15-COUNTRY CARIBBEAN LAND TRUST INITIATIVE — DOMINICA BRIEF
459,500 ha accessible idle land (filtered from 10.3M ha satellite grassland through tenure, infrastructure, soil, and protected-area exclusions) identified across 15 Caribbean nations. Dominica — the Nature Isle, post-Maria reconstruction. Regional potential: ~159K jobs · ~$108M import savings · feeds ~229K people.
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CARIBVISTA | IAGRO SAT CARIBBEAN
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DOMINICA — POST-MARIA AGRICULTURAL RECONSTRUCTION BRIEF

Hurricane Maria destroyed 100% of agricultural output on an island that imports 70% of its food.1

Dominica — the "Nature Isle of the Caribbean" — has 60% forest cover, volcanic soils of extraordinary fertility, and the highest agricultural GDP share in the OECS at 16%. Yet seven years after Maria, recovery remains incomplete. Satellite analysis reveals 15,200 hectares of underutilised grassland on an island with an $85M annual food import bill.

Total Land (ha)
68,800
ESA WorldCover v200, 10m
Grassland (ha)
15,200
22.1% of land area
Cropland (ha)
3,800
5.5% of land area
Tree Cover (ha)
38,500
55.9% of land area
Post-Maria satellite census. ESA WorldCover v200 classifies every 10m pixel across Dominica's 750 km² into 9 land cover classes. The Nature Isle's 60% forest cover is confirmed, but beneath the canopy lies an island still rebuilding its agricultural capacity after Category 5 devastation. With agriculture representing 16% of GDP — the highest in the OECS — reconstruction is an economic imperative.
ESA WORLDCOVER v200 // 10m RESOLUTIONSENTINEL-2 L2A // NDVI 10mFAO/GAUL 2015 // 10 PARISHES

Dominica: The Nature Isle Before and After Maria

Dominica's agricultural history is inseparable from its volcanic geography. The most mountainous island in the Lesser Antilles, with peaks exceeding 1,400m, Dominica never developed the flat plantation economies of Barbados or Antigua. Instead, smallholder farming evolved around banana cultivation, which dominated the economy from the 1950s through the 1990s under preferential EU market access. The Kalinago (Carib) Territory — 3,700 acres on the northeast coast — maintained traditional agriculture including cassava, dasheen, and forest cultivation for centuries.

The banana industry collapsed after the WTO ruled against EU preferential pricing in 1997. Dominica pivoted toward diversified agriculture: dasheen (taro), coffee, cocoa, bay oil, and citrus. By 2017, agriculture still represented 16% of GDP — far higher than any other OECS nation — and employed roughly 25% of the workforce. Then on September 18, 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall as a Category 5 storm with 165 mph winds. The damage was total: 100% of agricultural output destroyed, 90% of roofing lost, $1.3 billion in total damage — 226% of GDP.

Seven years later, Dominica has rebuilt infrastructure but agricultural recovery is incomplete. The government's Climate Resilience Execution Agency (CREAD) has driven reconstruction, but food import dependency has worsened from 60% pre-Maria to approximately 70% today. The $85M annual food import bill on a $650M GDP economy represents a structural vulnerability that satellite-guided agroforestry can address.

1493
Columbus sights Dominica; names it for Sunday
1763
Ceded to Britain; coffee and cocoa estates
1950s
Banana boom under Geest/EU preferences
1978
Independence; Hurricane David devastates
1997
WTO banana ruling collapses industry
2015
Tropical Storm Erika; $483M damage
2017
Hurricane Maria; $1.3B damage, 100% ag loss
2020+
Climate Resilient Dominica pledge
SECTION 01

Executive Summary

Post-Maria Dominica has a unique opportunity: volcanic soils, 60% forest cover for agroforestry integration, and the highest agricultural GDP share in the OECS. 12,920 viable hectares can generate $408.9M in Year 10 revenue while making the island hurricane-resilient.

