Welcome to our conservation network

The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance is regional network of protected areas set up to help and assist the park management and conservation organisations on the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten. Together we are working to safeguard our unique natural world.

Hot news includes ….

Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance Concludes Working Visit to the Netherlands. Engages with Stakeholders and Partners to Increase Support for Conservation Management Organizations in the Dutch Caribbean

Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) Chair Hellen van der Wal and Interim Director Tadzio Bervoets recently concluded a working visit to the Netherlands. The primary goal of the visit was to engage and discuss the way forward for the organization and to lobby for increased support for the Nature Conservation Organizations which form DCNA. The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) is a nonprofit organization created to protect the natural environment and to promote sustainable management of natural resources on the six Dutch Caribbean islands.

The pristine nature of the Dutch Caribbean contains the richest biodiversity in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The diverse ecosystems are a magnet for tourism and the most important source of income for residents of the islands. Nature on the islands is unique and important but it is also fragile. The lack of sustainable funding, policy support and adequate spatial planning poses the most significant threats to the sustainable development of the islands.

Discussions were held with Member of European Parliament Samira Rafaela (D66), the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Netherlands, Bird Protection Netherlands, the Worldwide Fund for Nature the Netherlands, and representatives from the VU University Amsterdam. Discussions were also held with the Dutch Postcode Lottery, a critical supporter of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance.

Considering that the response to conservation issues in a global environmental crisis and due to the effects of climate change it was emphasized that the park management organizations on all islands of the Dutch Caribbean are at the forefront of this global crises. This will have extra and significant impacts in terms of the biodiversity within the kingdom. However, despite the Caribbean being at the forefront of this crises, parks are structurally under-supported in terms of funding and capacity.

The ensuring of ambitious Dutch policies for Nature and Biodiversity should be extended into the Caribbean Parts of the Kingdom, especially considering the islands’ role as biodiversity hotspots. Taking the above into consideration there is an increased need to put the focus on and communicate the conservation challenges faced by the Dutch Caribbean to policy-makers on both sides of the Atlantic, in particular in The Hague and in Brussels.

The protection and functioning of nature (ecosystems) in multifunctional and multi-use landscapes is critical in terms of how vulnerable and interconnected Caribbean ecosystems are. As small islands whatever happens on terrestrial habitat affects marine habitat. This interconnectivity should be stressed, as should the fact that this is much more evident and much more of an existential threat for small island ecosystems than for those on the continent.

The Aruban National Park Foundation FPNA, STINAPA Bonaire, CARMABI Curaçao, STENEPA St. Eustatius, the Saba Conservation Foundation and the Sint Maarten Nature Foundation comprises the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance.

from Right to Left: Mr. Coenraad Krijger, Director of IUCN-NL; Hellen van der Wal, Chair of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance, Tadzio Bervoets, Interim Director Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance

DCNA convention 2019: Youth participation, nature management and science organizations united at a lively gathering in Bonaire

The DCNA convention on Bonaire was recently the backdrop for the start of a new phase of international nature management in the Dutch Caribbean, with a special focus on the future. The recently held convention was a resounding success, with the protected area management organizations from the six islands leading nature organizations and scientific institutions from the Netherlands, local stakeholders and youth nature ambassadors in closer collaboration. Participants joined forces for “our” nature, the most unique ecosystems of the Dutch Kingdom.

Collaboration

The protected area management organizations of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Maarten and Statia are increasingly working together to enact pragmatic conservation actions in the Caribbean part of the Dutch Kingdom. Expertise has been shared, experiences have been exchanged and a great deal has been learned from each other, fulfilling one of the main tasks of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance; the wide-scale collaboration to safeguard nature in the Dutch Caribbean. This in light of the increasing evidence that the issues threatening nature affect all islands jointly and are interconnected including the decline of the coral, the warming of the sea water, the rise in sea level, soil erosion on the islands, the arrival of invasive exotic species, the nuisance caused by stray cattle and the damage to nature caused by unsustainable tourism.

Action

Unfortunately, the list of concerns and risks can even be further extended and the challenges that lie ahead are significant. However, a serious basis for action has been established during this convention and all parties have set their sight on a joint approach for conservation management This approach has been given more substance through strategic workshops facilitated by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF-NL), Bird Protection Netherlands and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN-NL), which all protected area management organizations and the DCNA board attended. This highlights another main task of DCNA: bringing the parks into contact with international stakeholders in the field of nature protection and conservation. The Dutch Caribbean Bird Conservation Work Group was therefore established during the Convention.

A common vision and direction have been established and tasks based on a common direction has been assigned. The following applies to all islands: investing in nature and the environment is not a luxury, but a crucial to the future social and economic well-being of island rresidents.

Valuable nature lessons for the youth

During the DCNA convention there was also special attention for the youth of the six Dutch Caribbean islands. From the youth nature programs of Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba, STINAPA Bonaire, CARMABI on Curaçao, Saba Conservation Foundation, Saba Nature Education (SNE) and Sint Maarten Nature Foundation, four teenagers per island have been brought together. Thanks to the co-financing of the World Wide Fund for Nature, Rabobank and STINAPA; a weekend-long program was organized with overnight stays, field excursions and workshops in the Washington Slagbaai National Park specially organized for the younger generation. It was a unique weekend where participants experienced and learned a lot about Bonaire’s nature, corals, birds and plastic pollution, which they will remember for the rest of their lives. The young nature ambassadors will take this knowledge and experience with them and will spread that knowledge on all six islands with the support of the local nature management organizations. Youth participation will become a permanent part of the annual DCNA program for the six islands. We want to thank everybody that helped organizing this amazing event, and the Warehouse Bonaire for generously sponsoring with groceries.

