This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.
The island-nation of Dominica, 790 km2 in area, is located approximately 1126.5 km Southeast of Florida, USA. In the mid-1990s, Dominica embarked on developing the 183.5 km Waitukubuli National Trail (WNT), the first and only national trail model in the Eastern Caribbean. The 14-segment WNT, officially opened in May 2013, passes through some of the island’s most diverse landscapes. WNT was designed to link as many rural communities as possible and promote ecotourism and community socioeconomic development. Rehabilitation work continues on the WNT and the rest of Dominica, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria of 2017. This article, based primarily on a limited questionnaire survey, selected interviews, and literature review, explored the research question ‘What were the challenges faced by a small-island nation in the development of a National Trail? Five specific research objectives focused on the conceptualization, implementation challenges, partnerships fostered, national and sub-regional significance, and future outlook of the Trail were considered. Questionnaire respondents identified the island’s topography and negotiations with private landowners as significant trail construction challenges. A 100% of survey respondents anticipate that reliable funding to support timely maintenance would likely be a critical future issue. Some respondents identified marketing, public engagement, and visitor safety as potential issues. Face-to-face interviews found strong support for the WNT. The interviewees were confident that Dominica would realize sustainable socioeconomic benefits from the Trail. The article concludes with lessons learned and proposes strategies and research themes to ensure the Trail’s sustainability.
Colmore S. Christian. Conceptualization and Realization of a National Trail in a Small Island-Nation: The Commonwealth of Dominica’s Experience. Tourism and Hospitality 2021, 2, 79 -94.
AMA StyleColmore S. Christian. Conceptualization and Realization of a National Trail in a Small Island-Nation: The Commonwealth of Dominica’s Experience. Tourism and Hospitality. 2021; 2 (1):79-94.
Chicago/Turabian StyleColmore S. Christian. 2021. "Conceptualization and Realization of a National Trail in a Small Island-Nation: The Commonwealth of Dominica’s Experience." Tourism and Hospitality 2, no. 1: 79-94.
Previous studies on global food security have indicated that in order to sustain the global population by the year 2050, a significant increase in food production will be needed. Consequently, it is crucial that today’s students are educated to realize this increasing food demand. One of the problems is that currently too few students seem to be interested in pursuing studies in the fields of agriculture and related sciences. By exploring three research questions, this study assesses the extent to which high school students in each of the 67 counties in the U.S. state of Alabama are being exposed to agricultural-related science courses. For the purposes of this assessment, the high schools were grouped by zones—Northern, Central, Southern and the Black Belt. Relevant high school data, including courses offered, were compiled from Alabama’s Department of Education 2017 directory. Microsoft Excel and SPSS software were used to analyze the data. The findings of this study demonstrated that there are spatial differences in agriculture-related courses offered in high schools in Alabama’s Northern, Central and Southern regions. Future research should further investigate what percentage of high school students actually choose agriculture or related disciplines as their professional career paths after graduating from high school.
Rosny Jean; Colmore Christian. Agricultural Education in Today’s Schools System: An Evaluation of Agricultural and Related Science Courses among High Schools in Alabama, USA. Social Sciences 2018, 7, 218 .
AMA StyleRosny Jean, Colmore Christian. Agricultural Education in Today’s Schools System: An Evaluation of Agricultural and Related Science Courses among High Schools in Alabama, USA. Social Sciences. 2018; 7 (11):218.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRosny Jean; Colmore Christian. 2018. "Agricultural Education in Today’s Schools System: An Evaluation of Agricultural and Related Science Courses among High Schools in Alabama, USA." Social Sciences 7, no. 11: 218.
The aim of the study was to investigate differences, if any, in environmental attitude, knowledge, experience and participation, between non-math-science (NMS) and math-science (MS) high school students from minority ethnic groups. A 16-item survey instrument was used for data collection. Participants were students at eight high schools in Madison County, Alabama, USA who were enrolled in North Alabama Center for Educational Excellence’s (NACEE’s) 2014 and 2015 summer programs. Eighty-six completed questionnaires were collected, the majority from Black/African-American and Hispanic minority ethnic groups. Pearson’s chi-square test and Spearman rho correlation were applied to assess differences and relationships between the groups. We found high level of positive attitude (NMS [95%] and MS [98%]) towards environmental protection among both groups; however, no statistically significant differences were evident. While both groups had low levels of participation and engagement in environmental protection and outdoor recreation activities, the MS group had comparatively higher participation than the NMS group. The relationship between participation and satisfaction was significantly positive for MS students and significantly negative for NMS students. To increase minority students’ knowledge and participation in pro-environmental activities in the future, Alabama’s Environmental Education Program should emphasize selective activities (e.g., involving students’ families and communities in environmental initiatives, providing opportunities to students to socialize and have fun with nature, and encouraging age-appropriate teaching and learning approaches).
Colmore S. Christian; Santosh K. Ojha; Berneece S. Herbert. Minority High School Students in Non-Math-Science-Oriented and Math-Science-Oriented Majors: Do They View the Environment Differently? Social Sciences 2018, 7, 130 .
AMA StyleColmore S. Christian, Santosh K. Ojha, Berneece S. Herbert. Minority High School Students in Non-Math-Science-Oriented and Math-Science-Oriented Majors: Do They View the Environment Differently? Social Sciences. 2018; 7 (8):130.
