policy

MSc Environment and resource management  - Thesis

Abstract                

Building resilience against climate change is a field of study which as grown exponentially in recent times. Small Island developing states are among the countries that will suffer more damages from climate change globally. The small island state of Sint Maarten has had a number of natural disasters which have brought hardships on local residents and slowed down the development of the nation. Sint Maarten is now looking for avenues from which to improve not only its natural disaster preparedness but also the resilience of the island itself against these events. This research employs a mixed method approach which combines scenario and stakeholder analysis in order to envision possible future climate change scenarios at different resilience levels, and possible policy pathways that can help in efficiently improve the island’s resilience against climate change.  The data used for the scenario analysis was taken from the most recent local census and statistical yearbook, while stakeholder interviews have been set up with local key players in community, economic, and ecological resilience. The data gained from both analyses has provided a comprehensive picture of future possible developments on the island in terms of resilience building. From the analysis of stakeholder interviews and scenario creation a strong vision for policy development was suggested. This vision takes into account the necessity for all actors to collaborate among each other and it is based on the importance of building climate awareness and improving monitoring of environmentally friendly behavior at the public and private levels. Policy recommendations were formulated accordingly to the vision resulting from the analysis.

Dutch, Papiamento, and Papiamentu below

On Tuesday, May 9th, 2023, the Minister for Climate and Energy, Drs. Rob Jetten, and his delegation visited Bonaire’s mangrove forest at Lac Bay. He was received by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) and the Mangrove Maniacs Foundation that gave him a tour. He learned about the forest and the mangrove restoration taking place as well as the seagrass and coral restoration efforts by STINAPA. The Minister also got into the mud helping the volunteers with opening a channel.  

Minister Jetten and DCNA director Arno Verhoeven. Photo credit: Casper Douma / DCNA

Mangrove ecosystems are very important for biodiversity and strengthen coastal areas against extreme weather conditions. They are important for tourism and fishery, and they are true carbon storage champions. Together with sea grass and wetlands, mangroves can play an important role in nature-based solutions to climate change, both in adaptation and mitigation strategies.  

The mangrove forest on Bonaire, the largest of the Kingdom, is struggling. Erosion and siltation cause bad water quality – including high salinity. This has resulted in continuing die offs of mangrove trees. Based on fisherman’s knowledge, satellite imagery, and local research, the Mangrove Maniacs open up channels to restore water circulation. A tough job, hence, their name ‘Maniacs’. In the last 10 years, the volunteers have already maintained more than 3km of channels by hand.  

The Minister for Climate and Energy, Drs. Rob Jetten, is co-hosting the Caribbean Climate & Energy Conference on Aruba from the 10th to the 12th of May. Before traveling there, he visited Bonaire. On the 9th of May 2023, the Mangrove Maniacs and the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) escorted the Minister and his delegation on a tour through Bonaire’s mangrove forest in Lac Bay. During this tour, the Minister and the two organizations discussed the importance of mangrove forests, the stress the trees experience, and the need for mangrove and seagrass restoration. Not just for Bonaire, but also for the other five Dutch Caribbean islands. 

Globally, research is being conducted into how mangroves, sea grass, coral and wetlands can play a role in tackling the climate crisis. Through the local park management organizations and many other local NGOs in conservation, the Dutch Caribbean islands already possess a lot of knowledge and expertise on these ecosystems, how they can be restored, and how they can be used in climate mitigation and adaptation. The DCNA emphasized, however, that capacity building and structural financing is necessary and that cooperation between and with the six Dutch Caribbean islands is key.   

Minister Jetten working in the mangroves. Photo credit: Casper Douma / DCNA

Besides the fruitful conversations between the Minister and his delegation, the Mangrove Maniacs, and the DCNA, the Minister also got his hands ‘dirty’ while helping the volunteers of the Mangrove Maniacs with opening a channel.  

Op dinsdag 9 mei 2023 bezocht de Minister van Klimaat en Energie, drs. Rob Jetten, samen met zijn delegatie het mangrovebos van Bonaire in Lac Bay. Hij werd begeleid door de Mangrove Maniacs en de Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), die hem rondleidden en uitleg gaven over het belangrijke werk van mangroveherstel door de Mangrove Maniacs. Ook het zeegras- en koraalherstel in het gebied door STINAPA werd onder de aandacht gebracht. De minister stak ook zijn handen uit de mouwen toen hij de vrijwilligers van de Mangrove Maniacs hielp bij het openen van een kanaal. 

Minister Jetten en DCNA director Arno Verhoeven. Foto: DCNA

Mangrove-ecosystemen zijn erg belangrijk voor de biodiversiteit en spelen een rol in het versterken van kustgebieden tegen extreme weersomstandigheden. Ze zijn belangrijk voor toerisme en visserij en ze zijn echte kampioenen in koolstofopslag. Samen met zeegras en wetlands kunnen mangroven een belangrijke rol spelen in op natuur gebaseerde oplossingen voor klimaatverandering, zowel in aanpassings- als mitigatiestrategieën. 

Maar het mangrovebos op Bonaire, het grootste van het Koninkrijk, heeft het moeilijk. Erosie en verzanding hebben een slechte invloed op de waterkwaliteit – zo veroorzaakt het een hoog zoutgehalte. Dit heeft geresulteerd in een voortdurende afsterving van mangrovebomen. Op basis van de kennis van vissers, satellietbeelden en lokaal onderzoek openen de Mangrove Maniacs kanalen om de watercirculatie te herstellen. Een zware klus, vandaar hun naam ‘Maniacs’. In de afgelopen 10 jaar hebben de vrijwilligers al meer dan drie kilometeraan kanaal met de hand onderhouden. 

De Minister voor Klimaat en Energie, drs. Rob Jetten is van 10 tot en met 12 mei mede-gastheer van de Caribische Klimaat & Energie Conferentie op Aruba. Voor zijn reis naar Aruba, bezocht hij Bonaire. Op 9 mei 2023 begeleidden de Mangrove Maniacs en de Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) de minister en zijn delegatie op een tour door het mangrovebos van Bonaire in Lac Bay. Tijdens deze rondleiding bespraken de minister en de twee organisaties het belang van mangrovebossen, de druk die de bossen ervaren en de noodzaak van mangroveherstel. Niet alleen voor Bonaire, maar ook voor de andere Caribische eilanden van het Koninkrijk waar mangroven voorkomen. 

