Verweij, P.

Bonaire 2050, putting the vision into numbers

Bonaire is facing major challenges including (mass) tourism, population growth, urban expansion, climate change, biodiversity loss and the unilateral dependency on tourism. In thirty years, Bonaire will inevitably look different. Here, two different possible futures are presented, to form a basis for dialogue amongst stakeholders and to stimulate a positive change and sustainability on Bonaire. One of these scenarios follows current trends (business-as-usual), and the other bends those trends into a nature-inclusive future after a vision developed by a trans-disciplinary team of researchers, local experts and stakeholders. For both scenarios drivers and impacts are visualized and documented on climate, tourist numbers, population, infrastructure, resources, land use, erosion and nature. 
Visualizing scenarios is one important piece in creating awareness about the future as it allows to shed light of the difficult to grasp long-term effects, and explicitly showcases current trends. It gives opportunities to imagine a future that looks different from the prognosis, and to inspire to work towards a sustainable and desirable future.

DISCUSSION AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES (excerpt from the report)

With this study, we shed light on measurable impacts to Bonaire if current trends continue as usual; and provided an alternative which can be visualized as a result of nature inclusive policies, actions and land use changes. However steering changes towards nature inclusivity is not only a change in land (and sea) use and indicator values, but to make it a reality it is a change in mindset of an entire community. This cannot happen without the awareness of the trade-offs that nature inclusive actions can bring to the many different stakeholders involved. In this discussion we make a case for the importance of nature inclusivity on Bonaire, and make a start towards a dialogue about the risks, trade-offs and opportunities that may lie ahead.
We have documented the current trends: Bonaire has experienced a quadrupling in population size over the past half century. Cruise tourism started growing exponentially in the mid-2000s, and stay-over tourism steadily increasing. All while access to freshwater with the climate change projections becomes more difficult and costly. While some Dutch Caribbean islands might have experienced a much more explosive increase in tourism and population than Bonaire (e.g. Aruba), other islands experience more stability (e.g. Saba). Anecdotal evidence from other islands (see Bonaire reporter, 2022), as well as the projections showcased in this report imply that if Bonaire wants to stay relevant as a tourist destination and support its growing population the island needs to focus on its long-term assets.
The scenarios in this report were described using indicators that progress along the trends and rates of the past several years. While these assumptions include some climate change parameters like gradual warming, and gradually reduced precipitation, they fail to consider implications of unforeseen natural disasters, or increasing severe weather conditions which will take a toll on the island. Neither do the scenario projections consider any changes in world trade processes for food or fuel. An honest look at the state of the island for the next 30 years under the Business as Usual projections indicates that sustaining such growth under the current (environmental or political) conditions of the planet are relatively short-lived, and are built on a set of fragile assumptions.
Naturally, trends described in the nature inclusive scenario imply (policy) choices with varying effects on each sector as shown using several indicators. In some cases, the rates compared to the BaU scenario will be slower (population growth due to immigrants, stay-over tourism, urbanisation), while with other indicators/sectors growth rates will increase (greenness, agricultural land, green and wind energy use and water collection). Specific implications of a scenario can be beneficial, while others can be unfavourable, depending on the agenda of each particular stakeholder. An example of such a trade-off is the extensive local food production under the nature inclusive scenario: in the foreseen closed agricultural system there is far less need for off-island nutrient imports. As fewer nutrients are brought onto the island, this reduces the harm from foreign particles to the environment and the reef. As such, the reef is more likely to stay healthy and can continue to be a major tourist attraction. Nevertheless, individuals currently working in the food import logistics sector may experience a decrease in business. This may be overcome by jobs created through the growing local food production industry, but awareness of this trade-off is important when instigating changes. Attractiveness of the nature inclusive scenario in the short-term depends on the stakeholder. While in the long-term, the implication of the nature-inclusive scenario is of an island prosperity that is inclusive for everyone and ensures sustainability. One which is much less dependent on the few precarious pillars on which it is currently built: food and fuel importation.
Another crucial trade-off of the nature inclusive scenario is the implication of water and waste collection. This requires significant infrastructural investments (sceptic tank collection, or rooftop collection installations, appropriate facilities and road ways to ensure this, and home fitting) which requires not only government support, but individual support and repeated actions. It means a change in routine, from linear to circular consumption. Routine is a difficult circuit to make or break. This will require a cultural understanding of the benefits and wholehearted will to change the norm. It may require a big investment in time and energy in the short-term to create a long term self-sustaining infrastructure

Date
2022
Data type
Research report
Theme
Research and monitoring
Report number
3168
Geographic location
Bonaire
Image

The state of cactus fences and kunukus for nature inclusivity on the island of Bonaire