Chicago/Turabian StyleColmore S. Christian; Santosh K. Ojha; Berneece S. Herbert. 2018. "Minority High School Students in Non-Math-Science-Oriented and Math-Science-Oriented Majors: Do They View the Environment Differently?" Social Sciences 7, no. 8: 130.
Geotourism is a relatively new concept in the tourism industry, a concept which apparently has not yet been formally embraced by Caribbean destinations. This paper, based primarily on a literature review supplemented by the first-hand knowledge of the author, who served for over a decade in the natural resource management and tourism sectors in the region, identifies some of the geotourism assets and assesses the geotourism potential of two selected Caribbean islands, namely the Commonwealth of Dominica and St. Lucia. Indications are that the islands of the region have outstanding geological formations, dormant and active volcanic zones and associated geomorphological features, and breath-taking terrestrial and marine landscapes, including deep river gorges and tall mountains, and beautiful beaches, which together constitute important geotourism assets. Currently, these resources are marketed and promoted as part of the region’s nature tourism attractions. The feasibility of incorporating geotourism as a component of this overall nature tourism thrust is explored in this paper. As a follow-up to this study a survey of tourism officials, natural resource professionals, and selected scientists of the region is proposed for the purpose of identifying the reasons and constraints preventing the Caribbean region from formally embracing geotourism, developing and promoting the geotourism resources of the region as a unique component of the overall tourism product.
Colmore S. Christian. The Caribbean’s Geotourism Potential and Challenges: A Focus on Two Islands in the Region. Geosciences 2018, 8, 273 .
AMA StyleColmore S. Christian. The Caribbean’s Geotourism Potential and Challenges: A Focus on Two Islands in the Region. Geosciences. 2018; 8 (8):273.
Chicago/Turabian StyleColmore S. Christian. 2018. "The Caribbean’s Geotourism Potential and Challenges: A Focus on Two Islands in the Region." Geosciences 8, no. 8: 273.
The Caribbean has experienced considerable fluctuations with many of the small island-nations of the Region being highly vulnerable to socio-political, environmental and economic changes. The Caribbean Tourism Association (CTO) contends that this Region is highly dependent on tourism, possibly more than any other region in the world, but globalization has left the countries of the Region with limited economic alternatives. The result is that tourism has emerged as the largest employer and the foremost foreign exchange earner in the Region. This survey research study, data from which were analyzed with SPSS for Windows, explored three research questions and identified the Region’s strengths, assets and issues as perceived by stakeholders at the CTO’s 2010 Sustainable Tourism Conference. People, culture and favorable weather were identified as strengths. However, critical issues such the absence of clear political and policy directions, loss of biodiversity and natural resources, need for more efficient zoning and land use planning for integrated tourism development, and insufficient stakeholder involvement were characterized as challenges that must be addressed. Recommendations are proposed.
Berneece Herbert; Colmore S. Christian. Regional Tourism at the Cross-Roads: Perspectives of Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Stakeholders. Journal of Sustainable Development 2013, 7, p17 .
AMA StyleBerneece Herbert, Colmore S. Christian. Regional Tourism at the Cross-Roads: Perspectives of Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Stakeholders. Journal of Sustainable Development. 2013; 7 (1):p17.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBerneece Herbert; Colmore S. Christian. 2013. "Regional Tourism at the Cross-Roads: Perspectives of Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Stakeholders." Journal of Sustainable Development 7, no. 1: p17.
This article highlights aspects of the historical, social and policy developments of cost-share programs in the USA. The experiences of African Americans who are members of Limited Resource Landowners Education Network in attempting to access available cost-share resources in Alabama are presented. Literature reviews, participation in and response to the USDA’s Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI), and discussions with stakeholders were the primary sources of information and data used in this exploratory analysis which was conducted within the framework of a “modified action research model”. Until recently underserved landowners’ participation in cost-share programs in Alabama has been very limited. Although in theory access has been open to underserved landowners, these landowners have historically encountered a range of challenges in trying to participate in the cost-share programs. Many of those challenges, the analysis has indicated, stemmed from: (a) Natural Resource Conservation Service’s (NRCS’) limited pool of available and relevant technical personnel, (b) the agency’s interpretation of existing program policy guidelines and (c) the low level of underserved landowners’ trust and confidence in the transparency and fairness of federal and state agencies and their officials. Successfully navigating such obstacles and challenges during the implementation of the CCPI initiative in Alabama necessitated much understanding, perseverance, collaboration, and a willingness to compromise by all project stakeholders. Strategies likely to assist other similar groups in successfully navigating the various Federal and State requirements for participation in cost-share programs are proposed. Lessons learned will inform future application of the action research model in this continuing study.
Colmore S. Christian; Rory F. Fraser; Buddhi Gyawali; Chlesea Scott. Participation of Minorities in Cost-share Programs-The Experience of a Small Underserved Landowners’ Group in Alabama. Journal of Sustainable Development 2013, 6, p70 .
AMA StyleColmore S. Christian, Rory F. Fraser, Buddhi Gyawali, Chlesea Scott. Participation of Minorities in Cost-share Programs-The Experience of a Small Underserved Landowners’ Group in Alabama. Journal of Sustainable Development. 2013; 6 (4):p70.
Chicago/Turabian StyleColmore S. Christian; Rory F. Fraser; Buddhi Gyawali; Chlesea Scott. 2013. "Participation of Minorities in Cost-share Programs-The Experience of a Small Underserved Landowners’ Group in Alabama." Journal of Sustainable Development 6, no. 4: p70.