Slijkerman, D.

2nd edition (2022) including maps of futures with accompnaying trend projections and indicators.
1st edition (2020).

This is a story about one of the Dutch Caribbean islands: Bonaire.

A story that is shaped by the people of Bonaire and that may help develop this small beautiful island into an example where well-being and prosperity are balanced with cultural heritage. This vision builds further on the local history of planning, linking ongoing Bonairean and Dutch visions and strategies. It shows Bonaire as an example of embracing nature for our livelihoods.

Experts from Bonaire and The Netherlands have developed this vision for the island in 2050 to inspire you. It is the result of a series of design sessions, interviews and workshops with local experts, decision makers and researchers in the field of nature, culture, recreation, agricul - ture and governance. The results are views of a future in which economic development and a nature inclusive society join forces to maintain what is precious, and to improve what is already damaged or threatened. We call this a ‘nature inclusive vision’.

Some of the challenges that were addressed during the mapping process included managing (mass) tourism and population growth, prevent - ing high erosion rates due to free-roaming cat - tle, recharging fresh water in the soil, increasing the use of renewable energy, and adaptation to sea level rise. This would strengthen nature and tackle the one-sided dependency on tourism. Together, we have mapped potential nature-in - clusive measures and deliberated where, why and how these could be adopted. These poten - tial measures include for example rooftop water harvesting, reforestation and greening gardens using indigenous species, growing local food, creating cactus fences, installing solar panels and coral restoration.

This vision looks into the policy context and challenges and shows you the characteristics and cultural contexts of the different landscapes of Bonaire. It considers the inclusive concepts that nature can offer to help Bonaire in navigat - ing some of the challenges that were mapped out. This vision is illustrated by three-dimen - sional landscape visualisations; a Bonaire as you have never seen it before...

Contents of the booklet:

• A new story
• A policy background
• Nature inclusive planning
• Bonaire's challenges
  • Urban and elite estate expansion
  • A changing climate
  • Diversifying the economy
  • Using renewable energy
  • Managing tourism
  • Recharging fresh water in the soil
  • Maintaining, enhancing and restoring nature
  • Local produce and healthy diets
  • Flourishing cultural heritage
• Interweaving nature in Bonaire's landscapes - a vision towards the future
  • Kralendijk urban fabric
  • Calm cliff coast
  • Calcareous ancient forest plateau
  • North-western hills
  • Traditional valley of Rincon
  • Kunuku
  • Caribbean savanna
  • Windswept inhospitable northeast coast
  • Lac Lagoon
  • Southern flats
  • Scrubby southern limestone pavement
  • Unoccopied island of Klein Bonaire
• Next steps

This 2nd edition booklet and accompanying map with impact indicators, is based on the following reports:

• A nature incusive vision - Bonaire 2050
• Bonaire 2050 - putting the vision into numbers
• The state of cactus fences and kunuku's

As part of the permit, Rijkswaterstaat requested an ecological monitoring and evaluation framework guideline to accompany the permit-application for the activities of BOPEC (Bonaire) and Nustar (St. Eustatius), related to the activities of the loading and unloading of oil and oil-related-products. IMARES has been asked to develop a tailored guideline to assist in the design of a monitoring plan by BOPEC and Nustar. The current document is the requested guideline. A complete monitoring proposal by the license holder must subsequently be developed on the basis of this guideline. The generic framework developed by Becking and Slijkerman (2012) was applied and made more specific for this guideline. The basic steps undertaken were: 1. Establishing the context in which the project will take place. 2. Scoping of the project activities, their pressures and the environmental descriptors relevant to the potential impact area. 3. Assessment and evaluation of the anticipated pressures on the selected biological and environmental descriptors. The guidance thus contains an overview of relevant activities and their pressures. In addition, biological descriptors were selected based on the most important relationships to the planned activities and anticipated pressures. The scope of monitoring is based on the major linkages between activities, -pressures and -ecosystem descriptors. A distinction is made between baseline and accident monitoring. Baseline monitoring is necessary to guarantee that background levels and patterns of change over time are known. This should be done also at control sites to make sure that a natural pattern (e.g. bleaching) is not confused as an effect of pollution on the impact sites. Both control sites and impact sites to perform baseline monitoring are recommended in this report. Accident monitoring is the assessment of the environmental status following accidents. Polluted sites should be identified and monitored. In parallel, all baseline monitoring should be continued. Due to wind and currents, there is a high likelihood that oil spilled at Nustar will float to the coast of Saba. Therefor it is necessary to check the coast of Saba as well after an oil spill. The baseline monitoring should be a continuous process with and regular effort, while accident related monitoring is incidental, only but directly after a spill or accident. Each type of monitoring requires different frequencies (Chapter 6).