Agriculture on Bonaire does not support the demand for food on the island, and therefore the people are dependent on expensive food importation. Recently, any Bonairean people abandon their kunukus to take jobs in the urban area in tourism or off-island in the oil industry. Traditionally, a kunuku was used as an agricultural plot for food production for the household. A kunuku would usually have a cactus fence used to contain grazing goats or chickens, or to produce household amounts of sorghum maize, and keep animals out. In order to help restore nature to Bonaire and include it in the daily lives of people, restoration and use of cactus fences on kunukus are being considered as nature inclusive measure. In order to get a better understanding of the current use of kunukus and presence of cactus fences on the island, satellite information and field observations were collected about the state of kunukus and the use of cactus fences. Results show that kunukus are rapidly being abandoned. The predictive accuracy from satellite imagery of active kunukus was high (92.5%). Furthermore, only 4% of the active kunukus have a well-maintained cactus fence. Implications of these findings are discussed with focus on nature inclusiveness and the use of the kunuku as a means to restore a cultural pride, self-sufficiency, local economic diversification and a healthier food culture on Bonaire.

Date
2022
Data type
Research report
Theme
Research and monitoring
Report number
3150
Geographic location
Bonaire
Image

Bonaire 2050, a nature inclusive vision

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:

Date
2022
Data type
Media
Theme
Education and outreach
Geographic location
Bonaire
Image

A nature inclusive vision for Bonaire in 2050

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.

Date
2020
Data type
Research report
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Bonaire
Image

Landscape map Bonaire

Landscape map that depicts the intersections of biophysical, cultural and aesthetic characteristics, delineating landscape types to which coherent sets of nature-inclusive measures are assigned. This landscape map was developed using clusters of nature-inclusive measures that were spatially located by local experts on a map of Bonaire, in combination with geological, soil , elevation , vegetation , planning and high resolution land cover maps.

See this report for more information.

Date
2020
Data type
Maps and Charts
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Bonaire
Image

Evaluation of the Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database: user perspectives

The Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database (DCBD; www.dcbd.nl) is a nature and biodiversity web-platform for the Dutch Caribbean funded by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV). It was initiated in 2010 as a central knowledge store, and its original intent was primarily around guaranteeing long-term data availability in an environment that experiences a high turnover in project funds and personnel.

The DCBD has been in existence for a decade now. It allows users to assess the status of ecosystems, species, threats and pressures; to explore spatial data on biophysical, socio-economic, ecological and topographical properties; to navigate a listing of biodiversity and ecosystem-based information portals; and to search in a library for reports, journal articles, documents and raw data. A selection of the data and accompanying references on DCBD have also been synthesised and developed into indicator catalogues for management and policy making, which can inform reporting obligations based on (inter)national treaties, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The scope of the DCBD has therefore broadened as one initially intended primarily for data rescue to one that now provides a platform situated at the policy-science interface: for policy making on nature management and spatial planning decisions, and for science in exchange of research information.

The aim of this project is to evaluate the existing DCBD given this evolution to changing circumstances, with a view to understanding strategic directions for its future development. We evaluate user perspectives on:

  • Its use, organization and dissemination of information
  • Potential gaps in content, particularly for policy making application
  • Potential future needs.

Key findings:

  • The Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database (DCBD) has evolved from its original intent of mainly data rescue to fulfil a broader range of local and national policy needs
  • DCBD remains a critical data repository for almost 20% of its users
  • DCBD has an encouraging pipeline of new and experienced users which can leverage a vibrant community of practice for nature inclusive activities on the islands
  • DCBD should remain positioned as a source of credible and scientifically-robust evidence for decision making
  • DCDB is positioned in a local niche to meet the needs of the Dutch Caribbean – local is lekker
  • Broader cross-sector awareness and dissemination is viewed as a priority strategic direction for DCBD
  • Existing users are well-positioned to help leverage growth in public awareness and dissemination
  • A structured maintenance and update plan is required
  • Technical challenges highlighted by the respondents were mainly around the website search function and language access

Key recommendations:

  • Maintenance, updates and user-friendliness of website
  • Systematic development of monitoring indicators and factsheets to support policy and decision making
  • Broaden the awareness and dissemination of DCBD to local communities and policy and science audienc
Date
2020
Data type
Research report
Theme
Education and outreach
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Saba
Saba bank
St. Eustatius
St. Maarten
Image

Tracking digital footprints in Bonaire's landscapes - spatial distribution and characterisation of tourists on Bonaire using social media

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.
Date
2020
Data type
Research report
Theme
Research and monitoring
Report number
c052/20
Geographic location
Bonaire
Image

Co-designing a data platform to impact nature policy and management:experiences from the Dutch Caribbean