Wereldwijd wordt onderzocht hoe mangroven, zeegras, koraal en wetlands een rol kunnen spelen bij het aanpakken van de klimaatcrisis. Natuurbeheerorganisaties en de vele lokale ngo’s  zorgen er voor dat er op de eilanden al over veel kennis en expertise over deze ecosystemen kan worden beschikt. Wat is er mogelijk en wat moet er gebeuren? Vooral zogenaamde nature based solutions kunnen een belangrijke rol spelen bij klimaatadaptatie. Zeker om dat de natuur al een cruciale rol speelt in vrijwel alle facetten van het leven op de eilanden. Tijdens de ontmoeting, benadrukte de DCNA dat capaciteitsopbouw en structurele financiering echter noodzakelijk zijn en dat samenwerking tussen en met de zes Nederlands Caribische eilanden centraal moet staan. 

Minister Jetten working in the mangroves. Foto: DCNA

Naast de vruchtbare gesprekken tussen de minister en zijn delegatie, de Mangrove Maniacs, en de DCNA, heeft de minister ook de handen uit de mouwen gestoken en hielp hij de vrijwilligers van de Mangrove Maniacs bij het openen van een kanaal. 

Diamars dia 9 di mei 2023 Minister di Clima y Energia, Drs. Rob Jetten hunto cu su delegacion a bishita e mondi di palo di mangel di Boneiro na Lac Baai. El a wordo compaña pa Mangrove Maniacs y Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), kendenan a mustr’e e alrededornan y a splica tocante e trabou importante di restauracion di e palo di mangelnan door di Mangrove Maniacs y restauracion di lima di lama door di STINAPA y e importancia di conservacion di naturalesa en general. E minister tambe a saca man yuda e boluntarionan di Mangrove Maniacs habri un canal.  

Minister Jetten and DCNA director Arno Verhoeven. Foto: DCNA

Ecosistema di palo di mangel ta masha importante pa biodiversidad y ta fortalece e zonanan di costa contra condicion climatico extremo. Nan ta importante pa turismo y pesca, y ta berdadero campeon den almacenamento di carbon. Hunto cu lima di lama y e humedalnan, e palo di mangelnan por desempeña un papel importante den solucion di cambio climatico basa riba naturalesa, tanto den strategia di adaptacion como di mitigacion.  

Pero e mondi di palo di mangel na Boneiro, esun mas grandi di Reino, tin e dificil. Erosion y sedimentacion ta provoca un mal calidad di awa, incluyendo un nivel halto di salo. Esaki a resulta den murimento continuo di palo di mangel. Basa riba conocemento di e piscadonan, imagen di satelite y investigacion local, Mangrove Maniacs ta habri canal pa restaura circulacion di awa. Un trabou duro, door di esey e nomber “Maniacs”. Den e ultimo 10 añanan e boluntarionan ya a mantene mas di 3 km di canal cu man.  

Minister di Clima y Energia, Drs. Rob Jetten, ta coanfitrion di e Conferencia Caribense di Clima y Energia na Aruba di dia 10 pa 12 di mei. Prome di biaha bay eynan, el a bishita Boneiro. Dia 9 di mei di 2023 Mangrove Maniacs y Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) a compaña Minister y su delegacion den un recorido door di e mondinan di palo di mangel di Boneiro na Lac Baai. Durante e gira aki Minister y e dos organisacionnan a discuti importancia di e mondinan di palo di mangel, e presion cu e matanan ta experimenta y e necesidad pa restaura e palonan di mangel. No solamente pa Boneiro, sino tambe pa e otro islanan di Caribe Hulandes den cuanan bo ta haya mata di mangel.  

Na nivel mundial, nan ta realisando investigacion tocante con e palo di mangelnan, e limanan di lama y e humedales por desempeña un papel den e lucha contra e crisis climatico. Entre e organisacionnan di maneho di parke y otro organisacion di conservacion, e islanan di Caribe Hulandes ya ta posee hopi conocemento y experencia tocante e ecosistemanan aki, con por restaura nan y con por uza nan den mitigacion y adaptacion climatico. Sinembargo, DCNA a enfatisa cu desaroyo di e capacidadnan y financiamiento structural ta necesario y cu e cooperacion entre y cu e seis islanan di Caribe Hulandes ta central.  

Minister Jetten working in the mangroves. Foto: DCNA

Ademas di e combersacionnan fructifero entre e Minister y su delegacion, Mangrove Maniacs y DCNA, e Minister tambe a saca man, yuda e boluntarionan di Mangrove Maniacs habri un canal.  

Riba djamars 9 di mei 2023, e Minister di Klima i Energia, Drs. Rob Jetten, huntu ku su delegashon a bishitá e mondinan di palu di mangel di Boneiru na Bahia di Lac. E tabata kompañá pa The Mangrove Maniacs i Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), ku a duna un guia na e sitio i tambe un splikashon di e trabou importante di restorashon di mondi di palu di mangel ku The Mangrove Maniacs ta hasi i e restorashon di yerba di laman ku ta na enkargo di STINAPA i e importansia di konservashon di naturalesa en general. E Minister a pone man na obra tambe dunando asistensia na e boluntarionan di The Mangrove Maniacs den nan trabou sushi di habri un kanal den lodo. 

Minister Jetten and DCNA director Arno Verhoeven. Foto: DCNA

E ekosistemanan di Palu di mangel ta hopi importante pa biodiversidat i pa fortalesé áreanan na kosta kontra kondishonnan ekstremo di wer. Nan ta hopi importante pa turismo i peska, i nan ta un mangasina kampion pa almasená karbon. Huntu ku yerba di laman i áreanan akuátiko, palu di mangelnan por tin un papel importante den solushonnan basá riba naturalesa pa kambio di klima, tantu den strategianan di adaptashon komo den strategia di suavisá. 

E mondi di palu di mangel na Boneiru, ku ta esun di mas grandi den Reino hulandes, ta luchando pa sobrebibí. Eroshon i oumentu di sedimento ta kousa mal kalidat di awa – inkluso grado haltu di salu. Esaki a duna resultado ku palu di mangelnan ta muri bai kontinuamente. Basá riba konosementu di piskadó, mapanan di satélite, i investigashon lokal; The Mangrove Maniacs ta koba lodo pa habri kanal pa por restorá sirkulashon di awa. Un trabou duru, no ta pa nada e nòmber ‘Maniacs’. Den e último 10 añanan, e boluntarionan a logra kaba di habri mas ku 3 km di kanal ku trabou na man. 

E Minister di Klima I Energia, Drs. Rob Jetten, ta kompartí e funshon di anfitrion di e Caribbean Climate & Energy Conference na Aruba di 10 pa 12 di mei. Promé di biaha pa Aruba, el a bishitá Boneiru. Riba 9 di mei 2023 The Mangrove Maniacs ku Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) a duna e Minister ku su delegashon un eskurshon rònt di e mondinan di palu di mangel di Boneiru den Bahia di Lac. Durante e eskurshon, e Minister huntu ku e dos organisashonnan a diskutí e importansia di mondi di palu di mangel, e strès ku e palunan ta eksperensiá, i e nesesidat pa restorashon di palu di mangel. No solamente pa Boneiru, pero tambe pa e otro islanan di Hulanda Karibense ku tin palu di mangel. 

