Nature

News about Bonaire Nature

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Bonaire Receives Islands Magazine and Caribbean Tourism Organization 2008 Sustainable Tourism Award

Bonaire announced today that it is the recipient of the prestigious Islands Magazine/Caribbean Tourism Organization 2008 Sustainable Tourism Award.  The Island was awarded the honor in recognition of their longstanding commitment and leadership role in marine conservation and for their proactive measures in protecting the marine environment.

The award was presented by Mr. Ty Sawyer, the Editorial Director for Islands, during an awards luncheon at the 10th Annual Sustainable Tourism Conference in Turks and Caicos.  Bonaire’s Lieutenant Governor Herbert Domacasse accepted the award on behalf of the Island and was accompanied by Mrs. Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes, Director of Tourism and Elsmarie Beukenboom, Director of STINAPA.

“Bonaire is particularly gratified by this honor as our commitment to preserving and protecting the environment is a deeply held Bonairean belief and guiding principal behind our tourism policy,” said Lieutenant Governor Herbert Domacasse.  “We especially thank Bonaire’s visitors, who continue to support our community and inspire us to remain leaders in sustainable tourism.”

The Sustainable Tourism Award recipient was selected by a panel of judges from Islands Magazine and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), who reviewed all of the entries submitted by CTO member countries.  Last year, three of Bonaire’s eco-programs were honored in the Islands Magazine Hot 100 Blue List, and in 1994 the Bonaire National Marine Park won the Islands Magazine Ecotourism Award.

Bonaire continues to be recognized as one of the top destinations worldwide for its sustainable tourism as reported by National Geographic Traveler magazine (March 2004) and Islands magazine (December 2007), and as one of the top diving destinations in the Atlantic/Caribbean for six years in a row in the Scuba Diving magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards (2003-2008).

Image caption:  Hon. Wayne Garland, Executive Chariman Turks & Caicos Tourist Board; Elsmarie Beukenboom, Director of STINAPA Bonaire; Bonaire’s Lieutenant Governor Herbert Domacasse; Ty Sawyer, Editorial Director of Islands Magazine; Ronella Croes, Director of Tourism Corporation Bonaire.  (Source:  TCB-NY)

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Bonaire Celebrates Earth Day with a Klein Bonaire Beach Cleanup

As it has in past years, STCB (Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire) collaborated with STINAPA to organize a beach cleanup during the Earth Day celebration.  This year it was decided to prepare the beaches on Klein Bonaire for a good start of the 2008 sea turtle nesting season, which begins in May.

On Sunday, April 20, a beach clean-up was conducted successfully on Klein Bonaire, which is Bonaire’s most important nesting beach for both hawksbill and loggerhead turtles. Maintaining unobstructed access to beaches for egg laying female turtles is extremely important to the survival of these endangered animals.

A total of 90 volunteers participated during this clean-up and 105 bags of trash were collected and sorted for further classification and analysis. Volunteers were mainly residents from the island, with a large group of teenagers from Jong Bonaire participating with two of their youth leaders. The Coast Guard was also part of this clean-up. Another group, with the CIEE Research Station Bonaire, was in charge of classifying and documenting the collected trash. Results from the data collected provides a good tool to determine the origin of this inadequately disposed garbage on Bonaire.

Thanks go to STCB, STINAPA, Coast Guard, SELIBON, Jong Bonaire, Kantika di Amor, and all the volunteers who participated in this clean-up.  (Source:  STCB)

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Shooting Great Images of Bonaire’s Flora and Fauna, Bonaire Photographers Share Their Tips--Part Two

Continuing in our series of showcasing some of Bonaire’s resident photographers, Marlies Seelos shares her hummingbird images with us, as well as her tips on how to capture these elusive birds with a camera.  Her images can be viewed in the Bonaire Insider Photo Gallery by clicking here.

Marlies observed that hummingbirds would visit a certain plant in her garden each day at the same time.  In order to let the birds get accustomed to her, she spent some time with them each day.  When she was ready to start shooting, she placed a ladder so she could be at the same height as the birds.  It took about fifteen minutes for the birds to get used to her on the ladder, but after that, they resumed their normal feeding and simply ignored her.

Marlies set her camera so that it would shoot multiple images with one depression of the shutter release.  This is especially important because of the fast movement of the birds and their beating wings.

