Funding

Nederlands, Papiamentu and Papiamento below

 

Ocean charity makes initial grant of $90,000 to marine parks on six Dutch Caribbean islands. Award will fund projects including coral protection, and training youth marine rangers. 

Photo credit: Naturepics: Y.+T. Kühnast

Ocean conservation charity Blue Marine Foundation has announced it is awarding $90,000 in funding to support marine conservation in the Dutch Caribbean. A range of projects run by protected area management organisations on six islands will each receive a grant of $15,000. The funding is the first step in a longer-term partnership to support the islands and help secure sustainable financing through the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) Trust fund. 

To improve ocean governance, Blue Marine uses a combination of top-down intervention and bottom-up project delivery to help local communities at the front line of conservation. It will work together with the DCNA to help marine-park organisations protect the unique and threatened biodiversity of the Dutch Caribbean. 

The new partnership is an important development in the successful management of marine conservation parks in the Dutch Caribbean. The UK-based charity has established a small-grants fund to provide rapid access to support for critical conservation projects run by marine parks. 

The individual projects and their local partners are:  

• Aruba: monitoring water quality in its Marine Protected Area (MPA) and wetlands, in conjunction with Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba (FPNA) 

• Bonaire: assessing losses of stony corals (Acroporids e.g. staghorn and elkhorn coral), and their potential future recovery, in conjunction with Stichting Nationale Parken Bonaire (STINAPA Bonaire) 

• Curaçao: establishing a bus transport marine education program and youth marine ranger program, in conjunction with Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity (CARMABI)  

• Saba: provision of a climate control room for the new marine field station, in conjunction with the Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF). 

• Sint Eustatius: assessing the health of coral, the abundance of fish life and the diversity of reefs, in conjunction with St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA) 

• St Maarten: monitoring marine habitats, in conjunction with Nature Foundation St. Maarten (NFSXM)
   

Photo credit: Naturepics: Y.+T. Kühnast

 

Unique ecosystems on the islands are vulnerable to threats such as feral livestock causing sedimentation on reefs, and invasive species, including lionfish and coral diseases. They are also at risk from overfishing, climate change, coastal development, erosion and the build-up of harmful algae caused by waste water. 

The islands of the Dutch Caribbean are also home to important “blue carbon” habitats – ocean ecosystems such as seagrasses, mangroves and other marine plants that suck up and lock away carbon from the earth’s atmosphere. Seagrass is so efficient at this it can capture and store carbon dioxide up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests. The management and protection of these blue carbon habitats is vital in the fight against climate change.  

Current marine conservation measures in the islands include a 25,390 square km mammal and shark sanctuary- Yarari sanctuary- across the Exclusive Economic Zone of Bonaire, Saba and St Eustatius. All six islands have inshore Marine Protected Areas ranging in size from 10 to 60 sq km.  

Blue Marine’s Senior Project Manager Jude Brown commented: 

Having recently visited two of the islands, I witnessed first-hand how special this region is. Diving the waters off Saba I saw huge Tarpon swimming amongst shoals of blue tang, and hawksbill turtles feeding on the seagrass beds. I also witnessed the challenges these islands are facing from coral disease to issues with coastal development. It is an exciting opportunity to work in the Dutch Caribbean, bringing expertise and funding from Blue Marine to join with the wealth of knowledge already on the islands, to work together to protect the important marine life arounds these islands.

Tadzio Bervoets, Director of the DNCA commented: “The Dutch Caribbean consists of the Windward Islands of St. Maarten, Saba, and St. Eustatius and the Leeward Islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. The nature of the Dutch Caribbean contains the richest biodiversity in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The diverse ecosystems are a magnet for tourism and at the same time the most important source of income for residents of the Dutch Caribbean. Nature on the islands is unique and important but it is also fragile. The coming week we will be in The Netherlands to present a Climate Action Plan for the Dutch Caribbean to emphasize the urgent need for a climate smart future for our islands.”  

 

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Nederlands

Blue Marine Foundation lanceert nieuwe samenwerking met Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance

“Goed doel voor oceanen schenkt aanvankelijk $90.000 aan mariene parken op zes Nederlands-Caribische eilanden. Deze donatie zal verschillende projecten financieren, waaronder bescherming van koralen en het opleiden van jonge mariene park rangers.

Foto: Naturepics: Y.+T. Kühnast

De Blue Marine Foundation, een liefdadigheidsorganisatie voor het behoud van oceanen, heeft aangekondigd dat het $ 90.000 aan financiering toekent ter ondersteuning van het behoud van de zee in het Nederlands Caribisch gebied. Verschillende projecten die worden uitgevoerd door de organisaties voor het beheer van beschermde gebieden op de zes eilanden, ontvangen elk een subsidie ​​van $15.000. De financiering is de eerste stap in een langetermijnpartnerschap om de eilanden te ondersteunen en duurzame financiering te helpen verzekeren via het  Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) Trust fund.