Na nivel global, ta hasiendo investigashon pa wak kon palu di mangel, yerba di laman i área akuátiko por hunga un papel den atendé ku e krísis di klima. Denter di e organisashonnan di maneho di parke natural i otro organisashon di konservashon di naturalesa, e islanan di Hulanda Karibense tin kaba hopi konosementu i ekspertisio di e ekosistemanan akí den nan man, tokante kon pa restorá nan i kon por usa nan den suavisá i adaptá kambio di klima. DCNA sinembargo a enfatisá, ku krea kapasidat i finansiamentu struktural ta nesesario i ku koperashon entre e seis islanan di Hulanda Karibense ta importante.  

Minister Jetten working in the mangroves. Foto: DCNA

Fuera di e kombersashonnan fruktífero entre e Minister i su delegashon, ku The Mangrove Maniacs, i DCNA, e Minister a pone tambe man na obra sushi di lodo pa asistí e boluntarionan di The Mangrove Maniacs den kobamentu pa habri un kanal. 

Published in BioNews 65

Implementation agenda's (Dutch: uitvoeringsplan) for Nature & Environment Policy 2020-2023 for:

• Sint Eutatius
• Saba

Nederlands, Papiamento and Papiamentu below.

DCNA has been actively promoting a nature focused agenda both within The Netherlands and internationally.  Whether it’s championing the Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary, establishing new partnerships or pushing for a Climate Action Plan, 2022 has been a banner year for improved nature conservations efforts within the Dutch Caribbean.

One of the many goals of DCNA is to promote policy and advocacy work, both within The Netherlands and internationally. Together with DCNA board members, the conservation network organization has been actively engaging politicians and policy makers in order to stress the importance of nature conservation within the Dutch Caribbean. Below are a few highlights from the past few months of this important work:

Yarari Sanctuary Implementation Act

The implementation act for the Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary was finally approved in the Dutch Council of Ministers on Friday the 8th of July. This was an important next step in protecting sharks, whales and dolphins in the waters of Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius. Since the designation of the Yarari sanctuary in 2015, DCNA has been actively involved in drafting the implementation act and the organization is pleased to see the governance structure of the Sanctuary finally being put in place

New Collaborations

Photo credit: Naturepics: Y.+T. Kühnast

In June, DCNA partner organization Blue Marine Foundation invited DCNA to London to meet Lord Zach Goldsmith (Minister for the Pacific and the Environment) to discuss the UK’s Blue Belt Programme, a support program for the UK’s Overseas Territories to assist in fisheries monitoring and control. Together with the Blue Marine Foundation, DCNA is now exploring if such a program could be replicated in the Dutch Caribbean.

Climate Action Plan

In May, as part of the working visit of DCNA Director Tadzio Bervoets and DCNA Chair Hellen van der Wal to the Netherlands, the organization presented its Climate Action Plan for the Dutch Caribbean to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Kingdom relations (BZK) and to the Ministry for Climate with a plea for the Dutch Government to actively work with stakeholders on climate proofing the Dutch Caribbean. The plan was also presented to Members of Parliament Jorien Wuite en Lammert van Raan during a Masterclass held at Pulchri Studio in The Hague.

DCNA will continue to work actively to continue to push forward a more structured support for Nature Conservation within the Dutch Caribbean.  There are a number of promising new projects, such as aiding in the implementation of the Nature and Environment Policy Plan BES and the upcoming Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) of the Specifically Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) protocol. You can stay up to date on all the latest DCNA news by signing up for the monthly newsletter BioNews by visiting www.dcnanature.org/news.

DCNA Director Tadzio Bervoets and DCNA Chair Dr. Hellen van der Wal presenting the Dutch Caribbean Climate Plan to the Director General for Kingdom Relations Mr. Henk Brons (Photo Irene Kingma)

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Nederlands

Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance lobbyt internationaal voor meer draagvlak voor natuurbehoud in Caribisch Nederland

DCNA is actief bezig geweest met het promoveren van een agenda met focus op de natuur zowel binnen Nederland als op internationaal gebied.  Of het nu gaat om het verdedigen van het Yarari zeezoogdier- en haaienreservaat, het aangaan van nieuwe partnerschappen of het aandringen op een Klimaat Actie Plan, 2022 is een uitstekend jaar geweest voor verbeterde inspanningen op het gebied van natuurbehoud in de Nederlandse Cariben.

Een van de vele doelstellingen van DCNA is het promoten van activiteiten van beleid en belangenbehartiging, zowel binnen Nederland als op internationaal gebied. Samen met DCNA-bestuursleden heeft de netwerkorganisatie voor natuurbehoud actief politici en beleidsmakers betrokken om het belang van natuurbehoud binnen de Nederlandse Cariben te benadrukken. Hieronder volgen een paar hoogtepunten van de afgelopen maanden van dit belangrijke werk:

Uitvoeringswet Yarari Sanctuary

Op vrijdag 8 juli is de uitvoeringswet voor het Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary definitief goedgekeurd in de Nederlandse ministerraad. Dit was een belangrijke volgende stap in de bescherming van haaien, walvissen en dolfijnen in de wateren van Bonaire, Saba en Sint-Eustatius. Sinds de aanwijzing van het Yarari-reservaat in 2015 is DCNA actief betrokken geweest bij het opstellen van de implementatiewet en de organisatie is verheugd dat de bestuursstructuur van het reservaat eindelijk is ingevoerd.

Photo credit: Naturepics: Y.+T. Kühnast

Nieuwe samenwerkingen

In juni heeft DCNA-partnerorganisatie Blue Marine Foundation, DCNA uitgenodigd in Londen om Lord Zach Goldsmith (minister voor de Stille Oceaan en Milieu) te ontmoeten om het Britse Blue Belt-Programma te bespreken, een ondersteuningsprogramma voor de overzeese gebieden van het VK om te helpen bij visserijmonitoring en -controle. Samen met de Blue Marine Foundation onderzoekt DCNA nu of een dergelijk programma navolging kan krijgen in Nederlandse Cariben.

Klimaat Actie Plan

In mei hebben, DCNA-directeur Tadzio Bervoets en DCNA-voorzitter Hellen van der Wal als onderdeel van het werkbezoek van DCNA aan Nederland, het Klimaat Actie Plan voor Caribisch Nederland gepresenteerd aan het ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties (BZK) en aan het ministerie van Klimaat, met een pleidooi voor de Nederlandse regering om actief samen te werken met belanghebbenden aan het klimaatbestendig maken van Caribisch Nederland. Het plan is ook gepresenteerd aan de Tweede Kamerleden Jorien Wuite en Lammert van Raan tijdens een Masterclass in de Pulchri Studio in Den Haag.

