National Forest Policy

The Commonwealth of Dominica is one of the islands of the Lesser Antilles which is dominated by mountainous topography, unlike other islands, and thus known as the most heavily forested island of the Eastern Caribbean. With nine volcanos and seven mountain ranges Dominica possesses the best remaining examples of volcanic island ecosystems in the Caribbean. The forest is the habitat of a considerable variety of birds and animals. Among them are many endemic species like two parrots - the imperial parrot, or Sisserou (Amazona imperialis), and the red-necked parrot (Amazona arausiaca). Historically, most of the population has lived on or near the coast, although Dominica has a very rich and unique history related to its mountains, particularly significant for indigenous Kalinago people and the history of Negre Mawons from the 16th century.

The written history of forest management in Dominica dates back to 1949 when the last formal policy for managing forest resources was developed. That policy was also a legislative basis for the establishment of the Dominica Forest Service, the forerunner of the Forestry, Wildlife, and Parks Division today, and a cornerstone for the conservation, protection, and sustainable use of forest and natural resources, including wildlife and areas of scenic or scientific interest. Many years later, even a long-time after the independence in 1978, or adoption of the first forest-related legislation in 1958 and 1976, the succeeding efforts that have been made towards the revision of the National Forest Policy happened yet in 2010. Since that revised policy was never formally approved, and considering the changes in the national legal framework and the current forest management environment, the need for a comprehensive revision and formal approval of this National Forest Policy is undeniable.

National Forest Policy (PDF, 971 KB)