sustainable

Protecting Bonaire against Coastal Flooding A participatory multi-criteria analysis of coastal adaptation options

Part of the larger The impacts of climate change on Bonaire (2022-present) report available here.
 

Summary

Coastal hazards pose a significant threat to small islands, especially in combination with Sea Level Rise (SLR). Currently, the small Caribbean island of Bonaire is poorly protected against coastal flooding and there is a lack of local knowledge on potential adaptation options and their benefits and trade-offs. This study aims to fill this gap by evaluating how different coastal adaptation options to protect Bonaire are valued, considering economic, social, environmental, and technical criteria. This is evaluated using a participatory Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) that includes key stakeholders through semistructured interviews and the use of an online questionnaire. A wide variety of coastal adaptation options, ranging from grey infrastructure to softer Nature-based Solutions (NbS), is assessed based on an interdisciplinary set of 10 different criteria, providing a holistic view of the consequences of each option. The results show that NbS, especially mangrove restoration, and spatial zoning measures are overall perceived to be most beneficial. The least favourable adaptation strategies include the construction of any type of seawall and doing nothing. While an MCA does not lead to a final perfect solution, it does provide valuable comparative information about potential future adaptation strategies for Bonaire, which can be used to aid policy makers in the decision-making process. Moving forward, it is important to further strengthen the results of this study by conducting additional quantified analyses, including an evaluation of the spatial suitability of specific measures or combinations of measures. Moreover, to ensure public support for any final policy decisions, regardless of the specific measures that a

Date
2022
Data type
Research report
Theme
Education and outreach
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Bonaire

Pathways towards a sustainable kunuku landscape

Summary

Imagination is understood as a vital element of transformations towards sustainable human societies. This study explores scientific foresights and their relationship to ambiguity in the context of the kunuku landscape on Bonaire. This research constitutes out of four research activities. Firstly, six objects of ambiguity as well as four subjects with converging stakeholder frames were identified through a thematic analysis. Secondly, a stakeholder-driven stakeholder categorisation was conducted to portray the societal network connected to the kunuku landscape. Subsequently, three pathways – consisting out of 58 specific actions – towards a sustainable kunuku landscape in 2050 were co-created within a participatory backcast. Lastly, a novel analytical framework for foresight processes was applied to scrutinise the backcasting and its preceding visioning process.  Based on its findings, this study concludes by recommending a pluralistic, ‘opening-up’ approach towards anticipatory governance and by supporting calls for theory-backed, transdisciplinary foresight processes. 

Date
2022
Data type
Research report
Theme
Research and monitoring
Report number
Master of Science in Environmental Sciences at Wageningen University & Research Environmental Policy group
Geographic location
Bonaire

Island(er)s at the Helm awarded with funding from the NWO Caribbean Research programme

On January 7th Minister van Engelshoven of Education, Culture and Science of The Netherlands announced that the project Island(er)s at the Helm: Co-creating sustainable and inclusive solutions for social adaptation to climate challenges in the (Dutch) Caribbean is one of two projects awarded with funding from the NWO Caribbean Research programme.

A large part of the Island(er)s at the Helm group at the National Archaeological Museum Aruba. Fltr top: Liliane de Geus (UNESCO workgroup Bonaire), Antonio Carmona Báez (USM), Francio Guadeloupe (UvA, KITLV), Corinne Hofman (LU, KITLV), Ergün Erkoçu (UoC), Ellen van Bueren (TU Delft). Fltr bottom: Harold Kelly (NAMA), Menno Hoogland (KITLV), Sharelly Emanuelson (Uniarte), Tibisay Sankatsing Nava (KITLV)(photo: Tibisay Sankatsing Nava).

The Island(er)s at the Helm project is chaired by Dr. Francio Guadeloupe (University of Amsterdam/KITLV), with co-applicants Prof. dr. Corinne L. Hofman (Leiden University/KITLV), Dr. Antonio Carmona Báez (University of St. Martin), and Prof. dr. ir. Filomeno A. (Boey) Marchena (University of Curaçao).

