Kim Thurlow

Kim Thurlow

park
Dominica has a tremendous opportunity, upon receipt of the grant from the European Union, to expand economic development while ensuring the preservation of green space and cultural heritage in Roseau. What will be most important, however, is changing the perception of restoration and conservation as prohibitory to economic development.

2001 Urban Fellow

Research Topic: Land Use Planning and Management

Faculty Advisor: Bradford Gentry

The Roseau Botanical Gardens and Peripheral Link Project

In 1997, the Dominica Conservation Association was granted $50,000 from GEF Small Grants Program to initiate community participation in the planning and implementation of activities related to the upgrading of the Roseau Botanical Gardens and the development of a link way between the gardens and the city of Roseau. The Dominica Conservation Association proposed that the initial funds would help to: · Develop and utilize tools and methods effective in creating ecological/environmental awareness · Use the information gained during this period to influence the decision-making process with regard to upgrading of the gardens and other future development projects · Form a committee comprising non-governmental organizations, government, and private sector members to oversee project activities. The primary goal of this case study is to analyze the relative success and constraints to the design, planning and initial implementation stages of the Roseau Botanical Gardens Link project. In the fall of 2002, the government of Dominica will receive approximately one million Euro from the European Union to further the design and implementation of the Roseau Botanical Gardens Link project. Therefore, it is important to reflect on efforts made during phase one of the project and how these efforts might affect the future success of this conservation and development initiative in the second phase. More specifically, this case study also attempts to examine how the relative inclusion of various stakeholders to date may help to determine where future efforts and funding might be most appropriate. It is my sole intention that this case study provides constructive feedback to the project designers, implementers and funders of this project.