Dominica’s Reputation as Island of the Caribbean Faces Biodiversity Threats

Dominica’s reputation as “Nature Island of the Caribbean” faces biodiversity threats, said Cozier Frederick, Minister for the Environment and Rural Modernization. He noted that Dominica is facing several threats to its biodiversity and environmental resources, and that the threats must be checked and removed to preserve the glory and tourism potentials of the country.

Frederick drew attention to this fact at the World Environment Day which was celebrated on Friday and tagged “Time for Nature Biodiversity”.

He made it clear that Dominica has a reputation of having its environmental resources unaltered and untampered with in any major way while most of her natural features remain intact and untouched. With up to 175 bird species, and over 1,200 plant and animal varieties, he said Dominica remains a tourism destination of choice to many people from around the world.

The minister for environment however identified global warming, logging, industrial pollutions, and natural disasters as some of the threats facing the biodiversity of Dominica.

“Much of our economic activities are linked to nature and by extension to its biodiversity,” he said. “However, a number of threats to our biodiversity such as deforestation, pollution, over-exploitation of natural resources, unregulated development, invasive species, natural disaster and the impact from climate change, could negatively impact on our proud claim as being the nature island of the Caribbean and indeed the world.”

As part of the immediate solutions to dealing with the problem, the minister advised for tree replanting after logging, wildlife campaigns, and landscape beautification among other proactive measures to safeguard the environmental resources of the country. He emphasized that these steps are crucial because “the foods we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the climate that make our planet habitable all come from nature.”

Federick asked for community and national cooperation to help save endangered species and preserve the natural plants and wildlife as well as the mountains and rivers among other environmental features of the island.

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