Wolfs, E.

Map (GIS) showing the economic values of terrestrial ecosystems on Saba for:

• Carbon sequestration
• Cultural and local recreational value
• Archeology

See this report for more information

For illustration, the excerpt below shows the carbon sequestration:

Map (GIS) showing the economic values of marine ecosystems on St.Eustatius for:

• Carbon sequestration
• Cultural and local recreational value
• Fisheries
• Tourism

See this report for more information

For illustration, the excerpt below shows the total economic value:

Map (GIS) showing the economic values of terrestrial ecosystems on St. Eustatius for:

• Carbon sequestration
• Cultural and local recreational value
• Archeology

See this report for more info.

For illustration, the excerpt below shows the total economic value

Since 10 October 2010 Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius (Statia) are part of the Netherlands. These three islands are referred to as the Caribbean Netherlands. The objective of this study is to assess the value that Dutch people as well as non-Dutch residents living in the Netherlands mainland assign to nature in the Caribbean Netherlands. This research applies two different stated preference techniques, the contingent valuation method (CVM) and choice experiments (CE), to determine the Willingness-To-Pay (WTP) of those living in the Netherlands for the conservation of ecosystem services and biodiversity in the Netherlands’ mainland and the Caribbean Netherlands.
Both methods provided new insights into the way people value the non-use values of nature in a national and local context. The surveys provided evidence for a nationalistic and community-based influence on valuation of nature. Both the CVM and the CE methods showed that locally-oriented Dutch citizens value nature in their own neighbourhood or country relatively higher than citizens with a global perspective or foreigners who live in the Netherlands and who place a lower value on improvement of nature in their own environment
Both surveys also showed that the values for nature both in and outside of the Netherlands depend heavily on the emotional mindset of the respondent. For example, individuals who are unconcerned about the state of nature in general value improvements of nature less than those who are concerned about nature. In the same fashion, consumer confidence proved to be a strong explanatory variable for value for nature protection: individuals with a high level of consumer confidence express a higher WTP for nature protection.
Finally, several methodological lessons were drawn from the surveys. These include the detection of ordering, anchoring and scoping effects, as well as the correlation between preference and payment uncertainty.
The estimated WTP amount for non-use values of nature in the Netherlands and the Caribbean Netherlands also allowed for the calculation of the aggregated values of both value domains. The non-adjusted aggregated annual amount of non-use value of nature in the Netherlands and the Caribbean Netherlands is estimated at €65 million and €34 million, respectively. However, by adjusting for preference and payment uncertainty of the respondent, the aggregated annual amount for the non-use value for nature improvements in the Netherlands is estimated at €34 million and for the Caribbean Netherlands at €18 million.

Management Recommendations:

Expand the boundaries of the Washington Slagbaai National Park to include all the salts flats included in this monitoring program as well as their catchment areas in order to give adequate protection to the whole system of lagoons located in northwestern Bonaire.

Approach the Ramsar convection with the proposal to change the Ramsar designations of Salina Slagbaai and Salina Goto for one denomination that will include all the Salt flat in the system using the name of our Washington Slagbaai National Park.

Keep collecting data for the long term monitoring programs. It is fundamental for the proper management of our natural resources.

Hire more staff for the Natural and Historic Resources Unit of STINAPA Bonaire.

As resources and/or time become available, conduct scientific research for a better understanding of the ecological functions of the salt flat as a habitat for water birds.

As resources and/or time become available, start baseline research for a monitoring program for the nesting season of our resident waterbirds.

As resources and/or time become available, expand the monitoring program in order to include the salt flats in Central and South of Bonaire.

Improve this monitoring program by moving up to the next level through participation in the CWC (Caribbean Waterbird Census). This is an initiative taken by the SCSCB (Society of Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds). 

Management Recommendations:

• To keep collecting data for long term monitoring programs. It is fundamental for the proper management of our natural resources.
• Given the lack of staff and the achievement of the objectives, lower the frequency of the surveys and use the new methodology that requires only one surveyor.
• Increase the number of staff in the Natural and Historic Resources Unit.
• Discuss possible management actions to mitigate or eliminate the threats discovered at the roost.