During the DCNA convention there was a Junior Ranger Exchange. This exciting event took place on Bonaire and brought in youth from all Dutch Caribbean islands. The participating youth had an active learning experience, sharing and learning with and from each other.

Coral, NWO and (citizen) science workshops biologists

Biologists from the local nature organizations on all six Dutch Caribbean islands also had the opportunity to get first hand expert knowledge from coral restoration expert Francesca Viridis of Reef Renewal Bonaire, coral scientist Erik Meesters of Wageningen University & Research,  (citizen) science platform Observation.org expert Hans Verdaat and Arjan de Groene of the World Wildlife Fund in the Netherlands. The knowledge that participating biologists will take back to their respective islands is invaluable. Additionally, important steps have been taken to enhance the working relationship between the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), scientists and local actors has improved. The day ended with a well-attended public lecture about the status of the coral reefs. 

Restart DCNA

After a difficult period, DCNA shows with the new developments that it forms a unique network of leading and cross-disciplinary organizations, and a refocus on the actual conservation needs of the parks on the six islands is now a fact. In the coming months there will be a lot of hard work to get the action plan going.

Next steps DCNA convention

One of the outcomes of the DCNA convention is that several joint statements, presently in draft, will soon be submitted to local and Dutch governments. The statements concern the conditions that are necessary to safeguard nature management for the future on all six islands.

This Special Edition “BioNews” is proud to present the recently premiered videos which highlight the results of some of the nature funding projects on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius. These videos are the crowning glory of a successful cooperation between the Dutch and local governments and local nature conservation organizations. Let yourself be inspired by their passion for our beautiful nature in the Dutch Caribbean.

• Safeguarding Nature Projects: Bonaire
• Safeguarding Nature Projects: Saba
• Safeguarding Nature Projects: St. Eustatius

New DCNA office officially opened

The Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Carola Schouten, has officially opened the new Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance office during her working visit to Bonaire, together with Island Governor Edison Rijna. DCNA made use of the opportunity to request urgent attention for the conservation of ‘the Kingdom’s unique backyard’. The six Dutch Caribbean islands are known for their beautiful and diverse nature, and it’s conservation has not been sufficiently addressed. The current support from the Netherlands is mainly aimed at the BES islands, but nature knows no borders, according to the DCNA. That is why it is of the utmost importance that the Kingdom supports all six Dutch Caribbean Islands and includes all six islands in nature conservation plans and projects.

left to right: DCNA’s vice chair Hellen van de Wal, Minister Schouten and Governor Rijna at the opening of DCNA’s new office.

Opening new office

DCNA is honoured that Minister Schouten and Island Governor Rijna recognize the importance of DCNA’s regional partnership and that they opened the office on Thursday September 5. The meet and greet with DCNA’s employees, the management as well as with DCNA’s new director, Mr. Tadzio Bervoets, was very pleasant.

Distress call for support to all islands

The collaboration of the six Dutch Caribbean islands, as part of DCNA, is unique for the Kingdom according to DCNA’s chairman Hellen van der Wal during her speech. That is also why she finds it very regrettable that support coming from the Kingdom makes a separation between the BES islands on one hand and Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten on the other hand. ‘’Every island has its own unique natural habitats, but faces the same challenges to keep them protected. Climate change, deforestation, overfishing, sargassum, construction and the effects of tourism are only a few examples: we’re all affected by it. It’s vital to work together and learn from each other. It is especially strange that the Kingdom, which connects us, creates a separation when it comes to cross-border problems.

Minister Schouten reacted in an affirming and supporting manner: ‘’Your organization is undeniably pointing to the natural treasures that the Dutch Caribbean harbors, and you’re warning us about potential threats, because climate change, modern life and tourism have an alarming impact on these natural habitats. My ministry willingly cooperates with this professional and creative organization. The DCNA is a versatile organization: you do not only improve communication and expertise of the nature parks, but you also do fundraising for specific projects.”

Island Governor Edison Rijna reacted by stating as follows: “Our ecosystem, including its coral reefs, is unique in the world. Our joy as Bonaireans is double: we live in it and it contributes to our economy, through tourism. All the more reason to be very careful with it.”

Nature knows no borders

After the speech, the book on the Yarari Reserve made by the DCNA and commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, was handed over. The Yarari reserve includes Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius’ territorial waters, in which sharks and sea mammals are protected. Just like many other species, sharks and sea mammals do not know borders. To be able to provide effective protection, cooperation with other geographical areas is of great importance. That is why the book offers knowledge on the species of all six Dutch Caribbean islands.

Successful projects

A television program on nature about the results of the ‘funds for nature’ projects in Bonaire was proudly released as well. These projects, at the behest of the public entity Bonaire and in cooperation with local organizations, were financed by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. On behalf of the ministry, the DCNA created a television program on nature to, among other things, share the results of coral restoration, reforestation and agriculture projects with the population.

Time to invest in nature and the environment

The DCNA is looking forward to continue its activities from its new office to support and strengthen all six Dutch Caribbean islands’ natural parks while they’re working to complete the same joint mission: protecting biodiversity and sustainable nature conservation, under as well as above water. In this case, the same rule applies to every island: investing in nature and the environment is not a luxury, but a vital investment in the wellbeing of the inhabitants and the future.

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