DCNA zal zich actief blijven inspannen om een meer gestructureerde ondersteuning van het natuurbehoud binnen Caribisch Nederland voort te zetten. Er zijn een aantal kansrijke nieuwe projecten, zoals het meewerken aan de uitvoering van het Natuur- en Milieubeleidsplan BES en de aanstaande Wetenschappelijke en Technische Adviescommissie (STAC) van het Specifiek Beschermde Natuurgebieden en Wildernis (SPAW) protocol. U kunt op de hoogte blijven van al het laatste DCNA-nieuws door u aan te melden voor de maandelijkse nieuwsbrief BioNews via www.dcnanature.org/news.

Fotobijschrift: Van links naar rechts: DCNA-directeur Tadzio Bervoets en DCNA-voorzitter Dr. Hellen van der Wal presenteren het Klimaat Plan Caribisch Nederland aan de directeur-generaal Koninkrijksrelaties dhr. Henk Brons (Foto Irene Kingma)

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Papiamento

Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance ta Lobby Internacionalmente pa Mayor Apoyo na Conservacion di Naturalesa den Caribe Hulandes

DCNA ta promoviendo activamente un agenda centra riba naturalesa, tanto na Hulanda como na nivel internacionalmente. Sea defendiendo Santuario di Tiburon y Mamifero Marino di Yarari, estableciendo asociacion nobo of impulsando un Plan di Accion Climatico, 2022 tabata un aña excepcional pa mehora e esfuersonan di conservacion di naturalesa den Caribe Hulandes.

Un di e tanto obhetivonan di DCNA ta pa promove maneho y trabou di promocion, tanto na Hulanda como internacionalmente. Hunto cu e miembronan di hunta di DCNA, e organisacion di e red di conservacion tabata involucrando activamente politiconan y legisladornan pa enfatisa importancia di conservacion di naturalesa den Caribe Hulandes. Akibou ta sigui algun aspecto cu a  destaca e ultimo lunanan di e trabou importante aki:

Ley di Implementacion di Santuario di Yarari

E ley di implementacion di Santuario di Tiburon y Mamifero Marino di Yarari a keda finalmente aproba pa Conseho di Ministro Hulandes diabierna dia 8 di juli. Esaki tabata un proximo paso importante den proteccion di tiburon, bayena y dolfijn den e awanan di Boneiro, Saba y St. Eustatius. Desde e designacion di e santuario di Yarari na 2015, DCNA a participa activamente den redaccion di e ley di implementacion y e organisacion ta contento di mira cu finalmente a implementa structura di maneho di e santuario.

Photo credit: Naturepics: Y.+T. Kühnast

Colaboracionnan nobo

Den luna di juni, e organisacion asocia na DCNA Blue Marine Foundation, a invita DCNA pa reuni na Londen cu Lord Zach Goldsmith (Ministro di Pacifico y di Medio Ambiente) pa papia tocante e Programa Blue Belt di Reino Uni, un programa di apoyo pa e teritorionan di ultramar di Reino Uni pa yuda den monitoriamento y control di pesca. Hunto cu Blue Marine Foundation, DCNA awor ta explorando si e programa ey lo por replica su mes den Caribe Hulandes.

Plan di accion climatico

Den luna di mei, como parti di e bishita di trabou di director di DCNA, Tadzio Bervoets, y e presidente di DCNA, Hellen van der Wna al, na Hulanda, e organisacion a presenta su Plan di Accion Climatico pa Caribe Hulandes na Ministerio di Interior y Relacion di  Reino (BZK) y Ministerio di Clima cu un peticion pa gobierno Hulandes traha activamente cu e stakeholdernan den proteccion climatico di Caribe Hulandes. El plan tambe a keda presenta na e miembronan di Parlamento Jorien Wuite y Lammert van Raan durante un Masterclass teni na Pulchri Studio na den Haag.

DCNA ta sigui traha activamente pa continua pusha un apoyo mas structura pa conservacion di naturalesa den Caribe Hulandes. Tin un serie di proyecto nobo y prometedor, con pa yuda den implementacion di e Plan di Maneho di Naturalesa y Medio Ambiente BES y e proximo Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) di e protocol di Area y Bida Silvestre specificamente Protegi (SPAW). Bo por keda mantene bo mes al tanto tocante e ultimo noticianan di DCNA door di suscribi bo mes pa e boletin mensual BioNews bishitando www.dcnanature.org/news.

Abou riba e potret: Di robes pa drechi: director di DCNA, Tadzio Bervoets, y presidente di DCNA, Dra. Hellen van der Wal, presentando e Plan Climatico di Caribe Hulandes na Director General di Relacion di Reino, Sr. Henk Brons (potret Irene Kingma)

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Papiamentu

Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance ta Buska na Nivel Internashonal pa Oumento di Sosten pa Konservashon di Naturalesa na Karibe Hulandes

DCNA tabata aktivo ku promoshon di un agènda ku enfoke riba naturalesa, na Hulanda i riba nivel internashonal. Sea ku ta pa sostené e parke marino pa mamífero di laman i tribon ‘Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary’, òf ku ta pa realisá lasonan di partner òf ku ta pa presentá un Plan di Akshon di Klima, 2022 a bira un aña eksitoso pa esfuersonan di drecha konservashon di naturalesa denter di Karibe Hulandes

Un di e tantísimo metanan di DCNA ta pa promové maneho i propagá trabou, tantu den Hulanda komo riba tereno internashonal. Huntu ku e miembronan di DCNA su direktiva, e fundashon di ret di kontakto pa organisashon di konservashon a move aktivamente pa atendé ku polítikonan i agentenan di skirbi maneho pa por enfatisá e importansia di konservashon di naturalesa denter di Karibe Hulandes. Akibou ta sigui algun di e logronan di e trabou importante akí den e lunanan tras di lomba:

Lei di Realisashon di Yarari Sanctuary

Finalmente Konseho di Minister di Hulanda a aprobá riba djabièrnè 8 di yüli e lei di realisashon di e parke marino pa mamífero i tribon ‘Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary’. Esaki tabata un siguiente paso importante den protekshon di tribon, bayena i dòlfein den e awanan di Boneiru, Saba i Statia. For di momentu di apuntashon di e parke Yarari na 2015, DCNA tabata aktivamente embolbí den konsipiá e lei di realisashon i e organisashon ta kontentu di mira ku finalmente ta realisando e struktura di manehá e santuario.

Photo credit: Naturepics: Y.+T. Kühnast

Kolaborashonnan nobo

Na luna di yüni DCNA su organisashon partner Blue Marine Foundation a manda invitá DCNA pa bin Londres pa bin topa Lord Zach Goldsmith (Minister di e área di Pasífiko i di Medioambiente)  pa diskutí tokante Reino Uní su Programa di Faha Blou (Blue Belt Programme), un programa di sosten pa e Teritorionan Ultramar di Reino Uní pa sostené monitoreo i kontrol di peskeria. Huntu ku Blue Marine Foundation, DCNA aktualmente ta eksplorando si un programa similar lo por haña realisashon na Karibe Hulandes.

