♦ 
•boiurjjoq ui Aepoj Gutpueis r 
umjr*« < *x>l <*u OSZl K>Jp ||jrf 
U £ f»Oi. 
oev.j 
JIAJ SS< 
ib p.-e 
| P! - 
H }0 * 
V 
i l > 9 y' o 
391S J ;r 
op/1 no- 
- <nuep jo 
jeiuM y 
uiBj- ns 
idO)d/vaQ ui 
l gejse joi 
’ id Ajjsa 
i 
THE COMMONWEALTH 
OF 
DOMINICA 
The island of Dominica is situated between 
latitudes 15.12 and 15.39 N and longitudes 
61.14 and 61.29 W in the Lesser Antilles. The 
island is 29 miles long and 16 miles wide with a 
population over 70,000 made up of descen¬ 
dants of Africans, Caribs and European*- 
This island was first caller Waitikubt, ! y the 
indig ous Carib { Karafun « copulation. When 
Columbus saw it on Si / morning, 3rd 
November i492, he called »t “Dominica." Then 
upon attainment of independence Com < Teat 
Britain on 3td November 1 *78, it .’.as renamed 
“The Commonwealth of Dominico, mainly for 
differentiation from the Dcmir .a-. Republic in 
the Greater Antilles. 
Within Dominica’s bounda es c - an arm com 
prising 3,700 acres alloc tec o 1903 -a 
Carib population. This !ar .> eld in ti¬ 
the Carib Council of the Ca h people. 
Dominica’s National Motfi sT’tec in F r onc r 
Creole is: Apre Bondie ce La ler y tha 
Goo, the EarthT All thr ie stanzas of 
National Anthem tell of the >aauty if t‘ r e 
One of Ch ristopher Colu m 1 >us men w rot 
diary that Dominica’s beat ty 'm s* oe w ’ 
be believed.' 
Indeed, Domimca rug d mountains, lus*- 
verdant forests, .. urklr- rivers a Res: 
unpolluted air are the sin aspects u i 
national heritage, and « mall n ut rmcessai. 
part of the g;obal treasure which the Dorn 
Conservation Association is striving c 
serve. 
BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
The Dominica Conservation Association (D.C.A.) 
was formed as a nonprofit, non-government organi¬ 
sation in 1981. Since then, D.C.A. has been involved 
in joint projects with pertinent departments and 
agencies. Notable eflcts include the Save the 
Turtles and Tort Shirley I estoration projects. 
Spurred by committed Dominican environmentalists 
and funded from 1990-1992 by the John and 
Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation under its Carib¬ 
bean Heritage Project, which was administered by 
the Caribbean Conservation Association, the D.C.A. 
serves a** a crucial link between the community and 
policy makers. 
As the main non-government environmental organi¬ 
sation in this country, the D.C.A. is expected lead 
advocacy on environmental ism : to complement 
governmental effods anc to 5 nee policy deci¬ 
sions on sustainable development 
MISSION STATEMENT 
The Dominica Conservation Association aims to 
educate its numbers and the puoiic and organise 
and promote u ' arkc.paiion in the judicious 
management -nd oevetopment of Dominica’s 
natural, cultural historical and economic resources 
through appropriate conservation measures which 
will enhance the quality of life of the people and 
preserve the national heritage or present and future 
generations 
ioTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 
he overall control and management of the D.C.A. is 
vested in the Board of Trustees, which is comprised 
of nine elected members ding a President, Vice 
President, Secretary, To. .... or a ri ’ five other mem¬ 
bers. Day-to-day management is o -.barged by the 
Programme Coordinator wJh mod of such other 
staff as the Board sees fit to e tgage. 
Sir Clarence Seignorel President of the Common - 
vu.aWi of Dominica is Patron of the Dominica 
; 'on ervation Association 
NETWORKING 
The D.C.A. is a member of the Canbbean Conserva¬ 
tion Association which fosters the development of its 
affiliates from its head office in Barbados 
International friends of the D.C.A. include island 
Resources Foundation which wr xs closeiy with this 
Association from its regional oflic< n Antigua, the 
Pan American Development F. ion, and the 
United States Peace Corps w xhi: sen 
interest in the D.C.A.'s development and has from 
time to time provided ad hoc technics assistance 
Locally, close ties have been established with the 
forestry Division of the Ministry of Agricult ire, which 
bears responsibility for the environment in ■ >ica. 
ADVOCACY 
This Associate responds to opportunities at local, 
regional and in re national levels to represent and 
promote awa eness of environmental issues, particu¬ 
larly v ere uch issues impact inc! js resources. 
EXAMf ES OF PROJECTS IT'D -TAKEN 
S ner Environmental Apprecia on Project 
(SEAL) 
This ; roject exposes youth to the natural environ¬ 
ment and sensitizes them to related issues. It has 
been undertaken annually since 1989 with funds 
from the Caribbean Conservation A Delation and 
ioca! contributors. But as the project as expanded, 
contributions must be sought internationally. 
Caribbean side of Domimca 
