Green Antilles

The territories of the Dutch Caribbean recently met to develop a five-year nature policy:

On October 13th the first workshop for the formulation of a Nature Policy Plan for the Dutch Caribbean [was] held in Bonaire. The main stakeholders of Saba, Sint Eustatius and Bonaire in the area of nature conservation and protection [came] together to discuss the structure and content of this policy.

As the basis for the workshop, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation (EL&I) evaluated the nature policy of the Netherlands Antilles of the past ten years. That evaluation is now completed and serves as the basis for establishing the structure of a new nature policy for the Dutch Caribbean for the next five years.

At the … workshop, the rough structure of the policy [was] discussed and developed further. The result will then be further developed in close consultation with all stakeholders into a complete nature policy. The definitive nature policy will then be presented to the Minister of EL&I who is responsible to establish it.

The formulation of a five year nature policy for the Dutch Caribbean is a legal obligation which is based on the Law of Principle of Nature Management and Protection BES. This law requires for the nature policy to contain at least the achievable objectives concerning nature and the landscape. It should also include: the priorities that should be addressed in the field of nature and the landscape; the conservation of values that should be taken into consideration and a list of national parks (both on land and at sea) that consist of nature parks established by Island Ordinance or Ministerial Decree.

(Source.)

[Photo: Dan Hershman]

A recently published report from the Dutch Ministry of Environment assesses the threat that climate change poses for the islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba:

Climate change poses a severe threat for the marine and terrestrial ecosystems of the Dutch BES islands (Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius) and the totality of benefits and services residents derive from these ecosystems.

This according to a report commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of EL & I (formerly Agriculture and written by Rob and Dolfi Debrot Bugter).

The report states that key changes in climate expected this century include increases in air and sea surface temperature, an increase in sea level and ocean acidity, an increase in the frequency and intensity of storms and hurricanes, general acidification and greater overall unpredictability in weather.

In terms of the terrestrial impacts of an increase in air and sea surface temperature for the BES islands a decline of mountain vegetation is expected, where the greatest impact can be expected in Saba and St. Eustatius where the elfin forest will be at greatest risk.

The islands will see reductions in soil humus as well as increased air temperatures will negatively impact humus retention capability of soils and can thereby negatively influence both natural vegetations and agriculture.

Potential increases in diseases in animals as a result will upshot from an increase in heat stress impacting reproductive success in plants and animals, which will make them more vulnerable.

Moreover, the terrestrial impacts of an increase in air and sea surface temperature will see a change in timing for interactions between species. Also, seasonal food availability for species may be affected or food plants may decrease or disappear.

A potential increase in invasive species as a result may enhance the opportunity by non-native species to become invasive because the resistance of the original ecosystem against them is weakened while conditions for invasive species improve. Lastly, as a result, changes in ocean currents may change food availability for some shore and sea birds.

In terms of the marine impacts of increased water temperatures of oceans resulting from global warming can have huge effects on reef ecosystems, where there will be immense bleaching of coral reefs. Bleaching reduces coral resistance to diseases, growth and regeneration capabilities.

Additionally, impacts on marine life will see mass moralities resulting from oxygen depletion. With higher temperatures, oxygen depletion in such areas with restricted water flow will exacerbate, leading to even more frequent fish mortality.

The principal area for which coral reef fish mortalities are a concern is the Saba Bank. As ecosystems are destabilised, swarms of predator resistant and undesirable reef species will occur more frequently. Lastly, changing current flow will have an impact on economic and ecological consequences in terms of fish migration and the protection of cetaceans in the southern Caribbean.

Find out more in this article from the Daily Herald.

Previously on Green Antilles: Managing the environment in the Dutch Caribbean.

[Photo: gailf548]