Friday, October 24, 2008

Bonaire’s Government Passes Fully Integrated Law on Nature Protection

Earlier this month, Bonaire became the second island of the Netherlands Antilles to pass a law that provides a comprehensive framework to protect its nature both on land and in the sea, taking into account all international agreements to which the Netherlands Antilles has agreed.

All islands of the Netherlands Antilles are required by national law to pass such legislation, but until now only St. Maarten did so, back in 2003, and that island has not subsequently established any marine or terrestrial protected areas. Bonaire, of course has had a well managed marine protected area for more than twenty years, as well as the Washington Slagbaai Park on land. The new Bonaire Island Nature Ordinance will allow the island to update and strengthen the regulations that protect those areas.

For more details on the new law (available only in Dutch), click here, where you will also find a link to the full text of the new ordinance as well as its Explanatory Memorandum (also only available in Dutch).  (Source:  VOMIL)