Introduction and aims 

With the introduction of smart phones that also take photos combined with GPS tracking applications, more tourists are able to take more geo-tagged photo’s during their travels. In combination with the options to upload these photos to online platforms, new ways of collecting data from the Internet provide new research opportunities. These digital footprints, combined with their specific meta-data regarding geo-location the data provide much information to be of use in spatial-temporal research. 

A previous study on Bonaire showed the potential of this kind of research. It showed some understanding of the spatial movement of tourists and the number of tourists that visit different parts of Bonaire. In order to use these kinds of data in e.g. potential impact studies, we aimed to give a follow up. 

In the present study the approach from Schep et al. (2016) was revisited with the following goals: 

• Update distribution maps with the latest data (2016-2020) and evaluate the reproducibility of the maps. 

• Detect whether distribution patterns and densities has changed following the recent developed trails and thus tourist spreading. 

• Study if densities at specific locations can be related to local characteristics, such as:

 Spatial characteristics such as distance roads 

 Landscape characteristics (landscapes) 

 Tourist type (cruise versus stay-over) 

Methods 

For this study, FLICKR was the only online platform to collect photographs and their metadata. Others were no longer available or unsuitable. All photographs taken between November 2002 and October 2019, within a Bonaire surrounding bounding box were collected, including their meta-info. This resulted in 13026 photos, coming from 421 photographers. 

Using a self-built Python application “PhotoCategoriser” each photo was assigned to a category (coastal, seascape, wildlife, underwater, terrestrial, other). Metadata of each photo and the assigned category allowed to analyse on origin of the photographer, to estimate the type of tourist (cruise or stay-over), their interest, and differences in spatial and temporal distribution. The specified resolution to aggregate the data was set at grid cells with a mean surface area of 0.301 km2. 

Photographer intensity is determined by condensing photographs into Photo User Days (PUD). One PUD stands for one (or more) photographs taken on a given day by specific photographer for a category in a grid cell.

Results and conclusions 

Overall results 

- The report provides various figures and maps presenting the spatial distribution of PUD as a proxy for tourist distribution. Temporal aspects in PUDs reflect the annual dynamics in tourist numbers. 

- Trends in tourist numbers are not equally reflected in the numbers of PUDs. PUDs are therefore a proxy of tourist distribution, but not a strong indicator for trends in absolute numbers and intensity. 

Reproducibility 

- The additional ~ 4000 photos on top of the estimated ~ 10.000 FLICKR photos that were analyzed by Schep did not add much extra information. Also, the applied resolution did not refine the possibilities of performing risk assessments on habitats or species due to the limited number of data in those areas. Distribution patterns and intensity trends were similar. Category distribution however differed slightly. This can be explained by the differences in used datasets, and by the boundary criteria for assigning categories. 

Detection of (changed) distribution and relation to local characteristics 

- The overall distribution of PUDs shows higher intensity along the west coast, near Kralendijk and its tourist area. In addition, some higher intensity spots are visible near Sorobon in the east, and Seru 

Largu in the middle of the island. The hotspots such as Goto and Washington Slagbaai in the north are clearly highlighted, as well as several scenic spots along the southern flats (Salt pans, Slavery houses, Lighthouse). 

- Less frequented regions mainly include landscapes on the eastern part of the island. The low numbers of PUDs in these regions did not allow additional analysis on changes in distribution of PUD between years. It was considered not to be of added value. Hence, the effectiveness of the recent established trails could not be assessed any further, and an additional preliminary risk assessment for habitats or species was left out of the study. 

- Distribution of PUDs reflect mainly the accessibility of regions: hence the roads and hotspots are clearly visible, and only limited PUDs were plotted further away. Analysis of distribution of tourists in specific habitats or nearby certain living areas of species were therefore considered not to be of added value. 

- The interests (reflected by the categories) of the photographers slightly vary over the years and within a year, both by origin and by tourist type (also reflected by the cruise season). Also, the distribution and intensity of tourist types and origins seems to slightly vary. Details are provided in the report. 

Future application and methodological issues 

- We suggest that studies that use these data sources first look into the generic distribution and intensity of photo’s PUDs collected (data coverage) before taking the effort of categorizing. Based on the general overview, following analysis steps such as categorizing and environmental risk assessment could be added. 

