Roseau, Dominica- September 11, 2023: The Government of Dominica on Thursday,
September 7, 2023, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Common
Earth and the Cloudburst Foundation for the establishment of the Common Earth
Regenerative Development and Applied Scientific Research Institute in Dominica.
The overall aim of the Institute is to increase citizens’ economic potential in areas of
innovative science related to the earth’s oceans, land, biodiversity, and culture; and
strengthen national resilience to climate change and severe climatic events.
The Institute will serve as a center for scientific research, development, and innovation in
areas consistent with Dominica’s National Resilience Development Strategy (NRDS)
and its Climate and Resilience Recovery Plan (CRRP).
Common Earth is a UK-based charity whose purpose is to deliver regenerative
development including the repair of ecosystems within the framework of the United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The organization assists the Commonwealth
member states to make their highly vulnerable communities sustainable and resilient to
the impact of climate change.
The Cloudburst Foundation is a non-profit organization with a mandate from the
Commonwealth Secretariat to implement the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable
development agenda by supporting regenerative development within all 54 countries of
the Commonwealth.
Common Earth will partner with the Israel-based University of Haifa and Dominica
State College (DSC) to deliver a new curriculum at the DSC with subjects related to the
Marine and Ecological environments, including marine sciences, marine regulation and
marine engineering. Classes in Marine Science and Maritime Engineering are projected
to begin in January 2024 at the DSC in collaboration with the University of Haifa via
distance learning.
The institute shall also work on research and development of aquaculture, mariculture,
and blue technologies, specifically coral reef restoration and marine life research in
Dominica.
Common Earth and the Cloudburst Foundation, working in conjunction with the Climate
Resilience Execution Agency for Dominica (CREAD), hosted a workshop from
September 4-7, 2023 at the Jungle Bay Resort and Spa comprising marine and
environmental professors, scientists, and engineers from the University of Haifa, Hebrew
University, Weizmann Institute, and Tel Aviv University.
Discussions for implementation of the MOU centered on Dominica’s mariculture and
aquaculture potential; regenerative activities in tourism, agriculture, and maritime
sectors; and fisheries protection and conservation.