The proximity of the marine and undisturbed terrestrial environments places Dominica in a unique setting for research and educational activities. The island ecosystem of Dominica offers an exceptional opportunity to study under relatively controlled conditions the entire spectrum of ecological, economic, and social factors that influence the human relationship with tropical ecosystems. There is great potential for the development of a country-level program in conservation and sustainable development. The goal of the Archbold Tropical Research and Education Consortium is to develop an array of programs that utilize this resource. The 75,000 residents of the island live mostly near the coast, and their main sources of income are agriculture and service industries.
Bananas are the major crop.
Tourism is limited because of the lack of amenities usually associated with other Caribbean islands such as extensive sandy beaches, casinos, and shopping opportunities but there is a great potential for nature-based tourism. Despite the lack of severe pressure from tourism, the concentration of the population near the coast does impose significant problems with regard to coastal zone management.