- Manual assignment of categories to photos is a subjective exercise. Assigning categories requires strict criteria and midterm evaluation of results. 

- Online platforms are variable in their existence and terms of use, leading to an uncertain accessibility and application of these kinds of data in future studies. 

Document referenced in BioNews 40 article "Using Digital Footprints to Manage Conservation Efforts"

Bonaire, one of the Dutch Caribbean islands, is facing major challenges: managing (mass) tourism and population growth, preventing high erosion rates due to free-roaming cattle, recharging fresh water into the soil, increasing the use of renewable energy, adaptation to sea level rise and extreme weather events, halting biodiversity loss and tackling the unilateral dependency on tourism. In thirty years, Bonaire inevitably will look different. Progressing on current trends will only increase the challenges, a new way of thinking, planning and acting is needed.

Together with local experts a vision for Bonaire in 2050 is portrayed, in which nature and natural processes play a key role in all development activities – a ‘nature inclusive vision’. The vision aims to inspire. It outlines a future in which economic development and a nature inclusive society join forces to maintain what is precious, and to improve what is already impaired or threatened.

The report starts by describing the policy context and challenges. It then looks at what nature inclusive concepts can offer to navigate some of the challenges Bonaire is experiencing illustrated by three-dimensional landscape visualisations.

Challenges:

• Urban and elite estate expansion
• A changing climate
• Diversifying the economy
• Managing tourism
• Recharging fresh water into the soil
• Using renewable energy
• Maintaining, enhancing and restoring nature
• Locl produce and healthy diets
• Flourishing cultural heritage

This report is also published as graphical, more accesible publication. You can find that booklet here.

Introduction and aims
With the introduction of smart phones that also take photos combined with GPS tracking applications, more tourists are able to take more geo-tagged photo’s during their travels. In combination with the options to upload these photos to online platforms, new ways of collecting data from the Internet provide new research opportunities. These digital footprints, combined with their specific meta-data regarding geo-location the data provide much information to be of use in spatial-temporal research.
A previous study on Bonaire showed the potential of this kind of research. It showed some understanding of the spatial movement of tourists and the number of tourists that visit different parts of Bonaire. In order to use these kinds of data in e.g. potential impact studies, we aimed to give a follow up.
In the present study the approach from Schep et al. (2016) was revisited with the following goals:

• Update distribution maps with the latest data (2016-2020) and evaluate the reproducibility of the maps.
• Detect whether distribution patterns and densities has changed following the recent developed trails and thus tourist spreading.
• Study if densities at specific locations can be related to local characteristics, such as:
  • Spatial characteristics such as distance roads
  • Landscape characteristics (landscapes)
  • Tourist type (cruise versus stay-over)

Methods
For this study, FLICKR was the only online platform to collect photographs and their metadata. Others were no longer available or unsuitable. All photographs taken between November 2002 and October 2019, within a Bonaire surrounding bounding box were collected, including their meta-info. This resulted in 13026 photos, coming from 421 photographers.
Using a self-built Python application “PhotoCategoriser” each photo was assigned to a category (coastal, seascape, wildlife, underwater, terrestrial, other). Metadata of each photo and the assigned category allowed to analyse on origin of the photographer, to estimate the type of tourist (cruise or stay-over), their interest, and differences in spatial and temporal distribution. The specified resolution to aggregate the data was set at grid cells with a mean surface area of 0.301 km2.
Photographer intensity is determined by condensing photographs into Photo User Days (PUD). One PUD stands for one (or more) photographs taken on a given day by specific photographer for a category in a grid cell.
Results and conclusions
Overall results

• The report provides various figures and maps presenting the spatial distribution of PUD as a proxy for tourist distribution. Temporal aspects in PUDs reflect the annual dynamics in tourist numbers.
• Trends in tourist numbers are not equally reflected in the numbers of PUDs. PUDs are therefore a proxy of tourist distribution, but not a strong indicator for trends in absolute numbers and intensity.

Reproducibility

• The additional ~ 4000 photos on top of the estimated ~ 10.000 FLICKR photos that were analyzed by Schep did not add much extra information. Also, the applied resolution did not refine the possibilities of performing risk assessments on habitats or species due to the limited number of data in those areas. Distribution patterns and intensity trends were similar. Category distribution however differed slightly. This can be explained by the differences in used datasets, and by the boundary criteria for assigning categories.