Since the first occupation of the islands, hurricanes and the devastation of coastal areas have significant ecological and social implications for the (Dutch) Caribbean. These are deeply impacting the basic living conditions (water, food, shelter) and heritage of the island inhabitants. This requires immediate action! Island(er)s at the Helm brings together researchers and societal partners to combine technical, traditional, and contemporary knowledge practices to co-create sustainable and inclusive strategies for social adaptation to these climatic challenges. A trans-Atlantic academic platform will be developed fostering research-based education on climate challenges for the six islands. Moreover, a regional expertise center on climate challenges, where the Dutch Caribbean researchers can find employ, is one of the end objectives of this programme. This center will be jointly managed by the University of St. Martin, University of Curacao, University of Aruba (Dr. Eric Mijts of the SISSTEM project), and the Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute. These institutions have committed to working towards this integration by offering joint courses in cooperation with institutes in the region and the wider Kingdom of the Netherlands.

From 2 to 13 March 2020, a team of researchers and societal partners travelled to the six Dutch Caribbean islands to organize outreach seminars and bring together researchers and local stakeholders to discuss the initial ideas and set-up of the NWO programme Island(er)s at the Helm. The main objective of the seminars was to discuss the climate change challenges that face the Caribbean island(er)s; to define common goals of interest towards social adaptation to climate change; to broaden and consolidate the prospective network of partnerships; and to start off discussions to co-create questions and approaches to shape the full proposal. These conversations contributed to the final Island(er)s at the Helm programme.

One of many co-development meetings organized in March 2020, this one at St. John’s School in Saba. During these meetings, ideas were presented to, and discussed with, local stakeholders and community members in preparation of the full scientific proposal of Island(er)s at the Helm for NWO (photo: Menno Hoogland).

The emphasis within this NWO programme is on the structural strengthening of the knowledge system and the embedding of scientific research in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. NWO wants to achieve this goal by means of two large multidisciplinary research programs that are carried out and anchored in the region itself. The research programs focus on issues of great social and scientific importance to the Caribbean region and promote the transfer of knowledge through education and outreach. Never before has NWO funded programs of this size in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.

“This project is about NWO truly investing in research that benefits our islands. Climate change is real. We know this from Irma and the rise of the frequency of hurricanes in our region. We know this from the heavy rainfall and droughts on the ABC islands. We know this from the rise in earthquakes and now a volcano waking up in the wider Caribbean. There is absolutely no time to waste on cooperating Kingdom-wide, even if some of us rightly attend to the colonial past. That righteous attention must not deter us from recognizing that by paying their taxes, the hardworking Caribbean diaspora in the Netherlands have partially contributed to the funding of this programme”, said Guadeloupe, who also recognized the hard work of those who inside NWO pushed for a fair distribution of funds among kingdom partners (stmaartenagriculture.com).

 

Corinne Hofman, co-applicant and professor of Caribbean Archaeology at Leiden University and senior researcher at the KITLV: “It is fantastic to be part of this transdisciplinary programme, which will study social adaptation to climate challenges from a long-term perspective, bridging the past and the present. Culture and climate adaptation are inextricably and indispensably connected to each other and we will focus on how heritage can contribute to resolve societally relevant questions, in this case how to approach and adapt to climate challenges, thereby strengthening cultural identity and a sense of belonging. I am particularly looking forward to the collaborations in the trans-Atlantic academic platform. This platform is one of many ways in which stakeholders (GOs, NGOs, local communities, and researchers) across the Kingdom will connect, undoubtedly resulting in successful and sustainable embedding and implementation of the project’s results in local and regional education.”

Part of the Island(er)s at the Helm team working on incorporating feedback and ideas from the co-development meetings organized in March 2020 into the full scientific proposal of the project for NWO. Here, the team was at the University of Curaçao (photo: Ergün Erkoçu).

President of the University of Sint Martin and co-applicant of the project Antonio Carmona Báez also made public his remarks: “This is the most significant thing that has ever happened to USM, we can now become a full-fledged developmental university sponsoring research-based teaching that is essential to the sustainable progress of our Caribbean people. Together with other institutions of higher education in our region and our brothers and sisters in the diaspora, we can move forward by putting knowledge at the service of our islands. By co-creating solutions with historians, artists, archaeologists, anthropologists, urban engineers, farmers and students we can start to build that sustainable future looking inside and around us. No longer will research agendas be dictated from abroad and from now on the results of research that is conducted in our region will serve the people of the six Caribbean islands. This is about emancipation and empowerment.”, Carmona said (stmaartenagriculture.com).