Om het oceaanbeheer te verbeteren, gebruikt Blue Marine een combinatie van top-down interventies en bottom-up projecten om lokale gemeenschappen in de frontlinie van natuurbehoud te helpen. Blue Marine zal samenwerken met het DCNA om de organisaties die de mariene parken beheren te helpen de unieke en bedreigde biodiversiteit in het Caribisch Nederlands gebied te beschermen.

De nieuwe samenwerking is een belangrijke ontwikkeling in het succesvolle beheer van mariene natuurparken in het Nedrelands Caribisch gebied. De in het Verenigd Koninkrijk gevestigde liefdadigheidsinstelling heeft een fonds voor kleine subsidies opgericht om snelle toegang te bieden tot ondersteuning voor kritieke natuurbehoudsprojecten van mariene parken.

De individuele projecten en hun lokale partners zijn:

 

• Aruba: monitoring van de waterkwaliteit in de Mariene beschermde gebieden (MPA) en wetlands, in samenwerking met Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba (FPNA)

 

• Bonaire: onderzoek naar het verliezen van steenkoralen (Acroporiden, bijv. hertshoorn- en elandhoornkoraal), en hun potentieel toekomstig herstel, in combinatie met Stichting Nationale Parken Bonaire (STINAPA Bonaire)

 

• Curaçao: het opzetten van een maritiem educatieprogramma met busvervoer en een maritiem ranger programma voor jongeren, in samenwerking met Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity (CARMABI)

 

 

• Saba: het realiseren van een klimaatbeheersingsruimte voor het nieuwe marine field station, in samenwerking met de Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF).

 

• Sint Eustatius: het beoordelen van de gezondheid van koraal, de vissen en de diversiteit van riffen, in samenwerking met Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA)

 

• St Maarten: monitoring van mariene habitats, in samenwerking met Nature Foundation St. Maarten (NFSXM)

Foto: Naturepics: Y.+T. Kühnast

Unieke ecosystemen op de eilanden zijn kwetsbaar voor bedreigingen zoals lopslopend vee dat sedimentatie op riffen veroorzaakt, en invasieve soorten, waaronder koraalduivels en koraalziekten. Ze lopen ook risico door overbevissing, klimaatverandering, kustontwikkeling, erosie en de toename van schadelijke algen veroorzaakt door afvalwater.

De eilanden in het Nederlands Caribisch gebied zijn ook de thuisbasis van belangrijke “blauwe koolstof”-habitats – oceaanecosystemen zoals zeegrassen, mangroven en andere zeeplanten die koolstof opnemen en vasthouden van de atmosfeer van de aarde. Zeegras is hier zo efficiënt in dat het tot 35 keer sneller koolstofdioxide kan opvangen en opslaan dan tropische regenwouden. Het beheer en de bescherming van deze blauwe koolstofhabitats is van vitaal belang in de strijd tegen klimaatverandering.

De huidige maatregelen voor het behoud van de zee rondom de eilanden is onder andere een 25.390 vierkante kilometer groot reservaat voor zoogdieren en haaien – Yarari-reservaat – in de exclusieve economische zone van Bonaire, Saba en Sint Eustatius. Daarnaast hebben alle zes de eilanden langs de kust beschermde mariene gebieden, variërend in grootte van 10 tot 60 vierkante kilometer.

Blue Marine’s Senior Project Manager Jude Brown:

“Na onlangs twee van de eilanden te hebben bezocht, heb ik met eigen ogen gezien hoe bijzonder deze regio is. Toen ik in de wateren van Saba aan het duiken was, zag ik een enorme Tarpon zwemmen tussen een school Blue Tang vissen, en karetschildpadden die zich voedden van de zeegrasvelden. Ik was ook getuige van de uitdagingen waarmee deze eilanden worden geconfronteerd, van koraalziektes tot problemen met kustontwikkeling. Het is een geweldige kans om in de het Nederlands Caribisch gebied te werken, met expertise en financiering van Blue Marine om samen te werken met de schat aan kennis die al op de eilanden is, om zo samen het belangrijke zeeleven rond deze eilanden te beschermen.”