Detection of (changed) distribution and relation to local characteristics

• The overall distribution of PUDs shows higher intensity along the west coast, near Kralendijk and its tourist area. In addition, some higher intensity spots are visible near Sorobon in the east, and Seru Largu in the middle of the island. The hotspots such as Goto and Washington Slagbaai in the north are clearly highlighted, as well as several scenic spots along the southern flats (Salt pans, Slavery houses, Lighthouse).
• Less frequented regions mainly include landscapes on the eastern part of the island. The low numbers of PUDs in these regions did not allow additional analysis on changes in distribution of PUD between years. It was considered not to be of added value. Hence, the effectiveness of the recent established trails could not be assessed any further, and an additional preliminary risk assessment for habitats or species was left out of the study.
• Distribution of PUDs reflect mainly the accessibility of regions: hence the roads and hotspots are clearly visible, and only limited PUDs were plotted further away. Analysis of distribution of tourists in specific habitats or nearby certain living areas of species were therefore considered not to be of added value.
• The interests (reflected by the categories) of the photographers slightly vary over the years and within a year, both by origin and by tourist type (also reflected by the cruise season). Also, the distribution and intensity of tourist types and origins seems to slightly vary. Details are provided in the report.

Future application and methodological issues

• We suggest that studies that use these data sources first look into the generic distribution and intensity of photo’s PUDs collected (data coverage) before taking the effort of categorizing. Based on the general overview, following analysis steps such as categorizing and environmental risk assessment could be added.
• Manual assignment of categories to photos is a subjective exercise. Assigning categories requires strict criteria and midterm evaluation of results.
• Online platforms are variable in their existence and terms of use, leading to an uncertain accessibility and application of these kinds of data in future studies.

Like most small tropical islands, Bonaire is largely dependent on imported food. This results in high food prices due to import taxes andtransport costs, and high vulnerability towards price fluctuations andglobal developments, which both present major risks to food security. With many inhabitants living on or below the poverty line, low incomes translate into eating cheap unhealthy food, often causing health issues. While 25% of Bonaire’s surface consists of rural areas suitable for on- land food production, current practices of agriculture are small scale, mainly due to small domestic markets and limited access to freshwater, electricity, human capacity and know-how, while the widely used practice of extensive husbandry results in suboptimal yield and severe grazing- induced erosion issues. Sustainable development of agriculture and husbandry on Bonaire thus provides a great opportunity to increase food security, but requires a holistic (nexus) approach that accounts for the local socio-economic setting and the interlinkages between the water, food, energy and ecosystem domains, to identify trade-offs and seek for synergies among these domains. Several nexus interventions are presented that will aid sustainable development of the agricultural and livestock sector, while simultaneously contributing to water, energy, ecosystem and nutrition security. Identified key nexus interventions are: strong policy aimed at facilitation of fenced livestock keeping, water-saving agriculture, decentralized solar power, development of an agro-business and knowledge centre, and development of educational programmes on sustainable agriculture and healthy diet.

Chronic stressors such as water pollution, overfishing, and ocean warming are major threats to the resilience of coral reefs as they influence processes that underlie resistance and recovery of reef ecosystems. Local management actions and policy increasingly have to focus on supporting the resilience of these ecosystems. This requires customization of management on smaller spatial scales.

Tourism contributes to reduced water quality due to the emission of suncare products by swimming recreationists. Recent research shows that UV filters (viz. oxybenzone) in suncare products can contribute to reduced vitality of coral ecosystems. Monitoring in 2016 showed that these substances are also present in coastal waters of Bonaire, at levels of serious environmental concern.

Although water quality of Bonaire seems to be affected by sunscreen pollution, the local action perspective is also specific. The public opinion can be influenced by translating scientific results to articles suitable for a broader public audience and by providing accessible information via various media. Raising public awareness may result in both reduced supply and use of specific harmful products, since appropriate alternatives are already available.

WWF and the Ministry of Economic affairs assigned various smaller projects of which the activities, results and conclusions are presented in this report. WMR and Boneiru Duraderu worked together on these assignments in the so called “Sunscreen awareness project”.

Main research questions were:

• Was the presence of polluting UV filters at Sorobon in 2016 a one-time observation, or are these substances found in other time periods as well. Do concentrations depend on tourism intensity and products used?
• How can the local use of sunscreen products containing oxybenzone be effectively influenced, so that coral ecosystems on Bonaire are no longer at risk from such products.

