The Government of Dominica on Thursday, September 7, 2023 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Common Earth and the Cloudburst Foundation for the establishment of the Common Earth Regenerative Development and Applied Scientific Research Institute in Dominica.
The overall aim of the Institute is to increase citizens’ economic potential in areas of innovative science related to the earth’s oceans, land, biodiversity and culture; and strengthen national resilience to climate change and severe climatic events.
The Institute will serve as a center for scientific research, development and innovation in areas consistent with Dominica’s National Resilience Development Strategy (NRDS) and its Climate and Resilience Recovery Plan (CRRP).
Common Earth is a UK-based charity whose purpose is to deliver regenerative development including the repair of ecosystems within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The organization assists Commonwealth member states to make their highly vulnerable communities sustainable and resilient to the impact of climate change.
The Cloudburst Foundation is a non-profit organization with a mandate from the Commonwealth Secretariat to implement the United Nation’s 2030 sustainable development agenda by supporting regenerative development within all 54 countries of the Commonwealth.
Common Earth will partner with the Israel-based University of Haifa and the Dominica State College (DSC) to deliver a new curriculum at the DSC with subjects related to the Marine and Ecological environments, including marine sciences, marine regulation and marine engineering. Classes in Marine Science and Maritime Engineering are projected to begin in January 2024 at the DSC in collaboration with the University of Haifa via distance learning.
The institute shall also work on research and development of aquaculture, mariculture, and blue technologies, specifically coral reef restoration and marine life research in Dominica.
Common Earth and the Cloudburst Foundation, working in conjunction with the Climate Resilience Execution Agency for Dominica (CREAD), hosted a workshop from September 4-7, 2023 at the Jungle Bay Resort and Spa comprising marine and environmental professors, scientists and engineers from the University of Haifa, Hebrew University, Weizmann Institute and Tel Aviv University.
Discussions for implementation of the MOU centered on Dominica’s mariculture and aquaculture potential; regenerative activities in the tourism, agriculture and maritime sectors; and fisheries protection and conservation.
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