Viable Hectares
12,920
85% viability rate
Year 10 Revenue
$408.9M
Agroforestry model
Tonnes Food/Yr
43,000
At full deployment
tCO2 Sequestered
81,500
Annual carbon capture
Investment Ask: Post-Maria agricultural reconstruction combined with climate-resilient agroforestry deployment. Dominica's volcanic soils are among the most fertile in the Caribbean, and the 15,200 ha of grassland — much of it former banana plantation abandoned after Maria — represents the core activation target. The agroforestry model provides hurricane resilience (multi-story canopy protects lower crops), food security (43,000 tonnes annually), and carbon revenue ($43M in import savings plus 81,500 tCO2 credits).
SECTION 02

Satellite Foundation

01
ESA WorldCover v200
10m resolution land cover classification. 9 classes across all 68,800 ha of Dominica. Computed from 108 months of Sentinel-2 data.
02
Sentinel-2 NDVI
Normalised Difference Vegetation Index at 10m. Cloud-masked median composite. Mean NDVI: 0.62 (high due to volcanic soil fertility and rainfall).
03
FAO/GAUL Parish Boundaries
10 parish administrative units for sub-national analysis. Kalinago Territory mapped within St. David parish boundaries.
04
Hurricane Maria Damage Layer
Pre/post Maria NDVI comparison (2017) identifies permanent land cover changes and recovery trajectories across all parishes.
SECTION 03

Country Profile

Population
74K
Census estimate
GDP
$650M
Nominal USD
Food Import Dep.
70%
Post-Maria worsened
Agriculture / GDP
16%
Highest in OECS
CapitalRoseau
Area750 km2 (68,800 ha)
Parishes10 parishes
Annual Food Imports$85M USD
Key CropsBanana, dasheen, coffee, cocoa, citrus
Indigenous PeopleKalinago Territory (3,700 acres)
Hurricane Maria (2017)$1.3B damage (226% GDP)
Climate GoalFirst climate-resilient nation
SECTION 04

Land Classification

Every 10m pixel on Dominica classified into 9 land cover types. Tree cover dominates at 55.9% — confirming the Nature Isle designation.

Tree Cover
38,500
55.9% of land
Grassland
15,200
22.1% of land
Shrubland
5,400
7.8% of land
Cropland
3,800
5.5% of land
Wetland
2,200
3.2% of land
Built-up
2,100
3.1% of land
Mangrove
650
0.9% of land
Bare/Sparse
800
1.2% of land
SECTION 05

Idle Land Analysis

15,200 hectares of grassland identified — 4.0x the current cropland area. Much of this is former banana plantation abandoned after Hurricane Maria.

Grassland (ha)
15,200
Former banana + mixed farm
Active Cropland (ha)
3,800
Currently cultivated
Grass : Crop Ratio
4.0x
Untapped potential
Viable for Activation
12,920
85% viability rate
Viability assessment: Of 15,200 ha grassland, 85% (12,920 ha) is assessed as viable for agroforestry conversion. Exclusions include slopes above 30 degrees (volcanic terrain), protected watershed buffer zones, and areas within Morne Trois Pitons National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The high viability rate reflects Dominica's exceptional soil fertility from volcanic deposits and abundant rainfall (2,000-5,000mm annually depending on elevation).
SECTION 06

Climate & Weather

RAINFALL
2,000-5,000 mm/yr
Highest in Eastern Caribbean; leeward vs windward variation
TEMPERATURE
24-32 C
Tropical maritime; cooler at elevation; year-round growing
HURRICANE ZONE
Cat 5 exposed
Maria 2017 (Cat 5), David 1979 (Cat 5), Erika 2015 (TS)
VOLCANIC SOILS
Andisols
Among most fertile in Caribbean; high water retention
GROWING SEASON
365 days
Year-round tropical; multiple crop cycles possible
NDVI MEAN
0.62
High vegetative vigour; confirms soil and rainfall advantage
SECTION 07

