The Leveraging Eco-Tourism for Biodiversity Protection Project (LEToBP) (P170846) is intended to
improve the management of Dominica’s Waitukubuli National Trail (WNT) and its three national parks,
namely the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, the Cabrits National Park and the Morne Diablotin
National Park.
The Project aims to “transform tourism from a potential threat to an opportunity for
biodiversity by strengthening the management of protected areas and the trail network and by
expanding their sustainable eco-tourism use in an inclusive manner” (Project Paper, Leveraging EcoTourism for Biodiversity Protection).
While, therefore, the Project is focused on the preservation and
conservation of the country’s biodiversity, it is also concerned to promote and support activities that
improve the livelihoods of the populations situated in the vicinity of the protected areas. It includes
special considerations for the vulnerable and the Kalinago.
The Project has four components.
Component 1: Protected Area Planning (US$846,900). This is intended to improve the institutional
arrangements for enhancing the national capacity for planning and management of protected areas
(PAs). It is geared towards improving capacities at the national and local levels. This component
provides for technical support in revising management plans for the PAs and the WNT and for the
demarcation of boundaries. The Project will also provide the technical studies for the demarcation of a
buffer zone for the Morne Diablotin National Park. The implementation of the buffer zone, however,
will be outside of its scope.
Component 2 addresses Biodiversity and Sustainable Nature-based Tourism Operations
(US$1,753,800). It focuses on improving tourism infrastructure that is in harmony with the natural
environment, and which will improve the visitor’s access, safety and experience. In that regard, the
Project provides for the construction of facilities or improvements to be made to existing services, such
as interpretation centres, benches, gazebos, shelters, washrooms and viewing platforms. It mandates
that these infrastructure improvements be located in “selected nature-based sites within parks and
along the WNT” (Project Paper, Leveraging Eco-Tourism for Biodiversity Protection).
One of the key aspects is the proposed introduction of an e-ticketing system that could be linked to
digital maps and information, thus upgrading the service to potential visitors to the PAs and the WNT.
This innovation, together with the proposed revision in the fee structure, is projected to generate a 30
per cent increase in revenue.
Component 3, titled Sustainable Livelihoods (US$747,854), seeks to provide opportunities for improving
sustainable livelihoods in a way that strengthens biodiversity. This will be accomplished through
investment in sustainable land use and through the preservation and inter-generational transfer of
traditional, Kalinago knowledge that complements biodiversity. The Kalinago, particularly women and
youth, are singled out for special consideration in terms of promoting sustainable livelihoods.
Component 4 treats with Project Management (US$167,728). The funding for this component is
earmarked for administrative support, financial management, monitoring and evaluation, and audit
costs for the life of the Project.
The LEToBP has as its central remit the sustainable use of the natural assets of the national parks and
the Waitukubuli Trail, to promote activities that generate employment and revenues, for the benefit of
the affected populations, particularly women and youth and the Kalinago Community.
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