Tadzio Bervoets, directeur van de DNCA: “Het Nederlands Caribisch gebied bestaat uit de Bovenwindse eilanden St. Maarten, Saba en St. Eustatius en de Benedenwindse eilanden Aruba, Bonaire en Curaçao. De natuur van het Nedrelands Caribisch gebied bevat de rijkste biodiversiteit van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden. De diverse ecosystemen zijn een magneet voor het toerisme en tegelijkertijd de belangrijkste bron van inkomsten voor inwoners van het Nederlands Caribisch gebied. De natuur op de eilanden is uniek en belangrijk, maar ook kwetsbaar. De komende week zijn we in Nederland om een ​​Klimaatactieplan voor de Nederlandse Caraïben te presenteren om de dringende noodzaak van een klimaatslimme toekomst voor onze eilanden te benadrukken. ”

 

 

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Papiamento 

Blue Marine Foundation ta lansa un colaboracion nobo cu Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance

Ocean Charity ta haci un donacion inicial di $90,000 na e parkenan marino riba e seis islanan di Caribe Hulandes. E donacion lo financia proyecto, entre otro proteccion di coral y capacitacion di marine ranger hoben.

Rif di coral den Caribe Hulandes (credito di potret: Naturepics: Y.+T. Kühnast – tur derecho reserva)

E organisacion di caridad pa conservacion di ocean Blue Marine Foundation a anuncia cu e ta otorga $90,000 den fondo pa apoya conservacion di lama den Caribe Hulandes. Un cantidad di proyecto cu ta wordo ehecuta door di organisacionnan di maneho di area proteha na e seis islanan lo ricibi cada un un donacion di $15,000. E financiamento ta e prome paso den un asociacion a largo plazo pa sostene e islanan y yuda sigura financiamento sostenibel via Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) Trustfonds.

Pa mehora maneho di ocean, Blue Marine ta haci uzo di un combinacion di intervencion top-down y entrega di proyecto bottom-up pa yuda e comunidadnan local den frontline di conservacion di naturalesa. Lo traha hunto cu DCNA pa yuda e organisacionnan di parke marino proteha e biodiversidad unico y menasa di Caribe Hulandes.

E asociacion nobo ta un desaroyo importante den maneho exitoso di e parkenan di conservacion marino den Caribe Hulandes. E organisacion di caridad situa den Reino Unido a establece un fondo di subsidio chikito pa brinda acceso rapido pa sosten pa proyecto di conservacion di naturalesa den situacion critico di parkenan marino.

E proyectonan individual y nan socionan local ta:

 

• Aruba: monitoreo di e calidad di awa den Area Marina Proteha (AMP) y moerasnan, conhuntamente cu Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba (FPNA)

 

• Boneiro: evaluacion di e perdida di coral di piedra (Acroporido, por ehempel, coral cacho di bina y coral cacho di elk) y su posibel recuperacion den futuro, hunto cu Stichting Nationale Parken Bonaire (STINAPA Bonaire)

 

• Corsou: a establece un programa di educacion marino di transporte den autobus y un programa di marine ranger hoben, conhuntamente cu Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity (CARMABI)

 

• Saba: donacion di un sala di control di clima pa e stacion nobo di campo marina, den colaboracion cu Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF).

 

• Sint Eustatius: evaluacion di salud di e coralnan, abundancia di pisca y diversidad di e rifnan, conhuntamente cu Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA)

 

• St Maarten: monitoreo di habitat marino, conhuntamente cu Nature Foundation St. Maarten (NFSXM)

Rif di coral den Caribe Hulandes (credito di potret: Naturepics: Y.+T. Kühnast – tur derecho reserva)

Ecosistemanan unico na e islanan ta vulnerabel pa menasa manera bestia di cria salvahe cu ta causa sedimentacion na e rifnan y e especienan invasor, incluyendo lionfish y enfermedadnan di coral. Tambe nan ta core riesgo di sobrepesca, cambio di clima, desaroyo di costa, erosion y acumulacion di alga dañino causa pa awa residual.

E islanan di Caribe Hulandes tambe ta habitat importante di “carbon blauw”: ecosistema di ocean manera yerba di lama, mangel y otro mata di lama cu ta absorba y mantene carbon di e atmosfera di tera. E yerbanan di lama ta asina eficiente den esaki cu nan por captura y warda dioxido di carbon hasta 35 biaha mas rapido cu selvanan tropical. E maneho y proteccion di e habitatnan di carbon blauw ta vital den e lucha contra cambio di clima.

E medidanan actual pa conservacion di lama na e islanan ta inclui un santuario di mamifero y tribon di 25.390 km cuadra, santuario di Yarari, den e Zona Economico Exclusivo di Boneiro, Saba y Sint Eustatius. E seis islanan tin Area di lama Proteha di costa cu ta varia den tamaño di 10 pa 60 kilometer cuadra.

