{"id":9653,"date":"2010-05-25T04:31:56","date_gmt":"2010-05-25T10:31:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/?p=9653"},"modified":"2010-05-25T04:31:56","modified_gmt":"2010-05-25T10:31:56","slug":"protect-dominicas-natural-heritage-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/features\/letters-to-the-editor\/protect-dominicas-natural-heritage-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Protect Dominica’s natural heritage"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>By Colmore S. Christian, PhD
\n<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/span>May 18, 2010 – As a Dominican national who invested over 25 years in the management, protection and development of Dominica\u2019s natural resources I cannot help but to share some comments on the front-page article which appeared in the May 10, 2010 (Vol. 12, Number 24) issue of The Sun newspaper.<\/p>\n

According to the article the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry directed the Forestry and Wildlife Division (FWD) to issue an importation permit to the Eggleston-based company called Ruffled Feathers Aviary (RFA) for the importation of ten macaws into Dominica. The following comments are framed within the context of the existing legislation and the potential implications of the Minister\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n

Existing Legislation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Under the Forestry and Wildlife Act, Chapter 60:02<\/strong> of the Revised Laws of Dominica the Forestry and Wildlife Division is the state agency responsible for the management of wildlife resources on the island. With respect to the particular issue under consideration Section 25<\/strong> of the Act states:<\/p>\n

No alien wildlife shall be imported into or introduced, possessed, transported, or released into the country, except by the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, or under a permit issued to an individual by the Minister upon the recommendation of the Director and<\/strong> Permanent Secretary. Any person who contravenes any portion of this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine of seven hundred and fifty dollars or to imprisonment for six months.<\/em><\/p>\n

Based on my information the FWD argued against the issuance of an importation permit. I do not know what the Permanent Secretary\u2019s recommendation was. However, based on the spirit of the law the favourable recommendations of both the Director and the Permanent Secretary are required before the Minister can issue an importation permit to an individual. Thus, the approach adopted in the case of the RFA application seems flawed in the following respects:<\/p>\n

A. The favourable recommendations of both<\/strong> the Director and the Permanent Secretary were not secured by the Minister prior to the issuance of the importation permit to RFA;<\/p>\n

B. The authority for issuance of the importation permit rests with the Minister and not the Forestry and Wildlife Division. Thus, one can conclude that any permit issued by the Forestry and Wildlife Division has no legal basis.<\/p>\n

Dominica\u2019s approach in this matter may also have implications at the international level. Dominica has ratified the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and consequently Dominica is expected to adhere to the provisions of the Convention. Research indicated that the necessary certificate\/permit was not secured from the Environmental Coordinating Unit (ECU), the national CITES authority, prior to the importation of the said birds which are on the CITES schedule of threatened species. This non-compliance with CITES guidelines may have \u2018legal\u2019 implications for Dominica at the international level.<\/p>\n

Other Implications:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dominica is home to the Morne Trois Piton National Park – a World Heritage Site (Natural areas category), approximately 175 species of birds including two endemic parrot species and several migrants, several waterfalls, two freshwater crater lakes, a boiling lake, etc. Our natural resources (plants, animals, landscapes, natural phenomena, etc) constitute the foundation of our nature tourism thrust. Given the social and economic importance of tourism to the island one would assume that public policy will be supportive of the sustainable use and viability of the island\u2019s natural assets. Surely, the decision to grant an importation permit to RFA and the terms of the permit are NOT<\/strong> consistent with the principles of sustainable development especially in the context of a small island nation. The rate of loss of species in island settings is estimated to be 1,000 times or higher than in mainland settings under normal conditions. The introduction of alien species has the potential of increasing that rate.<\/p>\n

At the invitation of the Caribbean Tourism Organization I made a presentation to delegates at the Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC-11) which was held on Barbados, May 10-13, 2010. My May 11 presentation was on the topic \u2018Protecting our Biodiversity \u2013 Science versus Art\u2019. Among other things I identified the factors which contribute to loss of biodiversity in the Caribbean and the world.\u00a0 There are numerous examples of negative, unanticipated impacts of introduced species throughout the world. Research has shown that species introductions are the leading causes of extinctions. Since 1600 for example, introduced species have been responsible for the loss of 39% species according to the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 1992.<\/p>\n

Representative of the Turks and Caicos Islands in his presentation at SCT-11 informed delegates that his country was fighting a \u2018battle\u2019 against the Lion Fish, an introduced species which was now a serious threat to marine life. The Turks and Caicos authorities have embarked on an active and costly Lion Fish eradication campaign. Dominica should learn from this experience.<\/p>\n

One of the conditions under which the importation permit was granted to RFA is:<\/p>\n

