Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management

Plan land and water: Nature and environment plan Caribbean Netherlands 2020-2030

The Caribbean Netherlands consists of three islands: Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, all located in the Caribbean Sea. Since 2010 each island is part of the Netherlands, considered as a public entity. Bonaire is the largest island by size and population with 20,104 permanent residents, while 3,138 people live on St Eustatius and approximately 1,915 on Saba, at the time of writing.    

The Caribbean Netherlands is home to a wealth of natural resources, providing many ecological, cultural and economic services to the local population as well as regionally and globally. Nature-based tourism on the Caribbean Netherlands is not limited to marine activities such as snorkelling and diving but also extends to the appreciation of the terrestrial landscape of all three islands. Beautiful and unique features of the islands include the ‘Saba Bank’, one of the largest atolls in the world, located just a few miles from the coast of Saba, the ‘Elfin Forest’ and rainforest on top of Mt Scenery on Saba. The ‘Quill’, a dormant volcano on St. Eustatius with rainforest inhabiting its crater, and the pristine coral reefs around Bonaire, considered one of the most beautiful and healthy coral reefs of the Caribbean are all popular natural areas deserving of effective conservation. Regionally and globally the ecosystems are also of great importance. On all three islands the coastal waters and their reefs are within marine protected areas, which are internationally recognized. A high percentage of the terrestrial environment is also protected, for example as national parks, or the four wetland areas on Bonaire that are protected under the Ramsar convention. In addition, Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) under the EU Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in overseas Territories and regions (BEST) initiative have been identified on each of the islands. See Annex 5 for an overview of protected areas.  

The well-being and prosperity of the islands and their residents is highly dependent on the quality of its natural environment. The socio-economic, cultural and ecological contexts of Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius are unique, but they share similar challenges in varying degrees. Where the impacts of extreme weather events such as storms and hurricanes are much more pronounced on Saba and Sint Eustatius, the pressures of population and tourism growth are more deeply felt on Bonaire. 

This Nature and Environment Policy Plan (NEPP) brings these shared and specific topics to the table, in order to develop an integrated framework that can be relied upon for the coming decade.

 

 

 

 

Date
2020
Data type
Other resources
Theme
Governance
Education and outreach
Geographic location
Bonaire
Saba
St. Eustatius

Plan voor land en water - beleidsplan natuur en milieu Caribisch Nederland 2020-2030

Caribisch Nederland bestaat uit drie eilanden: Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba, alle gelegen in de Caribische Zee. Sinds 2010 zijn alle eilanden onderdeel van Nederland en worden ze als openbare lichamen beschouwd. Qua bevolkingsomvang en oppervlakte is Bonaire het grootste eiland met 20 104 permanent ingezetenen, terwijl er op het moment van schrijven 3 138 mensen op Sint Eustatius en ongeveer 1 915 mensen op Saba wonen. 

Het welzijn en de welvaart van de eilanden en hun bewoners zijn sterk afhankelijk van de kwaliteit van de natuurlijke omgeving. Bonaire, Saba en Sint Eustatius hebben elk een unieke sociaaleconomische, culturele en ecologische context, maar hebben met dezelfde uitdagingen te maken, zij het in verschillende mate. Terwijl de gevolgen van extreme weersomstandigheden zoals stormen en orkanen zich nadrukkelijker op Saba en Sint Eustatius doen gelden, wordt de druk door bevolkingsgroei en toename van het toerisme duidelijker gevoeld op Bonaire. Dit Natuur en Milieubeleidsplan Caribisch Nederland (NMBP-CN) stelt deze gemeenschappelijke en specifieke onderwerpen aan de orde, met de bedoeling om een integraal kader te ontwikkelen waarop de komende tien jaar een beroep kan worden gedaan.

 

Date
2020
Data type
Other resources
Theme
Governance
Geographic location
Bonaire
Saba
Saba bank
St. Eustatius