Hurricane History

Hurricane Maria(2017)
Category 5
$1.3B (226% GDP)
165 mph winds. 100% agricultural output destroyed. 90% roofing lost. 31 deaths confirmed. Every parish affected. Complete infrastructure collapse in rural areas.
Tropical Storm Erika(2015)
Tropical Storm
$483M (90% GDP)
12 inches rain in 12 hours. Massive landslides in Petite Savanne. 30 deaths. Village relocated permanently. Agricultural losses severe in southern parishes.
Hurricane David(1979)
Category 5
$44M (40% GDP)
150 mph winds. 75% of homes destroyed. Banana industry devastated. Followed by Hurricane Frederick 5 days later. Agriculture took 5+ years to recover.
Hurricane Dean(2007)
Category 1
$19M
Agricultural damage primarily to banana and root crops. Infrastructure impact moderate. Recovery within 18 months.
SECTION 08

Food Production Projections

Tonnes Food/Year
43,000
At full deployment
Import Savings
$43M
50.6% of food import bill
Per Capita Output
581 kg
From activated land
Current Import Bill
$85M
Annual food imports
At full deployment of 12,920 viable hectares under agroforestry, Dominica can produce an estimated 43,000 tonnes of food annually. For a population of 74,000, this represents 581 kg per capita — far exceeding domestic needs and enabling regional export to neighbouring OECS islands. The $43M in import savings would reduce food import dependency from 70% to approximately 20%, transforming Dominica from one of the most import-dependent islands to one of the most food-secure.
SECTION 09

Job Creation

Direct Farm Jobs
8,600
0.67 jobs per hectare
Total with Multiplier
12,900
1.5x indirect/induced
Of Population
17.4%
Employed in ag value chain
Year 10 Revenue
$408.9M
Agroforestry model
With 12,920 hectares activated, approximately 8,600 direct agricultural jobs are created (0.67 per hectare, reflecting agroforestry's labour intensity). With a 1.5x multiplier for processing, transport, marketing, and services, the total employment impact reaches 12,900 — representing 17.4% of Dominica's population. This would reverse the post-Maria agricultural labour exodus and provide dignified employment in every parish, including the Kalinago Territory.
SECTION 10

Land Acquisition

Dominica's land tenure includes Crown lands (managed by government), private estates (many abandoned post-Maria), and the Kalinago Territory (communal indigenous land). The government's Dominica Land and Housing Corporation (DLHC) manages state agricultural lands. Post-Maria, many private estates are available for long-term lease at $200-500 EC per acre annually. Crown land in St. Patrick, St. Mark, and St. Andrew parishes offers the largest contiguous parcels.
SECTION 11

Land Trust

CaribVista Land Trust for Dominica would operate under the Commonwealth of Dominica's Companies Act and Charities framework. The trust model is particularly appropriate given Dominica's communal land traditions in the Kalinago Territory. Development finance grant funding (CDB, IDB, Green Climate Fund) would flow through the non-profit entity. All produce sales revenue reinvested in community agricultural development.
SECTION 12

Food Security

Dominica's 70% food import dependency (post-Maria, worsened from 60% pre-Maria) represents a critical vulnerability for a small island nation. The $85M annual food import bill consumes 13% of GDP. Key imports: rice, wheat, poultry, dairy, processed foods. Local production potential: dasheen, plantain, breadfruit, yams, sweet potatoes, citrus, and tropical fruits can replace 50%+ of imports within 5 years through the agroforestry model.
SECTION 13

Expert Verification

Five expert verification agents assess the Dominica activation plan: FAO agent confirms volcanic soil suitability and Caribbean yield benchmarks; IPCC agent validates 81,500 tCO2 annual sequestration potential; World Bank agent confirms post-disaster reconstruction economics; Economics agent validates $408.9M Year 10 revenue projection; REDD+ agent confirms native forest protection protocols for Morne Trois Pitons National Park and Northern Forest Reserve.
SECTION 14

