Land must be adequately governed and managed as a finite resource to ensure social harmony and long-term economic growth. Land underpins almost all facets of our social and economic well-being. The management of all facets of land information, including tenure, valuation, management, and usage, is aided by GIS technology. Governments may enhance land information management, property assessment and analysis, and public outreach by integrating all land information into a GIS-based comprehensive land administration system. GIS (maps and data) are used to collect, analyze, and visualize SLM-related information. There are many datasets involved in Sustainable Land Management in Dominica. Below are some of the maps and data available.

For additional spatial datasets for Dominica, go to DomiNode (Dominica’s public Geographic Information System (GIS) repository).

Pont Cassé

Protected areas

Dominica’s Protected Areas consist of Forest Reserves, Marine Reserves, National Parks, and Proposed Buffer Zones. Since 1975, Dominica has established several protected areas with varying designations, covering 203.8 km2, approximately 27% of the island’s 751 sq. km. In addition to the island’s three (3) national parks (Morne Diablotins, Cabrits, and the Morne Trois Pitons National Parks), there are the Northern and Central Forest Reserves, Stewart Hall Water Catchment, and Soufriere/Scott’s Head Marine Reserve (SSMR). The Cabrits National Park includes both a marine and terrestrial portion. Protected Areas fall primarily under the responsibility of the Division of Forestry, Wildlife, and National Parks (DFWNP) and the Fisheries Division, Ministry of Blue and Green Economy. The marine reserves are managed by a Local Area Management Authority (LAMA). Additional terrestrial and marine sites have been proposed for protection but are not formally designated. There are seven (7) legally established protected areas in Dominica. Draft management plans have been prepared for Morne Trois Pitons, Morne Diablotins, and Cabrits National Parks as well as for Soufriere Sulphur Springs.

Soils

The available soil type map was generated in 1967 (Lang, 1967) through physiographic interpretation of aerial photographs, combined with field work and soil testing. The map consists of 2 map sheets, with a very complicated legend. There are over 100 different legend classes, and soils are named after a locality (most often an estate), with a suffix related to the parent material. This classification was made in order to identify agricultural fertility problems. For this, the degree of weathering was estimated based on field observation data such as pH, texture, structure, and X-ray analysis of clay mineral content. Other factors were used as well such as parent materials, climate, plant and animal organisms, age of land, and topography. The legend classes show a combination of the soil type (indicated as a number), the slope class, and the erosion categories.

Forestry Management Zones

The Forest Administration Section is the Division’s smallest unit and includes the Research and Monitoring Unit, the Environmental Monitoring and Research Unit, and the Clerical Staff. The facilitation of in-service and overseas training for staff, collection of revenues, issuing of licenses and permits, processing requests for Forestry, Wildlife, and Parks related research activities, control of expenditure, maintenance, processing of requests of various types (e.g. for services, materials, etc.), and procurements of supplies, are some of the many functions of the Section.

Watersheds

The Following are the watershed management units in Dominica:

Soufriere Scottshead Complex, Morne Aux Diables Complex, Cabrits Douglas Bay Complex, Indian, Bleinheim, Picard, Hampstead, Salee, Jargee, Woodfordhill complex, Dublanc, Colihaut, Coulibistrie Complex, Eden, Clyde, Batali, Macoucheri Complex, Pagua, Morne La Souce Complex, Good Hope Complex, Belle Fille, Layou, Belfast, Massacre-Mahaut Complex, Boeri Watershed, Rosalie, Roseau Watershed, Sibouli, Quayaneri-Morne Jaune Complex, Sara-Sari, Boetica Complex, Pointe Mulatre, Petite Savanne Complex, Stewart, and Grand Bay Complex

Parishes

Dominica is divided into ten parishes. The largest parish is St. Andrew and the smallest parish is St. Paul. The parish with the largest population is St. George. The capital city of Roseau is located in the parish of St. George. The Parishes historically were based on the Catholic Church, however, they have been adopted for many other purposes.