EcoFest Conference Panel Discussion - Can we overcome the environmental difficulties we face : Lessons learnt?
Name: Atherton E. MARTIN
Position: Executive Director, The Development Institute (TDI) Ltd.
Years with Firm: 1992-present
Date of Birth: December 23rd, 1945
Nationality: Dominican
Profession: Development Planning & Policy Advocacy
Area of Special Interest: An Integrated Approach to Implementing Development Options
Membership of Professional Societies: ▪ the Caribbean Conservation Association (CCA)
▪ The (Alumni) Association of Agronomists – Cornell UniversityExperience and Qualifications:
Mr. Martin’s professional career spans 34 years during which his involvement with the promotion and management of farm production cooperatives has fortified his knowledge and expertise in meeting the practical challenges of enterprise development and job creation in ways that are environmentally sensible.
He has established an extensive portfolio of direct involvement and experience in matters pertaining to the incorporation of environment into prospects for human development. He is recognized as a leader in the Caribbean and other Regions on matters of sustainable development and is regularly called upon to provide professional advice and training to grassroots, community and private sector organizations as well as Governments and regional institutions such as the Caribbean Development Bank, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and others.
In addition to technical matters of environmental impact assessments, local area, physical and economic planning, he has been engaged with processes of public policy, advocacy and public education for integrated development planning.
The impact of his work goes well beyond the Caribbean. He received 1998 Goldman Environmental Prize for Islands for his leadership in the campaign to protect the Central and Northern Forest Reserves of Dominica from copper mining.
Over the last eight (8) years he has provided institutional strengthening support to small businesses in the farming and tourism sectors in Dominica while working with trade unions and media workers to develop sensitivity to programs of structural adjustment and reform promoted by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. During this period, he has also become involved as an entrepreneur in the tourism sector by building and operating a small eco resort on an organic farm that creates new linkages between tourism and agriculture. This enterprise has become a leading example of a new wave of community enterprises and employment opportunities at the local level.
Mr. Martin’s several years of service as President of the Caribbean Conservation Association, the premier regional environmental organization in the Region, has required him to provide leadership on many regional ecological issues including coastal zone management, disaster mitigation and, the importance of impact assessment and community participation in economic planning, construction and management in the Caribbean. His experience as a Minister of Government has exposed him to the highest level of policymaking and national planning that complements the exposure to working at the local and community levels.Education: AASc Agronomy State University of New York, Cobleskill - 1970
BSc Agronomy/Agricultural Economics, Cornell University, N.Y. - 1972Relevant Work Record (1972 to 2008)
2000 – Present: Dominica
- Promoter of and partner in, investments in Tire Recycling, Geothermal Energy, Organic and Natural Foods and Water as export commodities.
- Senior Consultant to CIDA-funded Project on Development Options for the Financial Services Sector in Dominica (2006).
- Team member for Caribbean Development Bank mission to advise Government of St. Kitts on the transition from sugar to agro-eco-tourism (2005).
- Resource Consultant to IICA on Methods for establishing sustainable eco-tourism enterprises at community level (2005).
- Team Leader for preparation of an EIA Report associated with plans for the construction of a 5-mile water pipeline and water-bottling facility in Dominica. (2004)
- Resource Consultant and Team Leader to assemble data for conduct of EIA by L. Berger on Melville-Roseau Road Project (2004).
- Team Leader of multi-disciplinary group of Consultants engaged by the Government of Dominica to prepare an Integrated Development Plan for Dominica (2001 -2003).
- Provided review and assessment of the environmental and social impact of the plans for road reinstatement in the City of Roseau. (1998)
- Reviewed and commented on plans for the construction of the Sewage Treatment Plant for the City of Roseau. (1997)
- Visiting Lecturer in Development Planning at Jacksonville University, Florida, USA. (1997)
- Served as Minister for Agriculture, Planning and the Environment in Government (February to July 2000)
- Resource person to and President of, the Dominica Conservation Association (1992 – 1999), President of the Caribbean Conservation Association (2000 – 2005) with focus on institutional strengthening, fundraising and integrating environmental issues into regional developments in disaster mitigation, tourism, agriculture and physical planning.