 

Jude Brown, Gerente Senior di Proyecto di Blue Marine, a comenta:

Despues di a bishita dos di e islanan recientemente, mi tabata testigo di con special e region aki ta. Buceando den e awanan di Saba, mi a mira Tarpon enorme ta landa entre scol di blue tang y tortuga caret alimentando nan mes cu yerba di lama. Tambe mi a mira e desafionan cu e islanan aki ta enfrenta, desde malesa di coral te problema cu desaroyo di costa. Ta un oportunidad emocionante traha den Caribe Hulandes, aportando experiencia y fondo di Blue Marine pa uni cu e rikesa di conocemento cu ya tin na e islanan aki, pa traha hunto pa proteha e bida marino importante rond di e islanan aki.

Tadzio Bervoets, Director di e DNCA a comenta: “Caribe Hulandes ta consisti di e Islanan bou di biento di St. Maarten, Saba y St. Eustatius y e Islanan riba biento Aruba, Boneiro y Corsou. E naturalesa di Caribe Hulandes ta contene e biodiversidad mas rico di Reino di Hulanda. E diverso ecosistemanan ta un magnet pa turismo y, na mes momento, e fuente di ingreso mas importante pa e residentenan di Caribe Hulandes. E naturalesa di e islanan ta unico y importante, pero tambe fragil. Otro siman nos lo ta na Hulanda pa presenta un Plan di Accion di Clima pa Caribe Hulandes pa enfatisa e necesidad urgente pa un futuro di clima inteligente pa nos islanan.”

 

 

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Papiamentu

Blue Marine Foundation ta lansa koperashon di partner nobo ku Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance

Blue Marine Foundation, un fundashon pa fondo destiná pa bienestar di Oséano, ta pone fondo di supsidio inisial di $90.000 pa parke marinonan riba e seis islanan di Karibe Hulandes. E supsidio lo ta pa proyektonan inkluso protekshon di koral i entrenamentu di ranger marino hóben.

Ref di koral na Karibe Hulandes (fuente di foto: Naturepics: Y.+T. Kühnast – tur derecho reservá)

Blue Marine Foundation a anunsiá su desishon pa otorgá $90.000,00 na fondo di supsidio pa sostené konservashon marino na Karibe Hulandes. Un grupo di proyekto bou di supervishon di organisashonnan di maneho di áreanan protehá riba e seis islanan lo risibí kada unu un supsidio di $15.000,00. E fondo ta e promé paso den un koperashon di partner riba término largu pa sostené e islanan i yuda sigurá finansiamentu duradero via e Trust fund di Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA)

Pa drecha maneho di oséano, Blue Marine ta hasi uso di un kombinashon di práktika pa yuda komunidatnan na frente di konservashon ku ta: di intervenshon di ariba bai abou i di proyektonan den ehekushon. E lo traha huntu ku  DCNA pa yuda e organisashonnan di parke marino protehá e biodiversidat úniko di Karibe Hulandes ku ta bou di menasa.

E kolaborashon di sosio nobo ta un desaroyo importante den e maneho eksitoso di e parke marinonan na Karibe Hulandes. E fundashon ku base na Reino Uní a krea un fondo pa supsidio chikitu pa suministrá akseso rápido pa sosten di proyektonan importante ku parke marinonan ta manehá.

 

E proyektonan individual i nan partnernan lokal ta:

 

• Aruba: monitoreo di kalidat di awa den su Área Marino Protehá (MPA) i áreanan akuátiko, huntu ku Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba (FPNA).

 

• Boneiru: evaluashon di pèrdida di koral di piedra (‘Acroporid’ ku ta p. e. ‘staghorn coral’ (koral kachu grandi) i ‘elkhorn coral’ (koral kachu di biná), i nan potensial di futuro rekuperashon, huntu ku Stichting Nationale Parken Bonaire (STINAPA Bonaire)

 

• Kòrsou: realisá un programa di edukashon ku transporte via bùs i un programa di ranger marino hubenil, huntu ku Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity (CARMABI)

 

• Saba: kreashon di un kamber ku kontrol di klima pa e stashon marino nobo riba tereno, huntu ku .

 

• Statia: evaluashon di e salubridat di koral, e abundansia di bida di piská i e diversidat di ref, huntu ku Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA)

 

• St Maarten: monitoreo di habitatnan marino, huntu ku Nature Foundation St. Maarten (NFSXM)

Ref di koral na Karibe Hulandes (fuente di foto: Naturepics: Y.+T. Kühnast – tur derecho reservá)

Ekosistemanan úniko na e islanan ta vulnerabel pa e animalnan di krio ku ta kana liber rònt i ta kousa sedimentashon riba refnan, i espesienan invasivo, inkluso ‘lionfish’ i malesa di koral. Tambe nan ta kore peliger kousá pa ekseso di piskamentu, kambio di klima, desaroyo di tereno na kosta, eroshon i oumentu di alga dañino ku awa shushi ta krea.

