Unlike other countries in the Caribbean, Dominica is not known for its white sand beaches. Instead, the island boasts a significant swath of forest, occupying about 60 percent of the land. Presently, Dominica lacks a timber industry, with the absence of wood processing, wood-based manufacturing, and the production of non-timber forest products. Nevertheless, forests are essential for its tourism, agriculture, and water management sectors. In addition, forest resources are a key source of the island's high biodiversity and are culturally important for the Kalinago (a unique population of pre-Columbian Indigenous people). In total, an estimated 20 percent of jobs in Dominica are indirectly linked to forests, and almost all economic activities are highly dependent on the services provided by forest ecosystems.   

PROGREEN activities support Dominica in addressing the key gaps and opportunities identified in the Country Forest Note and Dominica's subsequent National Forest Policy, both enabled by PROGREEN under a previous scope of work. The opportunities include modernizing its forest sector and creating a long-term vision for the sustainable management of its forest. In response to the National Forest Policy adopted in May 2022, the country knowledge program supported the development of a series of Policy and Operational Guidance Notes (POGNs) on critical policy issues. The POGN development process aimed to enhance the operational efficiency of the Forestry, Wildlife, and Parks Division (FWPD) while simultaneously providing essential inputs for the successful execution of the GEF project, "Leveraging Eco-Tourism for Biodiversity Protection in Dominica" (LETBP). 

This activity closed in Fiscal Year 2024 with the delivery of three Policy and Operational Guidance Notes (POGNS). To maximize revenue for the sustainable management of national parks and protected areas, the team produced a POGN on identifying Biodiversity and Climate Finance mechanisms. Protected area guidance has been agreed upon and integrated into the LETBP project. Management plans for three national parks and the Waitukubuli National Trail are also to be reviewed and approved through the LETBP project. A second POGN on increasing demand for nature-based tourism also seeks to boost revenue, while the last guidance note focused on improving the economic viability of the forest and agricultural sectors through sustainable approaches.  

At the special request of the government of Dominica in March 2024, PROGREEN also supported Dominica Forest Week, an initiative to foster nationwide awareness and appreciation for Dominica's Protected Areas. Notably, the event played a pivotal role in amplifying the national forestry policy as well as increasing the visibility of the LETBP project.