As Dominica celebrates Forest Week, Environment Minister Cozier Frederick has said it is crucial to understand that protecting the country’s forests and biodiversity is not only a responsibility, but it is also a major opportunity for everyone.
He was addressing the opening ceremony to mark Forest Week at the Botanic Gardens on Monday.
‘Forest Week’ aims to raise local awareness and understanding of Dominica’s forests and protected areas and its incredible biodiversity.
“As we celebrate Dominica’s Forest Week it is crucial to understand that protecting our nation’s forest and biodiversity is not only a responsibility, but it is also a major opportunity for everyone across our Waitikubulian space,” he said.
“And the reason is very simple, because the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services will have many negative effects on our socio-economic conditions.”
According to him, it will definitely affect agricultural productivity and in essence destroy our economic condition.
“In the end, biodiversity conservation is key to building a climate resilient country, especially as we attempt to battle climate change.”
Furthermore, Frederick pointed out that protecting forest ecosystems ensures the storage of carbon, regulates water sheds to provide the abundance of drinking water in the country’s 365 rivers, and serves as a natural barrier against storms, surges and flooding.
“All of these are essential to Dominica’s climate resilience strategy,” he stated.
The Forestry and Wildlife Division is set to host an exciting week-long series of activities for ‘Forest Week 2024’ in observance of International Forest Day.
The activity is scheduled to take place from March 18 to the 22.
The week of activities includes an official launch on March 18, an exhibition, followed by a West Coast cleanup, a tree planting activity, a high-level roundtable discussion on March 21, and an awards ceremony to culminate the week of activities on Friday in Portsmouth.
“According to him, it will definitely affect agricultural productivity and in essence destroy our economic condition.” 😂😂Yes Sir. So now you are telling us that agriculture in Dominica is actually alive again to the extent that it needs preserving in order to sustain our economy? What are we growing and planting so and exporting to boost the economy? If Roosevelt was an intelligent man with vision and a desire to uplift this country he would have had at least one factory making noodles and soy sauce to export to our beloved friends in China 🇨🇳 since they don’t eat fig and dasheen. He could even build a sleepers factory; anything that our friends would buy. Chinese love their teabags and we have cinnamon leaves and lemongrass just to name a few. But please sir. Allow agriculture to sleep peacefully in its grave.