Friday, September 08, 2006

Bonaire Nature Alliance Issues Statement Regarding Ramsar Protection for Lac Bay

The umbrella organization for the Bonaire nature groups, Aliansa Naturalesa di Bonaire, issued a statement today regarding the classification of the Lac Bay area as a protected Ramsar site, in an effort to underscore their objections to the construction of a development in that area.

Ramsar is an agreement signed at an international convention in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.  At this moment, there are 153 countries around the world, including Holland, that have signed the Ramsar Convention.  This convention allows for protection of areas of salt water habitats that have world-importance.  In May, 1980, the government of Bonaire petitioned Holland to declare five sites protected under Ramsar:  Salina Slagbaai, Pekelmeer, Klein Bonaire, Gotomeer, and Lac.  All five areas were accepted for standing protection under the Convention.

The property in question is The Mangrove Village and construction has already commenced.  For additional information, click here.  (Source: Aliansa Naturalesa di Bonaire)