 

Prof. dr. ir. Filomeno (Boey) Marchena, co-applicant and Head of the UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Water Technology and Management at the University of Curaçao: “This major research program is great news for the Caribbean. We are really looking forward to collaborate with the research team crossing the boundaries between the social sciences, humanities, technological sciences and the natural sciences. We can further strengthen the collaboration between the Caribbean islands and The Netherlands and focus on Caribbean-research and research-talents. This in co-development with GOs, NGOs, grassroots organizations, and local communities of the Dutch Leeward and Windward islands. Using innovative tools and practices in the critical areas of integrated water resource management, foodways, and architectural practices. These innovative tools and practices will contribute toward sustainable living that may reduce fossil-based energy use. Alternative designs and models of the water, food, shelter nexus (WFS-nexus) will be created by engineers who will be working with students and staff from the universities of The Kingdom. These designs and models will include the desires and needs of local populations, as well as mitigate the ideological reservations of decision makers on the islands regarding sustainable urban planning and design. It will therefore have big societal impact, like the improvement of life quality through creation of more livable communities and positive environmental impact”; a sustainable added value to our Caribbean communities.

 

Dr. Charissa Granger (University of the West Indies) says: “Island(er)s at the Helm reframes climate change research in the (Dutch-) Caribbean for the way it engages transdisciplinarity and especially the space it offers for thinking sustainability and knowledge through visual and performing arts. In so doing, this project shifts the axis of climate change studies to acknowledge the critical need for cultural practices. Such a research endeavor invites us to not only see, but feel; revealing an entirely new avenue for approaching water management, thinking of the water, food, and shelter-nexus, and making sense of the relationship between cultural heritage and the social adaptation of the island(er)s to climate challenges and catastrophes. The provocatively rich role aesthetics plays in a comprehensive understanding and awareness of climate challenges and ways to mitigate these throughout the (Dutch) Caribbean, moves us to consider and imagine other possibilities for responding to climate challenges, for thinking at the intersection of sustainability, heritage, and traditional knowledge practice. We are hereby invited to stretch our imagination to grapple with the audacious resources, available to us within the Caribbean, with the island(er)s at the helm.”

For questions, please contact Emma de Mooij (demooij@kitlv.nl).

 

Article published in BioNews 42

Date
2021
Data type
Media
Theme
Education and outreach
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Saba
Saba bank
St. Eustatius
St. Maarten
Author

ANALYSIS OF THE SEAFOOD SUPPLY CHAIN ON BONAIRE, SABA AND ST. EUSTATIUS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Fisheries on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius (Caribbean Netherlands) are important for the local economy and food provision on the islands. In the Caribbean Netherlands, fisheries and (dive) tourism contribute significantly to the GDP, with 1% and >50% respectively. Whereas in the Netherlands, this is only 0,1% for fisheries and the fisheries industry (Agrimatie, 2020) and 4,4% for tourism (CBS, 2019).

Fisheries can have a negative impact on the health of a marine ecosystem. In the past, fishing activities have negatively affected the health of Caribbean coral reefs (de Graaf et al. 2015, de Graaf 2016 & de Graaf et al. 2017). The current impact of local fisheries in the Caribbean Netherlands on the marine ecosystem is largely unknown but is expected to be prevalent. Fisheries are regulated through outdated fisheries regulations (Ecovision, 2018). Fisheries monitoring on Saba and St. Eustatius is limited to the landings only. On Bonaire, no monitoring is being carried out. In addition, very limited information on fish stock health is available and no studies into the seafood market structure have been performed. For the Caribbean Netherlands, no reliable information is available on the import and export of seafood, seafood sales nor consumption statistics.

This market study was performed to analyze the local fisheries and seafood supply chain on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius. The goal of this study is to provide recommendations to WWFNL to enhance sustainable practices in the fisheries and seafood supply chain in the Caribbean Netherlands through market mechanisms. A total of 361 interviews were performed and additional information was acquired by a literature study and consulting local stakeholders and authorities. Interviewees were subdivided into four groups: professional fishermen, supermarkets/ restaurants, consumers and importers/exporters. Interviews from the four categories were analyzed for each island separately.

