Rich in lush, unspoiled landscape, the Caribbean nation of Dominica is proudly known as the “Nature Island”—a title that the country does not carry lightly. Recently, in an effort to preserve the island nation’s cherished flora and fauna, the government announced that it intends to completely ban common plastics, single-use Styrofoam cups and Styrofoam food containers by January 2019. Combating plastic waste is a major step towards Dominica’s larger sustainability initiative.

A Global Movement

Countries, cities and large companies all over the world have taken a stand to ban or charge for plastics, primarily concerning plastic bags. More recently, New Zealand and Australia actioned to join the approximate 40 countries that have banned plastic bags. Efforts to fight plastic pollution are global, and Dominica’s ambitious goals are breaking new ground.

Dominica has always been concerned with environmental preservation and a proponent for eco-tourism. Since Hurricane Maria, the small yet mighty country has since strengthened its determined focus on environmental preservation and plans to become the first climate resilient country in the world. In other words, Dominica is in a pursuit to better prepare for future climate change impacts, and to entirely remove itself from contributing harm.

Preserving the Nature Island

Step foot in Dominica, and the pride the community has for their country, and its efforts to take care of their landscape, is palpable. Offering a captivating, magnificent world that boasts rivers, rainforests and coastlines, this is a place known for its unspoiled beauty. While the cultural influences vary as much as the awe-inspiring terrain, one aspect of Dominica that remains uniform throughout is the island’s celebrated, deep connection with its abundant, surrounding splendor.

Fort Young Hotel honors and reflects this connection, as well as Dominica’s environmental efforts, and prioritizes putting these values into practice. By integrating biodegradable food containers and detergents; sourcing local products from Roseau farmers markets; donating leftover food to those in need; and supporting an eco-initiative that works to benefit the marine ecosystem by hunting the invasive lionfish, those who visit Fort Young Hotel will take part in Dominica’s continuous move towards a sustainable lifestyle.