Eco
tourism is a subject which has generated growing interest
around the
globe
in recent years. But what does it really mean and what is
the 'eco
tourist'
seeking? Quite simply, the opportunity to appreciate and
enjoy areas of
unspoilt natural beauty which are nurtured and protected,
and where
development
is handled sensitively, causing minimal impact upon the
natural
surroundings.
Many eco tourist destinations are emerging, but it would
be difficult
to
find areas more interesting and diverse than the magical
rainforests of
the tropics. And where amongst these is a more enticing
choice for the
English-speaking than the mountainous and sparsely
populated East
Caribbean
island of Dominica?
| Due
to
its terrain
and lack of development funding Dominica has so far
escaped the level
of
development which we have seen in so many of our
neighbouring islands.
Once embarked on this course, there is no turning
back! It has, in
fact,
rather gone unnoticed in the mass tourism
marketplace.
Dominica
is
for the
discerning - nature lovers, twitchers, hikers and
divers.
|
tree orchid on the Boiling Lake
trail
|
An
abundance of rivers
act as the island's natural cooling system, whilst
providing our water
supply and hydropower for about half the island's
electricity demand. A
mere 29 miles long by 16 miles wide, Dominica feels
much larger due to
indirect roads over rugged terrain. Many mountain
peaks exceed 4,000ft.
in height and much of the island is is still cloaked
in primordial
rainforest,
with large |
tracts
protected as
National Parks and Forest Reserves. Of these, Morne Trois
Pitons
National
Park attained UNEP World Heritage status in 1997. A large
portion of
the
Northern Forest Reserve surrounding the highest mountain,
Morne
Diablotin,
was recently upgraded to National Park status. This also
encompasses
the
Syndicate Forest, one of the prime habitats for the unique
native
parrots,
the Sisserou and the Jacquot. These are just two of 175
species of bird
to be observed in Dominica.
Our natural
heritage
lies also in the surrounding oceans. Not only is this prime
whale
spotting
territory due to the massive outflow of freshwater, but the
tranquil
waters
off the entire west coast, sheltered by mountains from
prevailing
easterly
winds, makes this island a 'must' for snorkellers and scuba
enthusiasts.
Prince Edward's Bay in the north and the submerged volcano
of Scotts
Head/
Soufriere Bay in the south are both designated Marine
Reserves.
Scotts Head / Soufriere Bay
|
Dominica has
long been
regarded as the 'Nature Island of the Caribbean', the
national motto:
'After
God – The Earth!' It is this wonderful, unique, natural
environment, so
far minimally impacted by the effects of human habitation,
which makes
Dominica so very special. That it has no tourist 'mega
resorts', with
most
visitor accommodation small, individual and personal in
nature, makes
it
doubly so. The way forward is crystal clear - nurture and
protect. This
does not mean simply sitting back and doing nothing, but
taking a
pro-active
roll in conserving Dominica's unique heritage whilst
employing it to
the
island's advantage. This could be achieved in several ways:
1)
Resist eco hostile development: There
is currently
talk
of an external company building an oil refinery on
Dominica's north
east
coast. Why choose Dominica, we all wonder? Could it be to
avoid
expensive
safety and environmental regulation it would have to comply
with back
home?
Even ruling out the scenario of accident or natural
disaster, it would
impact negatively on the environment and make a mockery of
our Nature
Island
concept.
2)
Go Organic: It would be to our great
advantage if our
farmers could be persuaded to cater exclusively to the
growing demand
in
consumer nations for organically grown produce. Dominica
could become
an
example to the region, attracting interest, cash and
assistance from
sympathetic
nations and societies wishing to develop and promote this
method of
farming,
eager for the opportunity to showcase the benefits. Granada
and St
Lucia
have already taken meaningful steps in this direction.
Progress in
Dominica
has so far been limited, though small private initiatives,
such as
those
of Springfield Plantation, have encouragingly confounded
critics with
their
successes.
Dominica's most recent (and by far
the
largest) lake
- Mathia Dam, formed by a massive landslide in
1997
which blocked a tributary of the
Layou River
(also
known locally as Miracle Valley)
|
3)
A program of Renewable Energy: Whilst
around half of
Dominica's
energy needs are satisfied by hydropower, an admirable goal
would be to
satisfy the island's entire demand in such ways, lessening
dependence
on
imported and costly fossil fuel. Today's technology offers
many
exciting
possibilities - wind, solar, hydro etc. Individuals could be
encouraged
to install their own personal sources of renewable energy.
Dominica has
a
new
Prime Minister, The Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit, as of
January 2004.
First
impressions are encouraging and it is to be hoped that he
and his
Government
will steer Dominica on a course of sustainable, eco friendly
development
and prosperity, thus preserving Dominica's heritage for
generations to
come.
Colin
A
Lees is proprietor of Nature Island Destinations Ltd., a
locally run
business which promotes Dominica via the internet as a
tourist
destination,
providing a free island-wide booking service with a
personal touch. For
more information go to: www.natureisland.com
or contact him
by email.
.
.