On Bonaire, fishermen mainly catch pelagic species and they primary sell these to middlemen on the island. The vast majority of the restaurants on Bonaire serve locally sourced seafood (85%) while only few supermarkets sell local seafood (27%). Fishermen on Bonaire also indicated to fish on and/or source seafood, including conch and lobster, from Las Aves (Venezuela) indicating that not all ‘local fish’ is fished in the waters of Bonaire. Whether ‘local’ seafood sold on Bonaire originates from Las Aves or Bonaire itself is unknown and unmonitored, masking a potential shortage in local fish stocks. Fishermen on Saba mainly fish for lobster and redfish. Almost all lobster is exported to St. Maarten, part of which is shipped onwards to Hong Kong. Some fishermen also sell part of their catch to local restaurants and consumers. During this research, all restaurants on Saba said to serve local seafood, and 40% of the supermarkets sell local seafood. Fishermen on St. Eustatius primarily catch lobster and reef fish and indicated that they sell their catch to local consumers, restaurants or transport it to St. Barthelemy. However, according to the former data monitoring officer (DMO), a large part of the lobster catch is also exported to St. Maarten and St. Martin. This was not indicated by the interviewees. Of the interviewed restaurants 58% serve local fish and only 22% of the supermarkets sell local seafood on Saba.

We have found that, to stimulate sustainable practices, supermarkets and restaurants on Bonaire and Saba would consider promoting local sustainable species, boycott less sustainable species and/or would consider to implement an ecolabel. Boycotting less sustainable species is not a preferred option according to restaurants and supermarkets on St. Eustatius.

Consumers on Bonaire and St. Eustatius primarily buy local seafood directly from fishermen. However, during the interviews on Bonaire it became clear that many consumers are not aware that these fishermen are in fact middlemen. On Saba, consumers have no preference for buying local seafood at a certain location. Quality is indicated as the most important purchasing criterion, followed by origin (local vs non-local) and sustainability. Consumers indicated to be willing to pay more for sustainable species.

From this market study, it became clear that the seafood supply chains on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius completely lack transparency. There are currently no central locations where consumers can buy local seafood. No information is available or provided on the species, origin and capture method.

On Bonaire, fixed prices of local seafood were implemented by the government in 1996 to ensure that local residents are able to buy locally sourced seafood (see Appendix 5). These fixed prices have not been revised since. Fishermen are still receiving the same price for their fish, whilst the costs of fishing and living have increased and catches have declined.

When trying to obtain information on the fisheries sector from local authorities, responsible agencies and/or international databases, it was found that structural, reliable and comprehensive data on import/export, number of fishermen, total landings and registered seafood selling locations is not available for Bonaire, Saba nor St. Eustatius. Because of this lack of information, we have not been able to draw quantitative conclusions from information gathered with the interviews. Therefore, we have not been able to give detailed recommendations on specific market mechanisms. However, we have formulated recommendations for qualitative improvements in the seafood sector in the Caribbean Netherlands. These recommendations are summarized below.

RECOMMENDATIONS

We recommend to implement a comprehensive fisheries management plan on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius. This fisheries management plan must include a monitoring scheme in which at least the total landings per species, the bycatch levels, fishing gear, number of fishermen and fishing trips are monitored and registered for each island. With this information, together with fishery-independent data where required, fish stock assessments can be carried out which will provide insights into the effects of fishing activities on the fish stocks. This monitoring must be structural and will provide information to evaluate and adapt the management system when necessary. The fisheries management plan should also include mandatory fishermen registration, improved data collection on seafood trade flows, including the import and export of seafood and a traceability system.

In the past, both national and local fisheries regulations have been developed and implemented without participation of fishermen. This has resulted in unclarity about the responsibility of legislation as well as unfamiliarity with, lack of support for and non-compliance with the law. Fishermen, the local government and national park authorities should work together in updating and implementing marine park regulations when these affect or concern fisheries. This will increase involvement, understanding and compliance and will improve collaboration between these stakeholders.

We recommend to increase the visibility of the fisheries on the islands through a visibility and awareness campaign targeting consumers, restaurants and other seafood buyers and resellers. This will improve the ability of consumers to find and recognize local fish and make sustainable choices, as well as becoming aware of the impact and role these fisheries have on the islands. Awareness on sustainability in the fisheries sector should include advice on which species to choose or which to avoid. This visibility and awareness campaign will also be beneficial for the fisheries as this will enable them to position themselves as a sustainable, economically and culturally important actor on the islands. This will enhance their sense of responsibility and recognition on the island and hereby increase the incentive to follow regulations and collaborate with fisheries authorities.

