The importance of Dominica's Indigenous Kalinago community in the protection and sustainable management of the fragile tropical rainforest ecosystems

The new National Forest Policy holds particular significance for the Kalinago, given their economic and cultural attachment to the country's forests. The handicraft industry, for example, uses traditional knowledge and tools to create jewellery, carvings, baskets, and small house items, and is a vital revenue source solely reliant on specific indigenous trees. Likewise, vines, stalks, and leaves from the cocorite palm are made into ropes and nets, and dye made from the annatto plant is used for pottery, sun protection, and body paint, which holds great significance in Kalinago culture.

Dominica's Kalinago population is around 2,200 (last surveyed in 2011), with the majority living in eight hamlets scattered across the Kalinago Territory on the east coast of the island. The communities are some of the poorest in the country, and it is hoped that actions taken as a result of the National Forest Policy will create new sources of revenue for the community.

"The most profitable future for our communities, is to develop a diverse set of activities based on farming, tourism, traditional crafts, and community based natural resource management," says Mr. Lorenzo Micah Sanford, Kalinago Chief.

The National Forest Policy, as well as a series of associated forest sector engagements, spurred new discussions around how the Kalinago can expand economic productivity, while also maintaining traditional tools and knowledge. One example is the potential creation of a forest management certification and standards for non-timber forest products, such as traditional Kalinago crafts. These verifiable standards would cover both environmental and social aspects to ensure local community access and indigenous peoples' rights are respected.

But the creation of the National Forest Policy is an accomplishment in itself. In a country where forest governance is dated and the institutional framework is complicated and fragmented, involving different ministries with various responsibilities, the process of developing and approving this Policy meant bridging sectoral gaps. This brought together key stakeholders, including communities and civil society, to engage in critical discussions around how to equitably and sustainably manage this valuable resource from ecological, economic and social perspectives. The Kalinago have been, and continue to be, instrumental in forest planning thanks to the direct involvement of Kalinago Council representatives in the development and approval of the final Policy.

Looking to the future, the Policy not only provides a roadmap for Dominica's forest-reliant communities, but also a framework to protect forests and their role in building Dominica's climate resilience. Thanks in part to PROGREEN's technical and financial support, the Policy helps identify immediate and concrete measures for forest-linked livelihoods, biodiversity protection, and economic development, including directly involving the Kalinago through reforestation, capacity building, and the recognition of traditional crops and heritage in sustainable forest management. The Policy, along with a series of planned PROGREEN-supported technical studies, are critical inputs to a new Global Environment Facility (GEF) supported project focused on leveraging eco-tourism for biodiversity protection. The project aims to work with the Kalinago community to invest in nature-based tourism opportunities, map and demarcate the Kalinago territory (essential for sustainable forest management), and revive traditional knowledge, tools and practices through sustainable livelihood programs that simultaneously promote community-driven development and biodiversity protection.