To answer these question various activities were exploited:

• Monitoring and surveys:

• Chemical monitoring with focus on field concentrations of UV filters in November 2017 during the peak of the cruise season.
• Conducting Beach surveys among tourists in order get preliminary information on tourist intensity and sunscreen use during field monitoring.

• Stakeholder involvement:

• Conduct shop surveys in order to get information on products sold and willingness of owners to make a change.
• Host a conference to present results and to prepare a voluntary covenant and involve stakeholders.
• Contribute with scientific knowledge to media and local provide information.

Monitoring of UV filter levels showed that UV filters oxybezone and octocrylene were present in the water, at levels indicating environmental risk. Risk quotients (RQ) of oxybenzone range between 0 and 2.8 whereas risk quotients of octocrylene range between 6 and 52. It should however be noted that the RQ’s of octocrylene are derived from a rather limited data set, and are higher due to the higher uncertainty factor applied.

Although the study was indicative, UV-filter levels and thus risk seem to be related to tourist intensity, origin and product use. Levels of especially oxybenzone were higher when more oxybenzone products were used among tourists on the beach. These tourists originated mostly from the US, enjoying a cruise holiday. Stay-over tourists from the EU show a relatively limited use of oxybenzone-based sunscreen products.

Stakeholder involvement included surveys and interviews in the preparation towards the Sunscreen Awareness conference at which various stakeholder were invited to discuss how to move forward on the topic.

The attendees of the conference participated in a lively discussion, and the following paths forward were identified:

1. Legal Ban for sunscreens.
2. Changing consumer behaviour.
3. Introduction of an environmental tax for cruise tourist.

Stakeholders vary in their view towards the daily practice and effectivity of a legal ban, and pro’s and con’s are listed in the report. Common ground was found in the possibility to include a rule in the Marine Park management plan to strengthen the communication about the subject. Awareness and influencing consumer behaviour was viewed as the best way to move forward. Moreover, an awareness campaign can be implemented much faster than a law. To pay for such an ongoing awareness campaign, the introduction of an environmental tax for cruise tourists was suggested. Remarks and additional research questions are listed in the report.

In summary, future research and awareness should focus on:

• additional monitoring at the west coast to broaden the scope and relation to tourist origin, density and product use
• effects of field relevant levels of sunscreen
• study the effect of so called “safe alternatives”
• involvement of the cruise sector, and study the willingness to change to other products

Wageningen Marine Research (WMR) and Boneiru Duradero (BD) supported by World Wide Fund for Nature the Netherlands (WWF-NL)organised a Sunscreen Awareness Conference, on March 21st 2018, inviting stakeholders from the government, NGO’s and tourism sector on Bonaire to participate. The goal of the conference was twofold:

1.         Educate participants about international sunscreen research and the studies that were implemented on Bonaire. 

2.         Create “buy-in” and create partnerships by engaging stakeholders to develop an island wide sunscreen strategy for Bonaire. 

The conference started with a presentation by Diana Slijkerman (WMR), to inform participants on international sunscreen research and the studies that were implemented on Bonaire. Sunscreen research is relatively new and still ongoing, but one thing is very clear: the UV-filter oxybenzone has been identified as the major “culprit” harming corals. 

Studies done in 2016 and 2017 on Bonaire showed that UV filters from sunscreens are present in the water of Lac Bay at levels that cannot exclude environmental effects on the organisms in the highly valuable ecosystems. The latest study also included nearly 400 interviews among beach goers on Sorobon, asking the tourists where they are from, what sunscreen products they use, and whether or not it includes oxybenzone. Although the study was indicative, UV-filter levels and thus environmental risk seem to be related to tourist intensity, country of origin and product use. The levels of oxybenzone found in water samples were higher when more beachgoers used oxybenzone-products. These tourists, predominantly cruise tourists, were mostly originating from the US. Stay-over tourists from the EU show a relatively limited use of oxybenzone-based sunscreen products. 

Dr. Slijkerman’s problem analyses made clear that sunscreen pollution is neither the biggest nor the only threat to coral reefs. Climate change, overfishing and eutrophication are the main drivers of the degradation of our reefs for the last decades. However, impaired water quality by chemicals such as UV filters adds to the problems of already stressed reefs which undermines their resilience and ability to withstand and recover from e.g. global warming related impacts. 

Although not studied extensively, international scientist claim that sunscreen products containing UV-filters based on zinc and titanium are better alternatives. A positive and clear action perspective on the local scale makes it possible to improve water quality in order to make reefs more resilient. 