Date
2020
Data type
Research report
Theme
Education and outreach
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Bonaire
Saba
Saba bank
St. Eustatius

Developing sustainable agriculture on St.Eustatius

The aim of the paper is to elaborate how St. Eustatius can develop its agricultural sector in an environmentally sustainable way, while simultaneously improving the livelihoods of St. Eustatius’ population. For theoretical grounding, the FAO framework of Sustainable Food Value Chain (SFVC) is applied to structure the qualitative research. By conducting semi-structured interviews with stakeholders and experts and utilizing a literature review, various issues in the environmental, social and economic dimension of the island's agricultural system are revealed. Core problems are the marginal food production on St. Eustatius, little marketing and non-existent value-adding. Moreover, unhealthy food patterns, soil issues, irrigational problems, a lack of educational opportunities and governmental challenges are disclosed.
Though, dependence on food imports is exacerbated, food prices are high and the quality of fresh produce is often poor. By the further application of the SFVC, crucial points of interference in the island’s agricultural system are examined to shape a pathway towards a sustainable agricultural sector on St. Eustatius. These points are water availability, use of agricultural land, horizontal and vertical integration of actors, education on all levels, the attitude towards farming and the small local market. In the case of their implementation, synergies and spillover effects arising from those intervention points are expected that obtain the potential to renovate further issues eventually.

Date
2020
Data type
Research report
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
St. Eustatius
Image

Testing the usefulness of RTD within the ADM approach in a local design case: Sustainable tourism development in Lower Town, Sint Eustatius (Statia)

Research-through-designing (RTD) is a method used in the landscape architectural discipline, where designing is used as a research method. Adaptive Delta Management (ADM) is an approach used in the Dutch Delta Programme to make water management strategies while dealing with uncertainty in future developments. In part one of this thesis (not included in this report) an extensive coding research revealed that in the Dutch Delta Programme, RTD was used to localise the ADM approach in four different ways: as an explorative method, a testing method, a method to create synergy and as a communication method. Part 2 of this thesis (this report) aims to assess if RTD is indeed a useful way to localise the ADM approach in a local design case.
The development of sustainable tourism in Lower Town (LT), Sint Eustatius (Statia), a special municipality of the Netherlands, is selected as a design case. LT has to deal with water related issues, such a sea level rise and coastal erosion, which make it an interesting case for ADM. Sustainable tourism developments form a linkage opportunity to give water management strategies an added value. RTD within the ADM approach was used as main method for the research. Part 1 of the thesis and a literature study on sustainable tourism provided a theoretical framework for the analysis and design.

A desk study and visit to Statia of a month with interviews and field visits resulted in qualities, challenges and ambitions for Statia and LT. A broad range of spatial scenarios were developed and shared with the inhabitants of Statia. Feedback received during the exhibition revealed that creating a good coastal protection is the biggest challenge for LT. Coastal protection options were explored, but too many uncertainties remained. Therefore the development strategy advises to place developments in the higher situated Upper Town, rather than in LT, and focus the design on connecting these two areas. A no-regret design was made for one area as incentive for future developments.
A reflection on the research process showed that RTD was indeed a useful way to localise the ADM approach, in particular for exploring problems and solutions and defining new questions. However, using RTD in this way results in local knowledge and not generalizable new knowledge, which raises the question if RTD is an actual research method.

Date
2017
Data type
Other resources
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
St. Eustatius
Author

Sustainable Finance in EU Overseas Territories

The Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) and Wolfs Company have composed this report in collaboration with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) to review the current status of sustainable finance in the Caribbean, including analyses of trends, obstacles, interventions and opportunities. Sustainable finance is the ability to secure a stable, sufficient and diverse mix of financial resources, and to allocate them in a timely manner and appropriate form, to cover the full costs of sustainable management of natural assets and biodiversity conservation. This ensures protected areas and other conservation programmes are managed effectively and efficiently, and guarantees the provision of goods and benefits to local stakeholders.

Sustainable finance is a critical component of nature conservation in the Caribbean, and this report defines the different mechanisms available to provide finance, alongside relevant examples and case studies in the Caribbean. The review of sustainable finance mechanisms and their applications is used to form recommendations and suggestions for improving financial sustainability in Caribbean Overseas Territories and other Caribbean islands. Though there is no ‘one size fits all’ or standard blueprint for optimal implementation of sustainable finance mechanisms, research suggests that community-centric approaches increase support and improve chances of stakeholder buy-in. Additionally, on a regional level there are many benefits to Caribbean islands working collaboratively and utilising an island network to pool resources and capacity. Finally, working on standards to monitor, measure and communicate impacts is an opportunity to improve investment in nature management. 

Date
2017
Data type
Research report
Theme
Governance
Research and monitoring
Report number
606
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Saba
Saba bank
St. Eustatius
St. Maarten