Effective conservation depends on consistent, long-term data. Our Research & Monitoring initiative focuses on establishing ecosystem monitoring stations in partnership with local, regional, and international organizations to better understand environmental change across Dominica’s interconnected island ecosystems.

This work supports the monitoring of water, freshwater and riverine systems, soil, air and climate indicators, coastal environments, marine biodiversity, and coral reef health, creating a foundation for observing change over time. Monitoring stations are established collaboratively, drawing on global scientific standards and expertise while remaining grounded in local context and priorities.

Our research is closely integrated into our educational programs, providing students with exposure to real-world scientific inquiry. Through observation, data collection, and guided field participation, students learn how research informs conservation decisions and long-term environmental planning.

This approach strengthens local capacity by:

• Building familiarity with monitoring tools and methods

• Supporting future researchers, practitioners, and stewards

• Connecting science, education, and conservation

As a global biodiversity hotspot, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), Dominica’s ecosystems are both exceptionally valuable and uniquely vulnerable. Long-term monitoring is essential for understanding change, guiding conservation action, and strengthening resilience across island ecosystems.

Establishing monitoring stations through collaboration and global best practices lays the groundwork for informed stewardship, today and for generations to come.