Plan di Akshon pa Klima

Na mei, komo parti di e bishita di trabou di DCNA na Hulanda, DCNA su direktor Tadzio Bervoets i presidente di direktiva Hellen van der Wal a presentá DCNA su Plan di Akshon pa Klima na Karibe Hulandes, na e Ministerio di Asuntu Interno i Relashon denter di Reino (BZK) i na e Ministerio di Klima ku un súplika na Gobièrnu di Hulanda pa traha aktivamente huntu ku stakeholdernan pa hasi Karibe Hulandes resistente na kambio di klima. Tambe a presentá e plan na e Parlamentarionan Jorien Wuite i Lammert van Raan durante un master charla ku nan a tene na Pulchri Studio na Den Haag.

DCNA lo kontinuá traha aktivamente pa yega na un forma di sosten mas strukturá pa Konservashon di Naturalesa denter di Hulanda Karibense. Tin algun proyekto nobo prometedor, manera sosten den implementashon di e Plan pa Maneho di Naturalesa i Medioambiente BES i e benidero Komitiva Konsehero Sientífiko i Tékniko (Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee/STAC) di  e protokòl pa Área Spesífikamente Protehá i di Naturalesa (Specifically Protected Areas and Wildlife / (SPAW). Bo por keda na altura di tur e último notisia di DCNA dor di registrá pa e boletin mensual BioNews dor di subi  na www.dcnanature.org/news.

Riba foto: Di robes pa drechi: DCNA su Direktor Tadzio Bervoets i DCNA su presidente Dr. Hellen van der Wal presentando e Plan pa Maneho di Naturalesa i Medioambiente na e Direktor General di Relashon denter di Reino sr. Henk Brons (Foto: Irene Kingma)

Published in BioNews 57.

Nederlands, Papiamento and Papiamentu below.

On Saturday, June 18th 2022, State Secretary Her Excellency Drs. Alexandra van Huffelen visited the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) office in Bonaire.  The DCNA made use of the opportunity to request her urgent attention to the conservation of the biodiversity hotspot in the “Kingdom of the Netherlands”.  The six Dutch Caribbean Islands are well known for their beautiful and diverse nature, whilst at the same time its conservation has not been sufficiently addressed. The current support from the Netherlands is mainly directed to the BES islands.

And, as nature does not have any borders, it is of the utmost importance that the Kingdom provides support to all the six Dutch Caribbean Islands in nature conservation plans and projects such as DCNA’s Dutch Caribbean Climate Action Plan.

DCNA’s Treasurer, Mr. Norman Kuipéri, of the Aruba National Park Foundation, and board member Mr. Paul Stokkermans, of the Carmabi Foundation from Curaçao , together with DCNA’s Director, Mr. Tadzio Bervoets, gave a presentation to Her Excellency highlighting DCNA’s work, including the challenges and threats the Protected Area Management organizations on each of the islands are facing, in their efforts to conserve and safeguard nature in the Dutch Caribbean. The lack of sustainable funding, policy support, and adequate spatial planning hamper conservation management efforts. Amongst the most significant threats include poorly regulated (coastal) development, waste and wastewater management, as well as overgrazing, overfishing, the impact of invasive species, and of climate change (warming of the seas, changing weather patterns, and rising sea levels).

Constructive discussions were held on the above topics, including climate change, and DCNA’s Dutch Caribbean Climate Action Plan, which was launched in May of 2022. This plan provides concrete recommendations for all six islands on both climate adaptation and mitigation strategies in order to combat climate change effects. Sustainable development and combating climate change require an integrated approach that prioritizes protection of nature, energy independence, sustainable tourism, and a diverse blue economy. Most importantly, this needs to be a joint effort where the countries work together to strengthen each other’s effort and determination.

Photo: left to right: Ms. Nina Zander (DCNA Climate Research intern), Mr. Diego Marquez (DCNA Research & Monitoring Workgroup assistant), Mrs. Tineke van Bussel (DCNA Research Communication liaison), Mrs. Emeray Martha-Neuman (DCNA Office manager), Mr. Tadzio Bervoets (DCNA Director), State Secretary H.E. Drs. Alexandra van Huffelen, Mr. Norman Kuipéri (DCNA Treasurer), Mr. Paul Stokkermans (DCNA board member)

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Nederlands

Staatssecretaris Hare Excellentie Drs. Alexandra van Huffelen krijgt een dringend bericht over natuurbescherming in het Nederlands Caribisch gebied.

Op zaterdag 18 juni 2022 heeft Staatssecretaris Hare Excellentie Drs. Alexandra van Huffelen het kantoor van de Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) op Bonaire bezocht. De DCNA heeft van deze gelegenheid gebruik gemaakt om haar dringende aandacht te vragen voor het behoud van de biodiversiteitshotspot in het “Koninkrijk der Nederlanden”. De zes Nederlands Caribische eilanden staan ​​bekend om hun prachtige en diverse natuur, terwijl het behoud ervan op hetzelfde moment onvoldoende wordt geadresseerd. De huidige steun vanuit Nederland is vooral gericht op de BES-eilanden. Maar, aangezien de natuur geen grenzen kent, is het van het grootste belang dat het Koninkrijk ondersteuning biedt aan alle zes de Caribische eilanden in diens natuurbehoud plannen en projecten, zoals DCNA’s Klimaat Actieplan voor het Nederlands Caribisch gebied.

DCNA’s penningmeester, dhr. Norman Kuipéri, van de Aruba National Park Foundation, en bestuurslid dhr. Paul Stokkermans, van de Carmabi Foundation uit Curaçao, gaven samen met DCNA’s directeur, dhr. Tadzio Bervoets, een presentatie aan Hare Excellentie waarin het werk van DCNA belicht werd, inclusief de uitdagingen en bedreigingen waarmee de beheerorganisaties van beschermde gebieden op elk van de eilanden worden geconfronteerd bij hun inspanningen om de natuur in Caribisch Nederland te behouden en te beschermen. Het gebrek aan duurzame financiering, beleidsondersteuning en adequate ruimtelijke planning belemmeren de inspanningen op het gebied van natuurbehoud. Tot de belangrijkste bedreigingen behoren slecht gereguleerde (kust)ontwikkeling, afval- en afvalwaterbeheer, evenals overbegrazing, overbevissing, de impact van invasieve soorten en klimaatverandering (opwarming van de zeeën, veranderende weerspatronen en een stijgende zeespiegel).