E islanan di Karibe Hulandes ta kas tambe pa e habitatnan importante di “karbon blou” – ekosistemanan di oséano manera yerba di laman, palu di mangel i otro matanan marino ku ta almasená i tene karbon ku tin den e atmósfera di mundu. Yerba di laman ta asina efisiente den e proseso akí ku e por kapta i almasená karbon dióksido na velosidat te ku 35 biaha mas lihé ku e selvanan tropikal.  Maneho i protekshon di e habitatnan akí di karbon blou akí ta vital den e kombate kontra kambio di klima.

Konservashon marino aktual na e islanan ta inkluí un superfisie di 25.390 km2 di santuario pa mamífero marino i tribon – Yarari santuario na otro banda di e Zona Ekonómiko Eksklusivo di di Boneiru, Saba i Statia. Tur seis isla tin Áreanan Marino Protehá pegá na kosta ku ta varia di superfisie entre 10 pa 60 km2.

Blue Marine su Séniòr Manager di Proyekto Jude Brown ta komentá:

“Despues di un bishita resien na dos di e islanan, mi a eksperensiá di propio fuente kon spesial e region akí ta. Sambuyando na Saba mi a mira sábalo enorme landa meimei di mancha di kleinfeshi blou i turtuga kawama komiendo di kama di yerba di laman. Tambe mi a mira e retonan ku e islanan akí ta enfrentando di malesa di koral te ku problemanan ku desaroyo di tereno na kosta. Ta un oportunidat eksitante pa traha den Karibe Hulandes, kontribuyendo ku ekspertisio i fondo di Blue Marine pa djòin e rikesa di konosementu ku ta eksistí kaba riba e islanan, pa kolaborá den protekshon di e bida marino importante rònt di e islanan akí.”

Tadzio Bervoets, Direktor di DNCA a reakshoná: “Karibe Hulandes ta konsistí di e islanan di Islariba; St. Maarten, Saba, i Statia huntu ku e islanan di Islanan Abou; Aruba, Boneiru i Kòrsou. E naturalesa di Karibe Hulandes ta kontené e biodiversidat di mas riku den Reino Hulandes. E ekosistemanan diverso ta un magnet pa turismo i na e mes momentu e fuente di entrada mas importante pa e habitantenan di Karibe Hulandes. Naturalesa na e islanan ta úniko i importante pero tambe e ta frágil. Den siman binidero nos lo ta na Hulanda pa presentá un Plan di Akshon di Klima pa Karibe Hulandes pa enfatisá e nesesidat urgente di un futuro ‘smart’ pa nos islanan.”

 

 

Published in BioNews 53

Nederlands, Papiamento and Papiamentu below.

 

The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-NL)  are pleased that protection for nature in the Caribbean Netherlands has been included in the budget by the cabinet for the coming governmental term. Last week it was announced that the government wants to allocate an additional 35 million euros for nature in the Caribbean Netherlands, as was included in the coalition agreement.

More than 35 million euros will be made available for the implementation of the Nature and Environmental Policy Plan (NEPP) in the Caribbean Netherlands. This NEPP is an ambitious program for nature and the environment that runs through 2030. In addition to the contribution for nature, the coalition agreement also includes a structural budget of 30 million euros per year to protect culture and nature in the Caribbean Netherlands. This can be used to tackle long-term issues such as wastewater treatment and waste disposal.

“We are extremely grateful that ten million has been reserved in the budget for strengthening the management of nature parks on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius,” said Tadzio Bervoets, director of DCNA, the umbrella organization for all national parks on the six Dutch Caribbean islands. “This shows once again the importance that parks have in preserving nature on and around our islands. Hopefully this will lead to a long-term and structural reinforcement of the nature parks, not only in the Caribbean Netherlands, but also in the future for Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten.”

“With this money, serious steps can be taken to protect vulnerable biodiversity,” said Arjan de Groene, Landscape Coordinator of the Caribbean Netherlands, for WWF-NL. “We are happy to work with the Minister and the local administrators and organizations on a proper implementation of this budget. It would be great if we can have a conversation about this in the short term.”

Nature in the Caribbean part of the kingdom has been declining for years. On land, nature has been damaged by erosion and increased building construction, and under water the reefs are strongly deteriorated due to pollution and climate change. This new budget is therefore desperately needed to improve the overhall health of nature.

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Nederlands

Extra budget voor natuur Caribisch Nederland

 

De Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) en het Wereld Natuur Fonds (WWF-NL) zijn verheugd met het budget voor bescherming van de natuur in Caribisch Nederland dat door het kabinet voor de komende regeringsperiode is gereserveerd. Afgelopen week werd bekend hoe de overheid de meer dan 35 miljoen euro extra voor natuur op Caribisch Nederland, zoals opgenomen in het regeerakkoord specifiek wil bestemmen.