Where any bird has escaped from the security of the aviary, Ruffled Feathers Aviary shall report the same to the Forestry Division without delay.<\/em><\/p>\n

The related issues of the responsibility for seeking to trap and\/or destroy any escaped birds as well as any liability claims by the state have not been addressed in the permit. Many of us are aware of the major oil spill in southern USA which has dominated the news for a few weeks now. The US Government has made it abundantly clear that the private sector company (British Petroleum) responsible will be held totally liable for all associated (both direct and indirect) costs. Should the importation permit granted to RFA have similarly addressed liability costs?<\/p>\n

Another area of much concern is the number of birds imported. The fact that five pairs (5 males and 5 females) of birds were imported suggests that RFA may be contemplating breeding of the birds. The terms of the import permit do not speak to the issue of captive breeding of the birds nor does the permit address the disposal of any offspring of the alien species. These are two critical issues which should be addressed.<\/p>\n

A protocol governing the use of items of equipment utilized within the RFA aviary and possible use outside of the aviary was apparently overlooked in the terms and conditions of the permit. Similarly, guidelines for disposal of waste (fecal and other waste) from the aviary should have been addressed. Careless use of items of equipment outside of aviary as well as careless disposal of aviary waste could pose a threat to native avian species.<\/p>\n

Conclusion:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The decision by the Minister, to my mind, was not in accordance with the provisions of Section 25 of Chapter 60:02 of the laws of Dominica. Furthermore, the perception is that the Minister seems to have accommodated the wishes and desires of a few individuals over the long-term national interest.<\/p>\n

It is my sincere hope that some of the legal practitioners and conservation oriented non-governmental organizations such as Dominica Conservation Association, Dominica Hotel and Tourism Organization (DHTA), and Waitukubuli Ecological Foundation (WEF) will consider partnering with other interested parties to seek to persuade the Minister to revisit his decision. The future of aspects of Dominica\u2019s natural heritage could be jeopardized by the Minister\u2019s decisions. This is one issue which should bring all civic minded and patriotic Dominicans together. We all have a responsibility to protect and conserve the natural heritage of our Nature Island. The Minister\u2019s decision and the current terms and conditions of the permit granted to RFA are not in the best interests of \u201cDominica\u2019s Organic Island concept\u201d and the island\u2019s stated approach to \u2018sustainable development\u2019.<\/p>\n

I have no doubt that former conservation pioneers and employees of FWD such as the late Christopher Maximea, Stanford Mathew, Erdley James, David James, Hilton Joseph, Haines Emmanuel, and Anthony Sorhaindo as well as retirees such as Cuthbert Julien, Quammie Greenaway, Burleigh Williams, Adolphus Christian, Phillip Matthew, Michael Zamore and Sylvester Joseph, who made personal sacrifices and worked very hard to ensure the protection and conservation of Dominica\u2019s rich biodiversity during their careers would have been or are concerned about the importation of such a large number of exotic birds into Dominica.<\/p>\n

It must be emphasized that Dominica does not have either the technical capacity or the financial resources necessary to cope with and effectively manage any outbreak of exotic pests and diseases. Our recent experiences with our Mountain Chicken species and citrus plantations support this view. The continued importation of exotic species (birds, mammals, plants, aquarium fishes, etc) will inevitably lead to the introduction of new pests and diseases to our shores. Dominica should therefore stop the importation of ALL exotic species in order to minimize development of such possibilities.
\n
\nAdditional information about the Author:<\/strong><\/p>\n

* Currently serves as an:<\/p>\n

Assistant Professor, Forestry Ecology and Wildlife Program, Alabama A&M University, Normal, Alabama, USA<\/p>\n

* Served bas Dominica\u2019s first Superintendent of National Parks (1985-1995) and was instrumental in the development of our national park system.
\n* Served as Director \u2013 Forestry and Wildlife Division (1996-1998);
\n* Co-author of the nomination dossier\u00a0 for World Heritage Site status for Morne Trios Pitons Nation Park;
\n* Served as Permanent Secretary in various ministries (Agriculture and the Environment; Tourism and Ports; Lands, Telecommunications, and Ports: Tourism and Private Sector Relations) (1999-2007);
\n* Has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals such as Human Biology, Biological Conservation, Conservation Biology, Journal of Biogeography and Caribbean Studies Journal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Colmore S. Christian, PhD May 18, 2010 – As a Dominican national who invested over 25 years in the management, protection and development of Dominica\u2019s natural resources I cannot help but to share some comments on the front-page article…","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":9654,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9653","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-letters-to-the-editor"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nProtect Dominica's natural heritage - Dominica News Online<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/features\/letters-to-the-editor\/protect-dominicas-natural-heritage-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Protect Dominica's natural heritage - Dominica News Online\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Colmore S. 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