Er werden constructieve gesprekken gevoerd over bovenstaande onderwerpen, waaronder klimaatverandering, en over DCNA’s Klimaat Actieplan voor het Nederlands Caribisch gebied, welke in mei 2022 werd gedeeld. Dit plan biedt concrete aanbevelingen voor alle zes de eilanden over zowel klimaatadaptatie- als mitigatiestrategieën om de effecten van klimaatverandering te bestrijden. Duurzame ontwikkeling en de bestrijding van klimaatverandering vereisen een geïntegreerde aanpak die prioriteit geeft aan natuurbescherming, energieonafhankelijkheid, duurzaam toerisme en een diverse blauwe economie. Het belangrijkste is dat dit een gezamenlijke inspanning moet zijn waarbij de landen samenwerken om elkaars inzet en vastberadenheid te versterken.

Foto: van links naar rechts: mevrouw Nina Zander (DCNA Klimaat verandering onderzoeksstagaire) de heer Diego Marquez (DCNA Onderzoek & Monitoring Werkgroepassistent), mevrouw Tineke van Bussel (DCNA Onderzoek Communicatie liaison), mevrouw Emeray Martha-Neuman (DCNA Office manager), de heer Tadzio Bervoets (DCNA directeur), staatssecretaris H.E. Drs. Alexandra van Huffelen, Dhr. Norman Kuipéri (DCNA Penningmeester), Dhr. Paul Stokkermans (DCNA bestuurslid)

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Papiamento

Secretaria di Estado su Excelencia Drs. Alexandra van Huffelen ta ricibi un mensahe urgente tocante proteccion di naturalesa den Caribe Hulandes.

Diasabra 18 di juni di aña 2022, Secretaria di Estado su Excelencia Drs. Alexandra van Huffelen a bishita oficina di Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) na Boneiro. DCNA a haci uzo di e oportunidad pa pidi su atencion urgente pa conservacion di hotspot di biodiversidad den  “Reino Hulandes”. E seis islanan di Caribe Hulandes ta bon conoci pa nan naturalesa bunita y diversifica, mientras cu na mes momento su conservacion no a wordo suficientemente aborda. E apoyo actual di Hulanda ta dirigi principalmente riba e islanan BES.

Y, ya cu naturalesa no tin frontera, ta di suma importancia pa Reino brinda apoyo na e seis islanan di Caribe Hulandes den nan plannan y proyectonan di conservacion di naturalesa, manera e Plan di accion climatico di Caribe Hulandes di DCNA.

Tesorero di DCNA, Sr. Norman Kuiperi, di Fundacion Parke Nacional di Aruba, y miembro di  board, Sr. Paul Stokkermans, di Fundacion Carmabi di Corsou, hunto cu Director di DCNA, Sr. Tadzio Bervoets, a duna un presentacion na Su Excelencia destacando e trabou di DCNA, incluyendo nan desafionan y esfuersonan pa conserva y salvaguarda naturalesa den Caribe Hulandes. Falta di financiacion sostenibel, apoyo politico y planificacion espacial adecuado ta obstaculisa e esfuersonan di parti di maneho di conservacion. Entre e menasanan mas importante ta inclui desaroyo (di costa) mal regula, maneho di desecho y awa residual, tambe pastoreo excesivo, piscamento excesivo, impacto di e especienan invasor y cambio climatico (keintamento di lama, cambio den e patronchinan climatico y aumento di nivel di lama).

A tene discusion constructivo tocante e temanan anterior, entre nan cambio climatico, y e Plan di Accion Climatico di Caribe Hulandes di DCNA, cu a wordo lansa na mei di aña 2022. E plan aki ta proporciona recomendacion concreto pa e seis islanan tocante strategia di mitigacion y adaptacion climatico pa combati cambio climatico y efecto di e cambio. Desaroyo sostenibel y lucha contra e cambio climatico ta rekeri un enfoke integral cu ta priorisa proteccion di naturalesa, independencia energetico, turismo sostenibel y economia blauw diversifica. Loke ta mas importante,  emester ta un esfuerso conhuntamente den cua e paisnan ta traha hunto pa fortalece e esfuerso y  determinacion di otro.

Potret: di robes pa drechi: Sra. Nina Zander (stagaire di investigacion climatico di DCNA), Sr. Diego Marquez (asistente di grupo di trabou di investigacion y monitoreo di DCNA), Sra. Tineke van Bussel (liaison di investigacion di comunicacion di DCNA), Sra. Emeray Martha-Neuman (Gerente di oficina di DCNA), Sr. Tadzio Bervoets (Director DCNA), Secretaria di Estado S.E. Drs. Alexandra van Huffelen, Sr. Norman Kuiperi (Tesorero di DCNA), Sr. Paul Stokkermans (miembro di board di DCNA)

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Papiamentu

Sekretario di Estado Su Ekselensia Drs. Alexandra van Huffelen a risibí un mensahe di urgensia tokante protekshon di naturalesa na Karibe Hulandes.

Djasabra 18 di yüni 2022, Sekretario di Estado Su Ekselensia Drs. Alexandra van Huffelen a hasi un bishita na ofisina di Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) na Boneiru.  DCNA a hasi uso di e oportunidat pa hala su atenshon urgentemente pa konservashon di e atrakshon grandi di biodiversidat den “Reino Hulandes”.  E seis islanan di Karibe Hulandes ta konosí pa nan naturalesa bunita i diverso, miéntras ku na mes momentu e konservashon di nan naturalesa no a haña sufisiente dedikashon. E sosten aktual di Hulanda ta dirigí prinsipalmente na e islanan BES.

I, komo ku naturalesa no konosé frontera, ta di sumo importansia ku Reino ta duna sosten na tur e seis islanan di Karibe Hulandes ku nan plannan i proyektonan di konservashon manera DCNA su Plan di Akshon pa Klima na Karibe Hulandes / Dutch Caribbean Climate Action Plan.

DCNA su Tesorero sr. Norman Kuipéri, di Aruba National Park Foundation, i miembro di direktiva sr. Paul Stokkermans, di Carmabi Foundation di Kòrsou, huntu ku Direktor di DCNA sr. Tadzio Bervoets, a duna un presentashon na su ekselensia enfatisando e trabou di DCNA, inkluso e retonan i menasanan ku e Organisashonnan di Maneho di Área Protehá ta enfrentá na kada un di e islanan, den nan esfuerso pa konservá i salbaguardiá naturalesa na Karibe Hulandes. E falta di fondo duradero, sosten di maneho, i planifikashon adekuá di teritorio ta un estorbo pa esfuersonan di maneho pa konservashon. Entre e menasanan mas signifikante ta inkluí regulashon pober di desaroyo di teritorio (na kosta), maneho di shushi i awa di kloaka, i tambe komementu eksesivo di bestia ku ta kana lòs den naturalesa, piskamentu eksesivo, e impakto di espesienan invasivo i/òf kambio di klima (kentamentu di oséano, kambio di patronchi di wer i subimentu di nivel di laman).