De ruim 35 miljoen euro wordt beschikbaar gesteld voor de implementatie van het Natuur- en Milieubeleidsplan (NMBP) Caribisch Nederland. Dit NMBP is een ambitieus programma voor natuur en milieu dat loopt tot 2030. Naast de bijdrage voor natuur is er ook een structurele post van 30 miljoen euro per jaar opgenomen in het regeerakkoord om de cultuur en natuur in Caribisch Nederland te beschermen. Dit kan ingezet worden om langlopende issues zoals afvalwaterzuivering en vuilophaal aan te pakken.

 

“We zijn bijzonder dankbaar dat er tien miljoen in het budget is gereserveerd voor de versterking van het beheer van natuurparken op Bonaire, Saba en St. Eustatius” aldus Tadzio Bervoets, directeur van de DCNA, de overkoepelende organisatie voor alle nationale parken op alle zes de Nederlands Caribische eilanden. “Dit toont eens te meer het belang dat parken hebben in het behoud van de natuur op en rond onze eilanden. Hopelijk leidt dit tot een langdurige en structurele versterking van de natuurparken, niet alleen in Caribisch Nederland, maar in de toekomst ook voor Aruba, Curaçao en Sint Maarten”

 

“Met dit geld kunnen serieuze stappen worden gemaakt om de kwetsbare biodiversiteit te beschermen”, aldus Arjan de Groene, Landschapscoördinator Caribisch Nederland, van WWF-NL. “We werken graag samen met de minister en de lokale bestuurders en organisaties aan een goede invulling van dit budget. Goed als we op korte termijn hierover het gesprek kunnen voeren.”

De natuur in het Caribisch deel van het koninkrijk gaat al jaren achteruit. Op land is de natuur beschadigd door erosie en steeds verder oprukkende bebouwing en onder water gaan de koraalriffen sterk acteruit door vervuiling en klimaatverandering. Dit nieuwe budget is dan ook hard nodig om de natuur weer gezond te maken.

 

 

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Papiamento

Presupuesto extra pa naturalesa den Caribe Hulandes

Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) y Fondo Mundial pa Naturalesa (WWF-NL) ta contento cu e presupuesto pa proteccion di naturalesa den Caribe Hulandes cu e gabinete a reserva pa e proximo periodo di gobernacion. Siman pasa a anuncia cu gobierno kier destina mas di 35 miyon extra pa naturalesa den Caribe Hulandes, tal y como manera tuma den e acuerdo di gobernacion.

E mas di 35 miyon ta wordo poni na disposicion di implementacion di e Plan di Maneho Ambiental y di Naturalesa (PNMB) den Caribe Hulandes. PNMB ta un programa ambicioso pa naturalesa y medio ambiente cu ta core te aña 2030. Ademas di e contribucion pa naturalesa, tambe a inclui un post structural di 30 miyon anual den e acuerdo di gobernacion pa proteha cultura y naturalesa den Caribe Hulandes. Esaki por wordo uza pa trata asunto a largo plazo, manera tratamento di awa di beerput y recogemento di sushi.

“Nos ta hopi agradeci cu a reserva dies miyon den e presupuesto pa fortalece maneho di e parkenan natural na Boneiro, Saba y Sint Eustatius”,Tadzio Bervoets, director di DCNA, e organisacion coordinador di tur e parkenan nacional den e seis islanan di Caribe Hulandes a bisa. “Esaki ta demostra un biaha mas e importancia cu e parkenan tin den preservacion di naturalesa na y alrededor di nos islanan. Nos ta spera cu esaki lo conduci na un fortificacion structural a largo plazo di e parkenan natural, no solamente den Caribe Hulandes, sino tambe den futuro pa Aruba, Corsou y Sint Maarten”.

“Cu e placa aki por tuma medida serio pa proteha e biodiversidad vulnerabel”, Arjan de Groene, Coordinado di Paisahe di Caribe Hulandes, di WWF-NL a bisa. “Nos ta feliz di traha cu e minister, e mandatarionan y organisacionnan local na implementacion adecuado di e presupuesto aki. Lo ta bon si nos por hiba un conversacion tocante esaki a corto plazo”.

Naturalesa den e parti Caribense di reino ta empeorando durante añanan caba. Riba tera, erosion y construccion di cas ta avansa cada vez mas, y bou di awa e rifnan di coral ta deteriora severamente debi na contaminacion y cambio climatico. Por lo tanto, e presupuesto nobo aki ta hopi necesario pa haci  naturalesa saludabel atrobe.