- As Minister of Agriculture, Planning and the Environment in Dominica coordinated the preparation and presentation of the island’s medium-term economic strategy to the World Bank in June 2000.
1992 – 2000: Dominica
- Prepared and conducted three training courses in “Popular decision-making for Development” at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
- Conducted four development seminars for the leadership of the FMLN in El Salvador as part of the process of preparing the leadership for the task of governing after the civil war. In that capacity he had been involved in work to find ways to involve NGO’s and other sectors of civil society in policy formulation with such agencies as the World Bank, the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, the Inter-American Development Bank, CARICOM, the OECS and The European Commission.
- As President of the Dominica Conservation Association, elected in 1995 to represent Caribbean Environmental NGOs at the Global Environmental Facility, the mechanism established by the United Nations General Assembly to deliver technical and financial resources for implementation of programs of sustainable development related to Agenda 21, the Plan of Action of the 1992 Rio Conference on Environment and Development.
- As Executive Director of The Development Institute (TDI), organized a private sector conference on the Dominica economy sponsored by the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce.
- Organized and managed a campaign to protect the Central and Northern Forest Reserve from the impact of a proposed copper mining investment. That effort involved assessment of the natural resource features of the area in which the proposed open pit mine would be built and broad public education on the implication of such an investment.
- Recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize, Island Nations (1998) in recognition of that work.
- Served as President of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association and led the efforts of that private sector organization to make the direct links between tourism and environmental conservation.
- Served as representative of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association to the Caribbean Hotel Association.
- As President of the Dominica Conservation Association, he coordinated the preparation of the Botanical Gardens, Roseau Link Project designed to restore that facility as a green site in the Capital City and establish user-friendly access to the Gardens and the rest of the City. This involved work with a team of planners, architects and engineers as well as environmentalists. This project is included in the National Indicative Program of Dominica with the European Union for the current period.
1987 – 1992: Dominica
As co-coordinator of Caribbean programmes at the Development Group for Alternative Policies (D-GAP) in Washington, D.C., he organized three US Congressional Study Missions to the Caribbean for the Congressional sub-committee on Western Hemisphere Affairs (1987- 1990) which assisted that body in its review of the Caribbean Basin Initiative and its efforts to draft legislation addressing US-Caribbean economic relations and policy.
As Head of a Team of Consultants, coordinated post-war efforts at developing an investment code for Eritrea. This involved field assessment of the water and other critical resources relevant to the establishment of the physical infrastructure needed to attract investment in agriculture.
1982 – 1987: Dominica
As co-coordinator of farmer services for the Dominica Farmer’s Union, organized and established a regional marketing and shipping initiative designed to service the agricultural export needs of its members.
1980 – 1982: Dominica
Served as Director of Caribbean programmes for the American Friends Service Committee and established a network of human rights and development non-government organizations in the Spanish and English-speaking Caribbean.
1979: Dominica
Served as Minister of Agriculture in the interim government of Dominica and during his tenure co-coordinated the disaster recovery programme for the island in the period immediately following the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane David.
1978 – 1981: Dominica
General Secretary of the 2,500 strong Dominica Farmers Union, an island-wide organization of small farmers which addressed issues of farm credit, agricultural marketing and, agricultural policy.
1972 – 1978: Dominica
Managed a large (1,846 acre) commercial farm in Dominica, first as manager for the Commonwealth Development Corporation, then as organizer of the Castle Bruce Farmers Co-operative. Later promoted and helped organize the work of several farmers’ co-operatives in Dominica, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Antigua.
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SPONSORS
We also welcome eco sponsors for the event from all fields, and you or your business will be showcased throughout the festival. Cick here for more details.
sponsor / partners:
The E.C.U.
Environmental Coordinating Unit of the Government of The Commonwealth of Dominica
S.L.I.C. Dominica
www.biogashelpline.com