Diskushonnan konstruktivo a tuma lugá tokante e tópikonan menshoná akiriba, inkluso kambio di klima i DCNA su Plan di Akshon pa Klima na Karibe Hulandes. ku a keda lansá na mei 2022. E plan akí ta presentá rekomendashonnan konkreto pa tur e seis isla tantu riba adaptashon na klima komo pa strategianan di suavisashon pa kombatí efektonan di kambio di klima. Desaroyo duradero i kombatimentu di kambio di klima ta eksigí un strategia integrá ku duna prioridat na protekshon di naturalesa, independensia di energia, turismo duradero i un ekonomia blou diverso. Mas importante ainda, esaki ta eksigí di ta un esfuerso komun den kua paisnan ta traha huntu pa fortalesé esfuerso i determinashon di kada unu.

Foto: di man robes pa man drechi: Sra. Nina Zander (DCNA stazjèr Investigashon di Klima), sr. Diego Marquez (DCNA asistente di Grupo di Trabou Investigashon & Monitoreo), sra. Tineke van Bussel (DCNA Empleado pa Komunikashon di Investigashon), sra. Emeray Martha-Neuman (DCNA manager di Ofisina), sr. Tadzio Bervoets (DCNA Direktor), Sekretario di Estado Drs. Alexandra van Huffelen, sr. Norman Kuipéri (DCNA Tesorero), sr. Paul Stokkermans (DCNA miembro di direktiva)

Published in BioNews 55.

May 16th 2022- Today the DCNA launches a Climate Action Plan for the Dutch Caribbean. This plan provide concrete recommendations for all our islands on both climate adaptation and mitigation strategies to combat climate change effects.

Photo credit: A.O. Debrot

Caribbean islands are at the forefront of the climate crisis, with effects already starting to become noticeable in the region. Experts have warned, including in the recently released IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, that we have just ten years left to avert the worst climate impacts but that this will require decisive action, both in terms of adaptation and mitigation strategies.

The Dutch Caribbean islands are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts. People’s lives and livelihoods as well as most economic activities are located near coastal areas while the region’s unique nature is already under pressure from human impacts. This is compounded by the fact that, due to the island’s small geographic area and limited human capacity, the resilience to recover from disastrous events is low.

As stewards of nature in the Dutch Caribbean the parks united in the DCNA see first-hand how the changing climate is already affecting the islands. We see it as vital for all the governments, both in the Netherlands and in the Dutch Caribbean,  to embrace this plan and collaborate with local stakeholders on the implementation of a climate smart future for our beautiful islands and their communities.

As the impacts of climate change worsen, it is essential that greater efforts are placed on enhancing the implementation of mitigation and adaptation strategies in the Dutch Caribbean. Sustainable development and combating climate change require an integrated approach that prioritises, protection of nature, energy independence, sustainable tourism industry, and a diverse blue economy. But most importantly this needs to be a joint effort where countries work together to strengthen each other’s effort and resolve.

Read the Dutch Caribbean Climate Action Plan in English.
Or in Dutch.

Published in BioNews 54

Veerkracht tegen klimaatverandering verloren door stapeling van drukfactoren

- stijgingen in de lucht

- en zeewatertemperatuur

- zeespiegelstijging

- verzuring van de zee

- toenemende verdroging van het klimaat

- woekerende invasieve soorten en tropische ziekten

- afname in biodiversiteit

- toenemend frequentie en kracht van orkanen

See also https://www.dcbd.nl/document/%E2%80%98nature-based-solutions%E2%80%99-zi...

Achtergrond

Caribisch Nederland (Bonaire, Saba en St. Eustatius) en de Koninkrijkspartners Aruba, Curaçao en Sint Maarten worden nu en in de komende decennia met toenemende mate geconfronteerd met zware nadelige effecten van klimaatverandering. Die effecten zijn onder andere: - stijging van de zeespiegel - stijgingen in de lucht- en zeewatertemperatuur - toenemende verdroging van het klimaat - woekerende invasieve soorten en tropische ziekten - afname in biodiversiteit - toenemend frequentie en kracht van orkanen. Laaggelegen delen van historische steden zoals Willemstad (Curaçao) en Philipsburg (St. Maarten) en overige aan de kust gelegen infrastructuur zullen zonder ingrijpen uiteindelijk aan de zee moeten worden prijsgegeven. De eilanden beschikken over een rijke biodiversiteit met veel soorten en ondersoorten die niet of nagenoeg nergens op andere plekken voorkomen. Deze soorten zijn vaak bijzonder kwetsbaar voor invasieve soorten en veranderingen in het milieu, waaronder ook die veroorzaakt door klimaatverandering. Omdat de natuur slecht in stand is gehouden, is er sprake van een sterk verminderde veerkracht bij klimaatverandering.

In het verleden is menigmaal gewezen op de noodzaak om een actief klimaatbeleid en een adaptatiestrategie te ontwikkelen en implementeren voor Caribisch Nederland. Helaas heeft het daar tot nu toe aan ontbroken. Deze noodzaak is onlangs opnieuw benadrukt door recente standpunten van de Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA, 2020) en Greenpeace Nederland (2022), en door een uitgebreide analyse de Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2022) van de te verwachten gevolgen van klimaatverandering voor Bonaire.

See also https://www.dcbd.nl/document/powerpoint-httpswwwdcbdnldocumente28098natu...

Concerned at Lack of Mention of the Impacts of Climate Change During Address of King Willem Alexander at the Joint Session of the States-General of the Netherlands

Increased rain runoff due to a changing climate has been impacting the coral reefs of the Dutch Caribbean, including the coral reefs of Bonaire. Source: Marcel van der Kamp

The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance expressed its concern at the lack of attention on matters related to the impact of Climate Change in the Dutch Caribbean in The Hague. Despite Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte mentioning the impacts of Climate Change in the Dutch Caribbean during his intervention at the UN General Assembly in September, very little concrete actions and support for what will be the most critical crises facing people of the Dutch Caribbean in the immediate future. The statements from the regional conservation network comes on the eve of the opening of CoP26 held in Glasgow, Scotland from November 1st to November 12th.

“While it was commendable that climate change has been mentioned by Dutch Politicians lately, we  are still quite concerned that very little attention is being paid to the impact climate change will have on the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, this while it is clear that those living in the Caribbean, the biodiversity hotspot of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, are at the forefront of the climate crises,” commented DCNA Director Tadzio Bervoets.