Participants of the sunscreen conference agreed on the clear action perspective. “When we convince tourists on Bonaire to use sunscreens without oxybenzone, every swimmer, snorkeler and diver can contribute to the improvement of water quality today” Sharon Bol says.  

There was a general consensus among all participants that action should be taken on Bonaire concerning potentially harmful sunscreens. The attendees of the conference participated in a lively discussion, and the following paths forward were identified:

1.         Legal ban of oxybenzone-containing products.

2.         Changing consumer behaviour.

3.         An environmental tax for cruise tourist.

Representatives from the tourism sector were mostly in favour of a legal ban. They feel that a legal ban on the UV-filter oxybenzone will make it easier to convince their customers of the harmful impact of sunscreens to our reef. In contrast, most NGO’s and members of the government are opposed to a ban. They have concerns about the feasibility. In the first place, it would be very difficult to build a legal framework that covers all arguments. Enforcement would also be an issue: “We could try to prohibit the sale of sunscreens with oxybenzone on Bonaire, but it is impossible to control the sunscreen products tourists bring from home”. A rule in the Bonaire National Marine Parkmanagement plan could, however, strengthen the communication about the subject. 

The solution for reducing impact of sunscreens on the reef is largely connected to behavioural change. It is as simple as avoiding sunscreens with oxybenzone. That is why most participants of the sunscreen conference viewed awarenessas the best way to move forward. Moreover, an awareness campaign can be implemented much faster than a law. Another advantage of sunscreen awareness is that it can help to reinforce Bonaire’s positioning on the “vacation market”. After all, we are striving to be a sustainable island. Participants agreed unanimously that there is a positive and clear action perspective. WMR and BD are in the process of developing communication materials for an island wide awareness campaign. This includes an educational poster and an animation video that should educate tourists and inhabitants on Bonaire about the effect that sunscreens with the UV-filter oxybenzone can have on corals.

The informative poster was finalised using the participants inputs, and distributed among dive shops and supermarkets. The online artwork of the poster reached 35.000 people through Facebook. The animation was also launched online and had 5000 views. It could be promoted further e.g. via Tourist TV and TV screens at airport, in hotel lobbies and restaurants. 

The fact that cruise tourists do not pay any feefor the use of the marine park is a concern to most participants of the sunscreen conference. Stay-over tourists and other users of the marine park pay an annual fee of 10 USD for water activities such as swimming or bathing but cruise tourists don’t have to pay. Since cruise tourists that enter Bonaire’s sea attribute to the decreased water quality too, an environmental tax for cruise ship visitors should be considered. This tax would allow Bonaire to continually fund awareness campaigns, educating tourists about the use of sunscreens and the unique value of Bonaire’s coral reefs. Most importantly is that the cruise sector has to be engaged, on a strategic island level. Cruise tourists  should be made aware of the unique quality of Bonaire’s nature and the fact that they are visiting protected areas. Furthermore, they should be informed NOT to bring oxybenzone-sunscreens to Bonaire while booking their trip.  

During the conference, many remarks and questions were brought into the lively discussion. Among many things it was argued whether or not the current law already provides us the ability to prevent the use of oxybenzone inside the Bonaire National Marine Parkvia a revision or addition in the marine park management plan. The urgent need for more research was also expressed. Research should focus on additional water quality monitoring, and potential levels and effects of current proposed alternatives such as zinc and titanium. The conference concluded with a list of action points and possible opportunities for island-wide cooperation.

Soon after the conference, several positive steps forward were made by the public and private sector on Bonaire. Van den Tweel Supermarket Bonaire is one of the first supermarkets on Bonaire that removed sunscreens with the UV-filter Oxybenzone from their assortment. Furthermore, Jibe City did not hesitate and switched to selling a different brand of sunscreen. And, inspired by the recent decision of Hawaii to ban harmful sunscreens, the Island Council unanimously adopted a motion calling for a ban per January 1, 2021 for sunscreen product containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. The team is willing to share their knowledge and contribute to the steps to be taken in the process that lies ahead. 

Coming year, the project team goes ahead with the Sunscreen Awareness project, focusing on both remaining research topics and awareness raising via various media. 

Questions and remarks? Please contact the team via: Diana.Slijkerman@wur.nl and Sharon@bolholding.com

We thank Sabine Engel (STINAPA Bonaire), Olivier Kramer and Carolyn Caporusso for their assistance and support. 

This news-tem was published by DCNA in BioNews 15-2018