To secure the sustainable use of nature, governments track nature’s health and develop regulations and policies.Although there is a seeming abundance in observation-recordings, decision- and policy-makers are constrainedby the lack of data and indicators, mostly as a result of barriers preventing existing data from being found,accessed, made suitable for (automated) processing and reused, but also due to missing visualisations targeted atanswering questions asked by policy makers. This paper explores the process and principles for developing abiodiversity web-platform that informs policy and management on the state and trends of nature, based onexperiences with the Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database (DCBD). The DCBD supports the assessment of thestate of nature and guarantees long-term data availability in an environment that experiences a high turnover inproject funds and personnel. Three principles made DCBD’s uptake and growth possible: The platform is funded,promoted and used by national and regional policy makers, it simplifies tasks of local management and rap-porteurs, and it is continuously being adapted to changing needs and insights. Stronger dissemination of DCBD’snarratives in social arenas (e.g. newspapers, social media) may make Caribbean nature and biodiversity morepolitically and societally relevant.

Date
2019
Data type
Scientific article
Theme
Governance
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Saba
Saba bank
St. Eustatius
St. Maarten

Vegetation releves

TurboVeg vegetation recordings stored in a SQLLite database (Hennekens and Schaminée, 2001) containing recordings from plot observations. The database contains hundreds of vegetation observations. 

Please contact the DCBD administrator for more information and access.

 

Below are TurboVeg screenshots from a snapshot of the vegetation observations for Curaçao (including digitized historical observations from Stoffers (1956) and Bokkestijn & Slijkhuis (1987)):

Date
2018
Data type
Raw data
Theme
Research and monitoring
Tags
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Saba
St. Eustatius
St. Maarten

