BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
EIBD - PACE 6 
Dominica (The Commonwealth of Dominica) is the laraest nnri 
situated English speaking Eastern Caribbean island, 
b< T en called the lungs of the Eastern Caribbean because of 
us tr .°P lca l rain forests, great diversity of flora and fauna 
be r comttr^l e Sa f S %h 1Ve ^ S and waterfalls ? and a ruggedness said to 
H-rn-frtvr h n^ A , lp * °f Swit2erland - Pressure from its 
; I volcanoes is released in the form of "bubblinq beaches" 
warm streams, box 1 mg geezers and the awe inspiring "Vallev of 
atj “ on, ‘ Swa ®P s ' quasi mangroves, the presence of''the Atlantic 
Ocean sprays on its eastern borders and the that of the Caribbean 
°* 1 ’ w west, all contribute to the rich divers i tv of fhi» 
ecosystem of this small island State. diversity of the 
PROBLEM 
Although, Dominica is referred to as the "Green Giani- 
Eastern Caribbean" it spans only 7»,000 hect aIes with ^prox 4 S* 
' rch is arable because of its steep terrain. It would take iust 
/-■ ■? ft,* rV ‘ project to do irreparable damage to the 
COsystem of the whole island or to its arable belt. Dominica ha* 
amo ween called the "Food Basket of the Eastern Caribbean"" This 
be 30 b6CaU3e its natural utility rs 8 till 'able Jo 
' J®'t " ,ne c °Pf ous amount of imported agricultural chemicals and 
other inappropriate agricultural practices. But patches of 
erosion can be seen on hillsides all around the island and more aid 
more changes can be seen In the quality of its agricultural p^odlle 
which begs the question as to what is going wrong. Produce 
Every acre of land that is sterile rAh« +• h 4 , ^ 
natural ecosystem and threatens suatfinL „ x 1 - c ° untr X ot Its 
nation. It is therefore imSc rt/if productivity ot the 
knowledgeable of the ef C d oSSSI£*S d t ^n. fU ;i 2 
haying on the long term fertility and ecology of Doninica - ■ bv 
natural extension - to the Caribbean and to the World. ' y 
Criterion for assessing 
involve consideration 
Coastal and other wetis 
are essential habitats 
birds but al bo many of 
proposals that impact on biodivisity should 
o threats to the natural resources* 
nos are particularly at risk. These areas 
nl iTAnH n i y ie I Ldent and mi ^ rator y shore 
tne islands protein resources. 
rapid "tra n *ition hin f th ® Banan * * nd «stry presents a case for 
although the rLelihood ^If ^ touri«D f and 
people are rooted in the natural resource" oT Dominic! policy 
decisions and land use patterns sometimes disregard this dependent 
when the prospect for an "inioot-r«n+- » , J rnxs dependency 
£ ~'-t. wi dn important project presents itself. 
EIBD - PAGE 7 