Bervoets continued to mention that during meetings held recently with various parliamentarians and directorates in the Netherlands, DCNA highlighted the existential crises posted by the changing climate; “We had to remind the politicians, bureaucrats and technocrats in The Hague that the various agreements and accords related to climate change are ratified by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and not by only the Netherlands, and as such there has to be increased focus in ensuring that the islands are better equipped to deal with what is expected to be an existential crises. We even had to explain issues such as increased hurricanes, coral bleaching, sargassum invasions and droughts to what we assumed would be experts in climate change who had no idea about these impacts. This is both disappointing and alarming,” continued Bervoets.

The most recent climate change predictions for the Caribbean region by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) are alarming and suggest that the islands of the Dutch Caribbean will go through profound environmental changes within the next few decades. The IPCC has projected that for the Caribbean Region an increase in air temperature of 1.4°C will result in a decrease in rainfall of 5 to 6%; an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events including a 66% increase in hurricane intensity; and a rise in sea level of 0.5 to 0.6m as a result of thermal expansion of water and glacial melt.

In 2015 the Sint Maarten Nature Foundation conducted a study which modeled what the island will look like with just 1.5 meters of sea-level rise. Source: Sint Maarten Nature Foundation

These climate change predictions are especially worrying in the context of an already visible warming trend. Average temperatures in the Dutch Caribbean have risen steeply over the past 40 years according to recent data. In Curaçao, research carried out by the Meteorological Department found that over the past few decades the island has progressively experienced more hot days and fewer cooler nights. Because the islands of the Dutch Caribbean form two geographically distinct groups separated by more than 900 km of open water, it is expected that climate change will not impact these two island groups in the same way.  Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao are located in the Southern Caribbean, an area that is predicted to become warmer and drier, with longer seasonal dry periods. Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten, which are located in the Northeast Caribbean and therefore within the Caribbean hurricane belt, are predicted to experience more frequent and violent tropical hurricanes, as was evident during the disastrous 2017 Hurricane Season. All of the Dutch Caribbean’s marine and terrestrial ecosystems and the species that inhabit them will be affected, to varying degrees. Coral reefs are predicted to be especially vulnerable as higher ocean temperatures and ocean acidification will undoubtedly result in mass coral bleaching events, among other things.

Hurricane Irma, whose unforeseen rapid intensification and whose impacts as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded was a direct result of climate change. Source: NOAA

The economy of the Dutch Caribbean Islands is also largely dependent on tourism and it is expected that this single economic pillar will also be drastically impacted: increase in storms and hurricanes may result in tourists’ perception of destination as unsafe; beach erosion and coral bleaching may negatively impact perceptions of destination attractiveness; there will be an increased risk of damage to coastal resort properties by violent hurricanes and other storms and of damage to tourist attractions; on Bonaire, beach erosion due to loss of shallow reefs leaves historic plantation buildings like those of Washington Slagbaai Park vulnerable.

The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) released a special edition of their free digital newsletter BioNews highlighting the challenges facing the Dutch Caribbean in the fight against climate change.  Using internationally accepted climate change predictions and (research) reports, impacts both above and below water have been defined for all six islands, stressing the need for immediate action to build resilience against the effects of climate change. Loss of nature has far reaching negative consequences for the local population since nature serves as both one of the most important sources of income and offers protection against extreme weather conditions. However, it will take a concerted effort to ensure that nature, lives and livelihoods are not lost due to inaction by decision-makers.

https://www.dcbd.nl/document/bionews-special-climate-change

Article published in BioNews 48

Introduction to the third edition of the UAUCU Student Research Exchange Collected Papers

This volume presents academic papers and personal reflections written by the twelve participants of the UAUCU student research exchange project 2017. The texts in this volume reflect a wide diversity of academic disciplines and approaches, as well as the wide diversity in cultural background of this year’s participant cohort. The program, which offers students from the University of Aruba (UA), University College Utrecht (UCU) and University Utrecht (UU) the opportunity to conduct research in a multidisciplinary international student team, has already proven to be a successful formula: work presented in the 2015 and 2016 volumes led to international publications, and several program alumni received thesis awards. We anticipate similar achievements for contributors to the 2017 edition.

The academic works included here treat culture, language, psychology, policy, law, environmental sciences and sustainability. The scope of the research ranges from pilot projects, to theoretical explorations verified with respondent data, to in depth sociocultural and psychological studies that explore fundamental issues confronting society. The diverse papers show a common interest in sustainable societies, reflecting a strong sense of community awareness, and providing research findings that are meaningful for Aruban society. The papers further demonstrate how the student researchers’ collaboration in a multidisciplinary team has influenced their approach to their topics. The papers here are products of peer-to-peer learning: the program participants provided each other with feedback on content, method, style, language and structure. In general, the papers appear here as they were submitted by the student-researchers -- including the odd spelling mistake, grammatical error, raw opinion or hasty generalization. Some of the student-researchers are still working on the interpretation and presentation of their findings, and will later finalize project papers, or bachelor or master theses, based on results of fieldwork presented.

Our 2017 multidisciplinary team is also remarkably multicultural: it includes students with personal connections not only to Aruba, but to Belgium, Colombia, Curaçao, Holland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Myanmar, Russia, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, the United States and Venezuela. The cultural and ethnic diversity of the group has contributed to an extraordinarily rich social environment for this year’s participants. All of them have written individual pieces reflecting on their personal experiences. These reflective texts show how strong the collaboration and mutual support within this diverse group has been. The texts reveal much about the core of this project: it is not only about doing meaningful research as a student; it is also about the realization that we can achieve more in the world when we approach problems from several perspectives at the same time, and when we work together by building on each other’s complementary strengths. Here, too, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

This third year of the project has involved many people crucial to its success – it is impossible to name them all. But to all who have been part of this project as (guest) lecturer, supervisor, manager, initiator, facilitator, student, interviewee, respondent, guide, coach or mentor: thank you very much for your contribution to this greater whole.

Eric Mijts & Jocelyn Ballantyne Project coordinators UAUCU

Culture, language, media and psychology

Louisa Maxwell

Calypso and cultural commodification in Aruba

Yun Lee

A correlation between cultural identity and juvenile delinquency in Aruba

Tanya Kirchner 

Understanding the roots of parasuicide among the adolescence in Aruba: associated risks and protective factors

Melany Llocclla

Volunteerism: an approach to encouraging more volunteering in Aruba

Zita Ngizwenayo

Adolescent perceptions on language and professional communication

Rachel Tromp

Social media use on Aruba in the business perspective

Policy, law, environmental sciences and sustainability

Rotem Zilber

Assessment of endemic fauna in key biodiversity areas

Larisa Leeuwe

Environmental law: national and international perspectives

Ben Bultrini

Community participation in solid waste management in Aruba

William Cruice

Entrepreneurial governance and sustainable development on Aruba: a cultural political economy approach

Rodolfo Rodriguez

The synergy between academia and industry: success factors towards a healthy partnership

Nayla Yarzagaray

The importance of tax compliance among SME’s in Aruba for business continuity