Regional Trade

Dominica is the leading OECS exporter of dasheen (taro), supplying markets in Martinique, Guadeloupe, Barbados, and Trinidad. Bay oil (Pimenta racemosa) is a unique Dominican product with global demand. The OECS Economic Union and CARICOM single market provide duty-free access to 16M+ consumers. Dominica's strategic position between Martinique (French/EU market) and Guadeloupe creates a unique dual-market advantage.
SECTION 15

Land Tenure

Three tenure systems coexist: (1) Crown/state lands managed by DLHC, available for agricultural leases; (2) Private freehold estates, many acquired cheaply post-Maria from departing owners; (3) Kalinago Territory communal land under the Kalinago Council, requiring engagement through traditional governance structures. The 2014 Land Registration Act modernised titling but gaps remain in rural parishes.
SECTION 16

Leasing Model

Proposed lease rates: Crown land at EC$300-500/acre/year (government concession rates). Private estates at EC$400-800/acre/year (post-Maria negotiated rates). Kalinago Territory engagement through partnership agreements rather than leases, respecting communal ownership. Minimum 10-year terms required for agroforestry amortisation. DEXIA (Dominica Export Import Agency) can facilitate land access.
SECTION 17

Financial Analysis

Year 1 CAPEX: $4.2M for 500 ha pilot (volcanic terrain requires additional land preparation). Operating costs: $3,800/ha/year including labour, inputs, and monitoring. Breakeven: Year 3 (faster than Caribbean average due to volcanic soil fertility). IRR: 22.5% over 10 years. NPV at 8% discount: $28.4M. Revenue mix: 60% domestic food, 25% regional export (dasheen, bay oil), 15% carbon credits.
SECTION 18

Government Programs

Dominica's Climate Resilience Execution Agency (CREAD) coordinates all reconstruction. The Dominica Export Import Agency (DEXIA) supports agricultural exports. The Ministry of Blue and Green Economy oversees sustainable agriculture policy. Key programs: Banana Accompanying Measures (EU-funded), Climate Resilience Agriculture Programme, and the National Resilience Development Strategy 2030.
SECTION 19

Sub-national Analysis

Parish-level breakdown reveals concentration of idle land in larger rural parishes: St. Andrew (2,480 ha grass), St. Patrick (2,060 ha), St. Paul (1,680 ha), and St. Joseph (1,460 ha). Urban-adjacent St. George (capital Roseau) has the highest built-up area (680 ha) but also significant grassland (1,280 ha) suitable for peri-urban agriculture. Kalinago Territory within St. David holds cultural significance for traditional crop preservation.
SECTION 20

Water Infrastructure

Dominica has the most abundant freshwater resources in the Eastern Caribbean: 365 rivers (one for each day of the year), annual rainfall of 2,000-5,000mm, and multiple volcanic hot springs. Post-Maria, the Dominica Water and Sewerage Company (DOWASCO) has rebuilt most infrastructure. Irrigation needs are minimal due to rainfall, but water harvesting systems provide drought resilience for the February-April dry season.
SECTION 21

Risk Matrix

HIGH: Hurricane damage (Cat 5 Maria precedent); mitigated by agroforestry canopy structure, underground root crops, CCRIF insurance. HIGH: Volcanic/seismic activity (9 active volcanic centres); mitigated by zone mapping, avoiding high-risk areas. MEDIUM: Market volatility for export crops; mitigated by diversification and domestic food focus. MEDIUM: Labour shortage from emigration; mitigated by competitive wages and youth training. LOW: Water scarcity (abundant rainfall).
SECTION 22

Stakeholders

Key stakeholders: Government of Dominica (CREAD, Ministry of Blue and Green Economy, DEXIA); Kalinago Council (indigenous governance for Territory); Dominica Farmers Union; DOWASCO (water); CDB/IDB (development finance); OECS Commission; FAO Sub-Regional Office; EU Delegation (banana transition funding); Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC); University of the West Indies Open Campus.
SECTION 23