 

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Papiamentu

Fondo èkstra pa naturalesa di Karibe Hulandes

Dutch Caribbean Natura Alliance (DCNA) i Wereld Natuur Fonds (WWF-NL) ta kontentu ku e fondo pa protekshon di naturalesa den Karibe Hulandes ku e gabinete a reservá pa e periodo di gobernashon benidero. Siman pasá a bira konosí kon gobièrnu ta bai destiná spesífikamente e mas ku 35 mion èkstra pa naturalesa na Karibe Hulandes, manera ku ta pará den e akuerdo di gobernashon.

Ta pone e mas ku 35 mion disponibel pa implementashon di e Natuur- en Milieubeleidsplan (NMBP) Caribisch Nederland/Plan di Maneho pa Naturalesa i Medioambiente Karibe Hulandes. E NMBP akí ta un programa ambisioso pa naturalesa i medioambiente ku ta kana te ku 2030. Banda di e kontribushon pa naturalesa a hinka tambe un pòst struktural di 30 mion pa aña den e akuerdo di gobernashon pa protekshon di kultura i naturalesa na Karibe Hulandes. Lo por usa esaki pa atendé tópikonan di término largu manera kloaka i rekohementu di sushi.

“Nos ta sumamente agradesido ku a reservá dies mion den e presupuesto pa refuerso di maneho di parkenan di naturalesa na Boneiru, Saba i Statia” segun Tadzio Bervoets, director di DCNA, ku ta e organisashon kapa, bou di kua tur e parkenan nashonal di e seis islanan di Karibe Hulandes ta kai.  “Esaki ta demonstrá mas prinsipalmente e importansia ku e parkenan tin den konservashon di naturalesa, riba i rondó di nos islanan. E speransa ta ku esaki ta kondusí na un refuerso struktural pa e parkenan di naturalesa. No solamente pa Hulanda Karibense pero den futuro tambe pa Aruba, Kòrsou i St. Maarten”.

“Ku e sèn akí por tuma pasonan serio pa protehá e biodiversidat frágil” segun Arjan de Groene, Kordinadó di Paisahe di Hulanda Karibense, di WWF-NL. “Gustosamente nos ta traha huntu ku e minister i e mandatarionan lokal i organisashonnan pa duna un bon kontenido pa e fondo. Lo ta bon ku nos por tene kombershonnan riba esaki denter di poko.”

Naturalesa den e parti Karibense di Reino ya pa añanan ta bayendo atras. Riba tera naturalesa a sufri daño pa motibu di eroshon i oumento kontinuo di konstrukshon. I bou di awa e refnan di koral ta bai duru atras pa motibu di polushon i kambio di klima. E fondo nobo aki ta hopi nesesario pa hasi e naturalesa salú atrobe.

 

 

 

Published in BioNews 51

In 1998 the Dutch Parliament called for a feasibility study for a trust fund and the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations agreed, under certain conditions, to make a financial contribution to
such a fund. In 2003 the Antillean Environmental Department invited tenders for this study, which began in 2004 with funding from the Dutch Ministry of the Interior. Besides assessing the feasibility of a trust fund to cover the operational costs of one terrestrial and one marine park per island, the study also included a broader analysis of how park funding can be made more sustainable. The consultants also advised on the technical and organisational aspects of the management and administration of a trust fund and presented a fundraising and communication strategy to support the process.

Summary of the findings
Sustainable funding: feasibility and constraints

1. The non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that manage the nature parks on the Netherlands Antilles need at least €2.25 million each year to cover the costs of adequately managing at least one terrestrial park and one marine park per island. 
2. External funding sources are therefore necessary to achieve a sustainable financial situation. 
3. Certain developments in 2004 and early 2005 have considerably increased the chances of creating a sustainable funding strategy involving these four tracks:
4. In future years the National Postcode Lottery (NPL) will play a key role in providing longer-term funding to cover the running costs of the parks (track 1). 
5. An essential element in the strategy for achieving sustainable funding for conservation management is the establishment of a Trust Fund (track 2).
6. The Antillean governments should take their own share of the responsibility by ensuring the required legislative framework is in place and making a long-term financial commitment. 
7. The main capital donors to the most successful trust funds elsewhere in the world are bilateral and multilateral agencies (such as GEF and the World Bank) as well as international nature conservation organisations such as WWF and Conservation International. It is therefore highly important to obtain contributions from one or more of these parties in addition to the anticipated contribution from the National Postcode Lottery.
8. The private sector (business community, individuals and investment funds) is a potentially good source of funds in various tracks, particularly in the form of earmarked or non-earmarked donations, sponsorships and contributions to a Trust Fund (tracks 2 and 3).
9. Assuming a combined income of €1.17 million, an annual grant from NPL of €0.45 million and a return on investment of 6%, the Trust Fund would require a capital of €18.9 million to guarantee basic levels of park management on the islands.
10. The study provides a detailed design of the institutional set-up and a legal and financial framework for the Trust Fund. Instead of being a separate legal entity, the proposed Trust Fund will be established within the structure of the DCNA, since the advantages of this option outweigh the disadvantages.

