The total title of this text by DCNature (April 12, 2023) is “Co-funded by the EU’s RESEMBID program and Wageningen College & Analysis, Pilot Venture ‘Turning the Tide’ launches in Aruba.” It explores the efforts of Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba (FPNA), Wageningen College & Analysis, ScubbleBubbles, College of Aruba, and RESEMBID (a program supporting sustainable human growth efforts in Aruba, Anguilla, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Montserrat, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint Barthélemy, Sint Maarten, and Turks and Caicos.
Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba (FPNA) in collaboration with Wageningen College & Analysis, ScubbleBubbles, and College of Aruba are proud to announce the launch of “Turning the Tide”, a pilot undertaking geared toward palms–on rehabilitation of Aruba’s spatially linked coral reefs and mangroves. This 15–month undertaking is co–funded by RESEMBID and Wageningen College & Analysis with an allotted fund of EUR 713,000 for this undertaking to assist flip the tide of environmental degradation and biodiversity loss to a wholesome and resilient marine surroundings for Aruba. Throughout its execution and upon completion, this undertaking is built-in into the administration of Parke Marino Aruba to ensure continuity and lasting impacts for the island.
RESEMBID is a 48–undertaking progamme funded by the European Union and carried out by Experience France – the event cooperation company of the Authorities of France and helps sustainable human growth efforts in 12 Caribbean Abroad Nations and Territories (OCTs) – Aruba, Anguilla, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Montserrat, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint Barthélemy, Sint Maarten and Turks and Caicos.
What’s the issue? In accordance with WWF Fund for Nature’s Residing Planet Report 2022, the biodiversity loss by area is declining far larger throughout Latin America and the Caribbean than another area. A 94% lower of biodiversity was seen between 1970 and 2018. The fifth and sixth nationwide experiences of the Netherlands for the Conference on Organic Range (CBD 2014, 2019) additionally reported a disturbing message on the situation of the marine surroundings within the Dutch Caribbean with the conservation standing being inadequate with no measurable constructive change. A TEEB–research (2018) for Aruba concluded that the ongoing degradation of its marine surroundings will finally not solely suppress its small however helpful native fishery sector but in addition cut back vacationer numbers and finally total welfare by 50%. More moderen research conclude the identical (CBA2020, Oduber 2020, Alberts 2021). Due to this fact, it’s essential to show the tide in direction of a wholesome and resilient marine surroundings the place human makes use of are in concord with nature.
How will we resolve the issue? To start out fixing this drawback on a nationwide degree it is crucial that it’s acknowledged within the Aruban coverage notes and plans. The seriousness of unsustainable growth and the lack of ecosystem companies is mirrored within the Nature and Atmosphere coverage word 2018–2021, the Financial Coverage 2019–2021, the Nationwide Strategic Plan 2020–2022 and the SDG Roadmap.
As well as, Aruba enacted the Parke Marino Aruba managed by Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba in 2018. Aruba is at the moment within the technique of designating a good bigger space of its marine coastal areas as protected wetlands beneath the Ramsar Conference, thereby supported by native NGOs and companion Wageningen Environmental Analysis (WENR). Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba is within the technique of finalizing its Marine Administration Plan for implementation which is put collectively utilizing helpful enter from over 60 completely different native stakeholders. All of the actions carried out beneath the present undertaking will take place in designated nature areas managed by FPNA. Lastly, the on–going “Turning the Tide” undertaking is anticipated to deal with the shortage of human capability and monetary sources by implementing a protracted–time period sustained joint subject implementation undertaking which can proceed far after the finalization of the undertaking in April 2024.
What does the undertaking entail? “Turning the Tide” is anticipated to contribute to the restoration and conservation of a wholesome and resilient coastal marine surroundings for Aruba, by which native marine biodiversity thrives, whereas its ecosystem companies contribute to the welfare of future generations on the island. The EUR713K fund that has been allotted for the execution of this undertaking will cowl Coral Reef Restoration [. . .]. To kick–begin the settling of corals on the bogus constructions, the undertaking will actively plant coral fragments onto the reefs (Elkhorn and Staghorn corals); Mangrove Forest Restoration: Aruba’s mangrove forests have additionally seen a destructive spiral attributable to sedimentation [. . .]; and Consciousness Constructing: “Turning the Tide” goals to lift consciousness in regards to the conservation standing of, and developments within the marine habitats and ecosystem companies [. . .].
Turning the Tide and Parke Marino Aruba
Parke Marino Aruba is managed by Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba and consists of 4 Marine Protected Areas (MPA), particularly MPA Arikok, Sero Colorado, Mangel Halto and Oranjestad. The marine protected areas host helpful biodiversity, together with many native species, nearly the entire island’s mangroves, patches of seagrass beds, coral reefs, reef islets for tern breeding, and nursery and feeding habitats for dolphins, turtles and sharks.
Over the previous yr, FPNA has been engaged on its Marine Administration Plan which is predicted to be carried out later this yr. Stakeholder enter collected throughout the “SWOT Evaluation” workshop in 2021 and the latest “Zoning and Laws” workshop has been essential within the planning of this pilot undertaking. Because of the workshops, stakeholder enter recognized six conservation targets that will likely be the main target for Parke Marino Aruba, with Coral Ecosystem, Reef Fish and Mangrove Ecosystem as prime priorities – all of that are focus factors inside the “Turning the Tide” undertaking. The stakeholder enter will additionally contribute to the choice of essentially the most appropriate websites for the position of the bogus reef constructions.
The event of the “Turning the Tide” undertaking will be shared externally all through the 15–month undertaking length and can finish with the publication of a brief documentary. For extra info on RESEMBID, go to www.resembid.org.
Learn full article at https://dcnanature.org/turning-the-tide/
[Above: Photo credit: FPNA. MPA Sero Colorado.]