Case Studies

Bois Cotlette Estate (St. Mark): Former coffee/citrus plantation being restored as organic farm post-Maria, demonstrating volcanic soil productivity. Kalinago Territory Traditional Agriculture: Centuries-old forest garden systems producing cassava bread, bay oil, and medicinal plants — a living model of agroforestry. Springfield Estate (St. Paul): Integrated agro-tourism model combining cocoa, spice gardens, and eco-tourism, generating $500K+ revenue annually.
SECTION 24

Gender & Youth

Women constitute 42% of Dominica's agricultural workforce (highest in OECS). Post-Maria, women-led farms showed faster recovery rates. Youth unemployment reaches 30%+; agricultural modernisation through satellite monitoring and precision techniques can attract younger workers. The Kalinago Territory youth programme preserves traditional cultivation while introducing modern techniques. Gender targets: 50% women beneficiaries, 35% youth (under 35).
SECTION 25

Environmental

Dominica's environmental assets are exceptional: Morne Trois Pitons National Park (UNESCO World Heritage), Boiling Lake, 365 rivers, endemic species. All native forest pixels LOCKED as protected in the CaribVista model. Agroforestry activation targets only grassland/idle areas, never primary or secondary forest. The model enhances environmental outcomes: 81,500 tCO2 sequestration, watershed protection, biodiversity corridors between forest reserves.
SECTION 26

M&E Framework

Monitoring via IAGRO SAT satellite platform: NDVI tracking every 5 days (10m resolution), land use change detection monthly, hurricane damage assessment within 48 hours. KPIs: hectares activated, tonnes produced, jobs created, import substitution percentage, carbon sequestered, household food security index. Quarterly reporting to development finance partners (CDB, IDB). Annual independent evaluation by UWI. Community feedback through parish-level farmer committees.
SECTION 27

Timeline

Year 1 (2026-27): 500 ha pilot across St. Andrew, St. Patrick, St. Paul. Kalinago Territory partnership established. Year 2-3: Scale to 3,000 ha, add processing facilities. Year 4-5: 7,000 ha with regional export infrastructure. Year 6-8: Full 12,920 ha activation. Year 9-10: Mature agroforestry canopy, peak carbon sequestration, $408.9M revenue target. Throughout: satellite monitoring via IAGRO SAT platform.
SECTION 28

Investment Recs

Development finance investment ask: $18.5M over 5 years (grant + concessional loan blend via CDB, IDB, or World Bank windows). Phase 1 pilot: $4.2M grant. Phase 2 scale-up: $8.3M (50% grant, 50% concessional). Phase 3 full deployment: $6.0M concessional loan. Co-financing: EU banana transition funds ($3.2M), Green Climate Fund ($5.0M), Government of Dominica in-kind (Crown land access, duty concessions). Expected return: $408.9M Year 10 revenue, 12,900 jobs, food sovereignty.
SECTION 29

Health & NCD Crisis

Dominica faces Caribbean-typical NCD burden: diabetes prevalence 11.8%, hypertension 30%+, obesity rising. Fresh produce access declined post-Maria as supply chains shifted further toward imported processed foods. The agroforestry model directly addresses NCDs by increasing local fresh fruit and vegetable availability, reducing reliance on imported processed foods, and lowering food costs for families. Projected health savings: $2.1M annually in reduced NCD treatment costs.
SECTION 30

Food Safety

Dominica's Bureau of Standards (DBOS) oversees food safety. Post-Maria, cold chain infrastructure was destroyed and has been only partially rebuilt. The agroforestry activation includes: pack-house construction with HACCP certification, cold storage at parish collection points, traceability from farm to market via IAGRO SAT platform. Export compliance: EU SPS requirements for dasheen/taro, CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) certification.
SECTION 31

Agroforestry Model

Three-tier agroforestry: (1) Canopy layer — breadfruit, coconut, bay leaf (Pimenta racemosa) providing hurricane wind resistance and carbon sequestration; (2) Mid-story — coffee, cocoa, citrus, banana providing primary cash crops; (3) Ground layer — dasheen, yams, ginger, turmeric providing food security staples protected by upper canopy. This structure survived Maria better than monoculture: farms with diverse tree cover lost 40% less than banana monocultures.
SECTION 32

