Declaration of the 2005 Dutch Caribbean Nature Forum, Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles
26 February – 2 March 2005

Considering the importance of the Dutch Caribbean (Netherlands Antilles and Aruba) in global biodiversity, the high level of endemism, and the recognition that our Islands form an important biodiversity ‘hot spot’ within the region and within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the participants of the Nature Forum:
  1. RECOGNIZE the constraints brought forward during the Nature Forum, which consistently hamper nature conservation efforts across all the Islands. In particular, the lack of long-term financial security, capacity constraints of the Protected Areas, and inadequate political and public commitment to policies, regulations and their enforcement;
  2. URGE all major stakeholders to contribute actively to the overall effort to overcome the constraints, outlined above, for the protection, sustainable use and sustainable financing of the system of Parks and other Protected Areas;
  3. AGREE to work on the further development of the ‘Capturing Management Success Project’ to support nature conservation in the Dutch Caribbean;
  4. ACKNOWLEDGE and stress the importance of management and policy tools to guide development decisions of government and of the general public in a responsible, participatory and sustainable way;
  5. URGE the Island Governments to put such tools and policies into place, integrate nature conservation objectives into spatial planning, environmental, economic and social development policies, and include strategies for implementation, review and evaluation;
  6. RECOGNIZE the need to build partnerships and enter into strong dialogue with the Island Governments on these issues as this is vital to safeguard the importance and place of nature conservation;
  7. ACKNOWLEDGE the responsibility, and the need for commitment of the Island Governments, for sustainable economic development as a long term strategy to alleviate poverty, which must take into account that nature is the Islands’ main economic capital;
  8. ACKNOWLEDGE the importance of education as a means to improve knowledge and awareness of nature conservation, helping to protect and conserve nature for future generations;
  9. WELCOME the establishment of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), and agree to cooperate on the protection and sustainable use of nature, and on sustainable financing of nature conservation in the Dutch Caribbean;
  10. ACKNOWLEDGE the important role that DCNA will play in the future to increase the level and quality of protection of nature in the Dutch Caribbean;
  11. RECOGNIZE that the recent establishment of the DCNA is a major step forward for conservation efforts in the Dutch Caribbean;
  12. COMMIT to the objectives outlined for the DCNA: to realize the protection, sustainable use and sustainable financing of the system of Parks1 and other Protected Areas on the Islands;
  13. APPLAUD the contribution of Donor Agencies such as Nationale Postcode Loterij, IUCN-NL, Stichting DOEN, WWF-NL, and the Ministry of BZK in their ongoing financial support to nature conservation in the Dutch Caribbean;
  14. REAFFIRM that a Trust Fund is the most important and viable means for sustainable and secure long term financing of nature conservation, and that an Endowment Fund is the most appropriate means for long term financial security;
  15. RECOGNIZE the vital contribution of Dutch Nature Conservation Organisations in placing Dutch Caribbean nature conservation firmly on the Dutch political agenda;
  16. More specifically CALL upon the following parties:
    1. The Donor Community, in particular funding organisations, the private sector and individuals in the Dutch Caribbean, the Netherlands, and elsewhere to contribute to the DCNA Trust Fund and/or projects;
    2. The Island Governments, to continue to contribute financially to nature conservation;
    3. The International Nature Conservation Community, to recognize the importance of the DCNA and to promote the initiative through their communication channels where appropriate;
    4. The Government of the Netherlands, to contribute directly or indirectly to the DCNA Trust Fund, as requested by motion 29800-IV, nr. 14, passed in the Tweede Kamer on November 2, 2004 (Motion Dittrich c.s.)
    5. The Island Governments, to attend to their legal obligation (zorgplicht) with regard to nature conservation for the wellbeing of present and future generations;
    6. The Governments of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten, to establish and/or finalize legislation for their Protected Areas;
    7. The Government of Aruba, to nominate an NGO in charge of a legally designated terrestrial/ marine protected area for the Board of the DCNA;

The participants of the 5th Nature Forum in Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, March 2 2005:

– Agriculture, Husbandry and Fisheries Service (DLVV), Curaçao Caribbean Research and
Management of Biodiversity (CARMABI), Curaçao
– Coastal Zone Management, UK
– Coral Resource Management, Bonaire
– Department of Environment & Nature (MINA), Ministry of Public Health and Social
Development (VSO), Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles
– Department of Physical Planning (DROB), Section of Environment and Natural Resources,
Bonaire
– Department of Physical Planning and Housing (DROV), Curaçao
– Directorate of Agriculture, Husbandry, and Fisheries (LVVM), Aruba
– Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA)
– Environmental Council, Curaçao
– IUCN Netherlands Committee (IUCN-NL)
– Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Conservation and Food Safety (LNV), The Netherlands
– Nature Foundation of St. Maarten
– Representation of The Netherlands in the Netherlands Antilles (VNW, MinBZK))
– Saba Conservation Foundation
– Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire
– St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation
– Stichting Nationale Parken (STINAPA) Bonaire
– Uniek Curaçao
– University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, U.S.A.
– WWF Netherlands