Staat van instandhouding van de natuur van Caribisch Nederland

Sinds de staatkundige herstructurering van het Koninkrijk in 2010, maken de Caribische eilanden van Bonaire, Saba en St. Eustatius als speciale gemeenten formeel deel uit van Nederland. Het Ministerie van Economische Zaken (sinds eind 2017: Ministerie van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit) heeft daarmee de eindverantwoordelijkheid voor de uitvoering en implementatie van een zevental internationale natuurbeschermingsverdragen voor de eilanden. Deze verantwoordelijkheden houden verplichtingen in en leiden tot verschillende beleidsvragen. Om hieraan invulling te geven wordt eens in de vijf jaar een natuurbeleidsplan opgesteld en wordt er gerapporteerd in het kader van de Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) en het Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) protocol van het Cartagena Verdrag maar er wordt niet gerapporteerd door middel van een “natuurbalans” zoals in Europees Nederland. Voor de evaluatie van het gevoerde natuurbeleid en het opstellen van nieuwe natuurbeleidsplannen is echter rapportage over de staat van de natuur essentieel. Als maat voor de “staat van de natuur” hebben we een methodiek gebruikt die zoveel mogelijk aansluit op de staat van instandhouding (SvI) conform de Habitatrichtlijn (HR).
Caribisch Nederland maakt onderdeel uit van de Caribische “biodiversity hotspot” met een zeer hoge biodiversiteit en hoge menselijke druk. De hoge biodiversiteit uit zich in het voorkomen van zeer veel endemische soorten (soorten met een zeer klein verspreidingsgebied) en de hoge menselijke druk uit zich in veel bedreigde soorten. Caribisch Nederland telt ongeveer 130 endemische soorten en 143 internationaal bedreigde soorten van beleidsrelevantie (bijlage 1).
In deze opdracht wordt door 33 deskundigen en natuurbeheerders gerapporteerd over de SvI van een selecte groep habitats en soorten of soortgroepen (bedreigde, sleutel- en indicator-soorten) waarvoor over voldoende kennis wordt beschikt. Als maat voor de SvI van de natuur hebben we een methodiek gebruikt die zo nauw mogelijk aansluit op de methodiek voor de bepaling van de SvI zoals gehanteerd
in de HR. Daarnaast wordt ook een probleemanalyse gegeven van mogelijke oorzaken en aanbevelingen gedaan voor managementoplossingen. Vanwege de structurele achterstand in kennis en monitoring van het grootste deel van de Caribisch Nederlandse biodiversiteit was een kwantitatieve rapportage voor de meeste soorten en soortgroepen niet mogelijk.
Voor Caribisch Nederland onderscheiden wij (van hoog- naar laag gelegen) de volgende habitats: nevelwoud, regenwoud, droge tropische bossen, grotten, stranden, zoutpannen en zoutmeren, mangrove bossen, zeegrasvelden en wiervelden, koraalriffen, open zee en diepzee. Deze habitats zijn niet alleen van belang voor het voortbestaan van de vele soorten die ervan afhankelijk zijn, maar ook voor de mens vanwege de vele ecosysteemdiensten die zij vervullen. In 2013 vertegenwoordigde de economische waarde van ecosysteemdiensten voor Bonaire, Saba en St. Eustatius, respectievelijk 31%, 63% en 24% van het Bruto Binnenlands Product (BBP) van de eilanden. Er is geen rapportage
gemaakt over het zoetwaterhabitat daar dit zeer klein is en er zeer weinig over bekend is.
Er wordt ook gerapporteerd over negen geselecteerde soorten (de Antillenleguaan, de Geelvleugelamazone, de Flamingo, vijf sternsoorten en de Kroonslak) en vier soortgroepen (beschermde planten van Bonaire, zeezoogdieren, zeeschildpadden en visbestanden).
Ook rapporteren we over drie van de belangrijkste bedreigingen die brede consequenties hebben voor de natuur. De staat van bepaalde bedreigingen bepaalt in grote mate de staat van de natuur en vertegenwoordigt een ecosysteembenadering in plaats van een individuele “soort-” of “habitatbenadering”. Het betreft vaak ook vraagstukken die een unieke managementbenadering nodig hebben. Deze onderwerpen zoals “invasieve soorten”, “loslopend vee” en “klimaatverandering” worden als zodanig besproken in dit rapport. “Overbevissing” is een soortgelijk vraagstuk met consequenties voor de natuur, maar is niet apart opgenomen in deze rapportage maar wordt deels wel besproken in
onze hoofdstuk over de visstand (3.10).
Op basis van onze analyses concluderen wij dat zonder uitzondering de huidige SvI van de biodiversiteit in Caribisch Nederland beoordeeld moet worden als matig tot zeer ongunstig. Dit geldt zowel voor de habitats als voor de hiervan afhankelijke soorten en/of soortgroepen. Dit contrasteert sterk met het beeld voor de Europese Unie en Europees Nederland, waar de overheden al decennia structureel investeren in natuurbeleid en beheer. Zo vertoonde 16% van de habitattypen en 23% van  | 6 van 214 | Wageningen Marine Research rapport C086/17 de soorten in de EU een gunstige SvI. Van de habitattypen met een ongunstige SvI, vertoonde in de EU in 2013, 33% geen trend en 4% een verbetering (EEA 2015). Vooral Europees Nederland scoort hoog voor het herstel van habitattypen. Daar vertoonden 41% van de habitattypen die ongunstig beoordeeld werden een positieve trend in de rapportageperiode 2007-2012.
De beschikbare data maken voor 2017 een voldoende goede inschatting voor de SvI van de gekozen habitats en soort(groep)en voor Caribisch Nederland mogelijk. Het gaat voornamelijk om data in opeenvolgende jaren waarmee een trend kan worden gevolgd, zoals bijvoorbeeld voor Caribische flamingo’s, zeeschildpadden, Geelvleugelamazones en zeegrassen op Bonaire. Ongeveer een kwart van de data is van matige kwaliteit en voor ruim tweederde zijn de data zeer matig. Voor statistische trendanalyses, zoals in Europees Nederland, zijn de meeste data dus ontoereikend. Om voor de meeste habitats en soorten beter te kunnen begrijpen wat er gaande is en om de managementimplementatie te evalueren zijn goede monitoringsmechanismen nodig, zodat er meer en betere data verzameld kan worden.
Uit onze evaluatie wordt duidelijk dat de huidige aanpak van bedreigingen niet voortvarend genoeg is, waardoor de overwegend negatieve trends zich naar verwachting zullen voortzetten. Er is geen aanleiding om te veronderstellen dat de snelheid van het biodiversiteitsverlies zal verminderen of stoppen. Hieraan liggen vele bedreigingen ten grondslag, maar de belangrijkste bedreigingen
betreffen loslopend vee, invasieve exoten, klimaatverandering en overbevissing. Daarnaast mogen kustontwikkeling, erosie en eutrofiëring door afvalwater niet vergeten worden. De eerste drie (loslopend vee, invasieve exoten en klimaatverandering) zijn in grote mate bepalend voor het feit dat de kwaliteit van ruim 80% van de habitats wordt beoordeeld als matig tot zeer ongunstig. Omdat te weinig tegen de bedreigingen wordt ondernomen is dit ook in grote mate bepalend voor de 100% matig tot zeer ongunstige score op het toekomstperspectief. Habitats met een ongunstige kwaliteit, zijn daardoor onvoldoende veerkrachtig om de effecten van klimaatverandering nu en in de toekomst
op te vangen.

Date
2017
Data type
Other resources
Geographic location
Bonaire
Saba
Saba bank
St. Eustatius