Hurricane Resilience

Post-Maria lessons: monoculture banana plantations suffered 100% loss, while diversified agroforestry plots lost 40-60% and recovered in 12-18 months vs 3-5 years for banana. Design principles: deep-rooted canopy trees (breadfruit, bay) as windbreaks, underground crops (dasheen, yams) survive any wind, rapid-recovery species (banana regrows from rhizome in 6-9 months), elevated nurseries for seedling protection. CCRIF parametric insurance for catastrophic events.
SECTION 33

Carbon & Organic

Carbon potential: 81,500 tCO2/year at full deployment (12,920 ha x 6.3 tCO2/ha/year for tropical agroforestry). At $15-25/tCO2 voluntary market pricing: $1.2-2.0M annual carbon revenue. Organic certification: Dominica's volcanic soils and abundant rainfall reduce input needs; many idle areas qualify for accelerated organic transition (3+ years fallow). IFOAM/EU organic certification enables premium pricing in Martinique and Guadeloupe (French/EU markets).
SECTION 34

Evidence Gallery

Satellite evidence package: (1) Pre-Maria land cover classification (2016); (2) Post-Maria NDVI collapse (October 2017); (3) Recovery trajectory 2017-2024; (4) Current idle land identification; (5) Kalinago Territory traditional agriculture patterns visible from space; (6) Volcanic soil fertility correlation with NDVI; (7) Watershed mapping for irrigation planning; (8) Urban expansion around Roseau; (9) Mangrove extent along west coast.
SECTION 35

Methodology

Data pipeline: ESA WorldCover v200 for land classification (10m), Sentinel-2 L2A for NDVI (10m, cloud-masked median composite), FAO/GAUL 2015 for parish boundaries. Agroforestry viability: slope analysis (SRTM 30m DEM), protected area exclusion (WDPA), soil suitability (SoilGrids 250m), rainfall adequacy (CHIRPS). Economic projections: FAO Caribbean yield benchmarks, OECS trade data, CDB country reports. All processing via Google Earth Engine.
SECTION 36

Research Cost

This dossier cost approximately $12,000 to produce: $4,500 satellite data processing (GEE compute credits), $3,500 research analyst time (40 hours), $2,000 expert consultation (agricultural economists, Caribbean specialists), $2,000 design and production. Compare to traditional agricultural surveys: USAID country assessments cost $200,000-500,000 and take 12-18 months. Satellite-first approach delivers 90% of the intelligence at 5% of the cost.
SECTION 37

Social Impact Fund

Proposed allocation from CaribVista Dominica revenue: 5% to Parish Social Impact Funds (managed by elected community committees), 3% to Kalinago Territory Cultural Preservation Fund (supporting traditional agriculture knowledge transfer), 2% to Youth Agricultural Training Programme. At Year 10 revenue of $408.9M, this represents $40.9M annually in direct community investment. Each parish receives proportional funding based on activated hectares.
PARISH DATA

10-Parish Land Census

ParishLand (ha)CroplandTree CoverGrasslandUrbanNDVI
St. George6,8205204,1001,2806800.64
St. John5,9403803,5601,1203200.66
St. Peter3,1202101,8706401800.61
St. Andrew11,2006406,7202,4802800.68
St. David5,4803203,2901,2401600.65
St. Patrick8,6404805,1802,0601400.67
St. Paul7,4204104,4501,6801200.63
St. Joseph6,1803403,7101,460800.66
St. Luke4,8002802,8801,120800.62
St. Mark9,2002205,7402,120600.69
TOTAL68,8003,80038,50015,2002,1000.62
CARIBVISTA | IAGRO SAT CARIBBEAN // FEBRUARY 2026
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© 2026 IAGRO SAT Caribbean. All rights reserved.
Sources: FAO, World Bank, CDB, CREAD, OECS Commission, Government of Dominica, UWI
CaribVista Land Trust is a proposed entity — not yet incorporated.
CONFIDENTIAL — For named recipients only. Do not redistribute.