Abstract:

This document is an orientation to sources of funding for protected areas and biodiversity conservation. It is designed to serve as a primer for protected area agencies and managers as well as non- governmental organizations carrying out programs of conservation, education, and sustainable uses of biodiversity resources in and around protected areas. The editors intend to provide the reader with a basic understanding of the mechanisms that can be used to raise funds and generate revenues, as well as the sources of financial and technical support generally available for protected areas and biodiversity conservation in the Wider Caribbean. All of the mechanisms, and many of the sources, will also have applications outside the Wider Caribbean region.

This document is also intended to assist governments of the region in meeting their obligations acquired under biodiversity-related agreements, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and in particular the 1990 Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) and the Convention on the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean (Cartagena 1983). Therefore, the report responds to requests made by the governments of the region, members of the Caribbean Environment Programme of UNEP, and Parties to the Cartagena Convention and SPAW Protocol. In this context, it is expected that this document will contribute to regional and national efforts in strengthening protected areas and also the work of the regional network on Marine Protected Areas (CaMPAM) of the Caribbean Environment Programme. It is a joint effort of UNEP’s Regional Coordinating Unit for the CEP and The Nature Conservancy.

During the 1990s, it became increasingly clear that protected areas and conservation are not a sector unto themselves, but rather, a fundamental element of any country’s overall planning for development and sustainability of the resources fundamental to development —watersheds, forests, fisheries, recreational sites, and more. So, this guide will take a somewhat broader view of funding and revenue generating options than previous overviews of resources available strictly for conservation. We will also take a fairly broad view of the social goods and services provided by, and demanded from, protected areas, bearing in mind that conservation is the fundamental, core purpose. The challenge for managers of achieving participatory management while assuring that community needs and aspirations do not overrun the fundamental purpose of the protected area is, itself, a contributing factor to the need for more resources and more depth of skilled management at many protected areas.

Through the 1970s and 80s and into the 1990s, many protected areas in the Wider Caribbean relied heavily on financing from external donors —bilateral and multilateral assistance, international NGOs, and philanthropic institutions. Today, the resources available from these sources are stretched ever thinner. In many cases, the resources were available primarily for start-up and infrastructure costs, with the expectation that protected area systems would develop on-site or in-country sources for recurrent costs. Protected areas are also turning to permanent income- generating mechanisms to diversify their revenue sources. As protected area systems rely increasingly on revenues from services ranging from tourism and recreation to watershed protection, the very nature of protected area management has undergone subtle and not-so-subtle changes of emphasis, including meeting increased demands for visitor services. Financial planning for protected areas now focuses on both short and long-term prospects, and the potential for generating recurrent resources often influence decisions about whether to establish new areas and how to manage areas that are established.

This guide will attempt to show through examples and case studies how managers of protected area systems have incorporated different funding sources for the distinct phases of establishment and management. We will discuss "making the case" for the tangible and intangible benefits protected areas provide, as a means for building support for both national appropriations and external support. The examples and case studies will also show how protected areas that provide tangible benefits such as education, recreation, and tourism can recover costs and generate income from those activities. It is important to note in this regard, however, that not every protected area can or should become financially self-sustaining through fees and revenues. Often the issue of where costs can be recovered, where profits may be realized, and where subsidies will be needed on a recurring basis is best addressed at the level of the national system. This may mean adding areas specifically for their revenue generating potential as a means of assuring the sustainability of the entire system.

Surveys of the current financial situation of protected areas in the Wider Caribbean show great differences among countries in the percentage of costs covered by national budgets, the level of reliance on volunteer services, and the severity of crises resulting from financial shortfalls. In the early 1990s, many countries established park trust funds or directed debt swap proceeds toward protected area management. However, user fees, voluntary donations, and revenues from sales and concessions are still the exception rather than the rule. In most areas, there are many opportunities to improve revenues for protected areas, as well as opportunities to improve coordination among donors and revenue-generating sectors.

To address these challenges and take advantage of these opportunities, protected area systems need to build capacity in a variety of ways. Factors crucial to building a financially sustainable system include skilled personnel who can analyze financial needs and opportunities, and select approaches appropriate to each area; infrastructure sufficient to the needed management and visitor services, including accommodations, communications, and transportation; a policy environment in which necessary actions (such as dedicating revenues to the system) can be accomplished; and developing systems for community participation. This guide attempts to identify sources of capacity-building assistance that can help protected area managers meet these challenges.