frameworks such as the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy (where cross-sectoral alignment is necessary), obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity, and national environmental policy directives endorsed by the Government of Dominica. Policy development has been informed by technical guidance from the Food and Agriculture Organization and legal instruments considered in consultations with entities like the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.
Partnerships encompass bilateral and multilateral donors such as the European Union, United Nations Development Programme, and the Global Environment Facility, technical cooperation with the Commonwealth Secretariat, and civil society collaboration with Nature Conservancy-affiliated programs and regional NGOs including Caribbean Natural Resources Institute and BirdLife International. Funding sources combine national budget appropriations from the Ministry of Finance (Dominica), grant support from entities like the Inter-American Development Bank, and project funding administered through regional mechanisms such as the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund.
Category:Government of Dominica Category:Environment of Dominica Category:Protected areas of Dominica