As she did with her iguanas (see previous Bonaire Insider story by clicking here), she attempted to use an upward angle as much as possible, to keep the hummingbird against a simple blue sky background.  (Source:  Bonaire Insider reporter; images by Marlies Seelos, Marlies Sail & Canvas)

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

STCB (Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire) Publishes Progress Report 2007

Many of Bonaire’s diving and snorkeling visitors have, through the years, contributed to STCB’ efforts with turtle sighting reports, images, and other information they have gathered on Bonaire’s turtle population while diving or snorkeling in the coastal areas.  With this help, today STCB has developed into a professional conservation group, with stated goals and visions.

STCB has recently published their 2007 Progress Report, and we thought our readers may find it of interest.  It covers the year’s events in research (nesting beach monitoring, foraging ground surveys, presence of disease on Bonaire’s turtle population, and the turtle tracking study), conservation issues such as beach cleaning, rescuing turtles, and other related issues, education and public awareness, training, and other important subjects.  If you’d like to review the report, you may do so by clicking here (in PDF format).  (Source:  MINA)

Thursday, April 17, 2008

UNEP Publishes Paper on the Degradation of Caribbean Coastal Waters

We thought our readers would be interested in a paper recently published by UNEP (The United Nations Environment Programme) regarding the degradation of Caribbean coastal waters.

By now, those who live in or travel to the Caribbean have heard about the problem of runoff or suspended solids that can lead to severe environmental impacts on an island or region.  This paper looks at the various causes of sedimentation in the Caribbean region, as well as how livelihoods of local people will be affected if the situation is not addressed.  View the UNEP paper by clicking here.  (Source:  MINA)

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Outdoor Bonaire and the Mangrove Info Center Ask for Visitors’ Cooperation with Conservation

Outdoor Bonaire and the Mangrove Info Center are two tourism-based enterprises known for their efforts to assist with preserving Bonaire’s nature.  In recent months, management from both companies have watched the explosive growth of those who are taking normal vehicles, as well as off-road vehicles (quads, etc.), into the delicate mangrove area of Lac Bay, driving directly to the waterline.

This area has many flamingos and other water birds, and their normal behaviors are disturbed by those trying to get a closer look.  Other ground dwelling plants and animals are also damaged--last week, vehicle tires were found directly over new re-growth of black mangrove trees.

To further educate and encourage those who are causing damage and disturbance to Bonaire’s flora and fauna, the companies have joined together in posting a notice asking drivers to stay on the road.  Not only is the damage done to the island’s flora and fauna, but many vehicles get stranded in the mud of the tidal zone, and then need to be towed.  Towing is expensive and causes further damage to the environment.

Those touring the Lac Bay area are asked to please help by staying on the road. (Source:  Outdoor Bonaire and Mangove Info Center)

Thursday, March 27, 2008

NOAA Coral Reef Watch Launches Online Tutorial About Coral Reefs and Satellite Technology

If you’ve ever wondered how a satellite measures the temperature of the ocean’s surface from 850 kilometers above the earth, or you have never heard of the Degree Heating Weeks concept, then the new online tool from NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch will help educate you.

NOAA Coral Reef Watch just announced they’ve launched an online tutorial that takes their readers through coral bleaching, satellite technology, as well as how satellite data is used to monitor for the conditions that cause coral bleaching.  Readers will also find hands-on exercises to test themselves on what they’ve learned and also illustrate where to find data on the NOAA web site.

The main audience is coral reef managers and scientists, who need to know when corals they manage or study are at risk for bleaching.  However, NOAA has also tried to use non-technical language so the resource will be useful for students and teachers—or anyone else who wants to learn more about coral reefs and satellite technology. The lessons are tied to the U.S. National Science Education standards for use in the classroom.

To learn more about this valuable tool, click here.  (Source:  MINA)

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

CIEE Lecture Tonight (Tuesday, March 25, 2008) Entitled Dolphin Societies, Mysteries and Puzzles

There has been a last-minute lecture scheduled for tonight, Tuesday, March 25th, 2008 at the CIEE Research Station Bonaire entitled Dolphin Societies:  Mysteries and Puzzles, presented by Dr. Daniela Maldini.

Dr. Maldini is on Bonaire this semester teaching a course in Marine Conservation Biology at CIEE; she specializes in marine mammals.

The lecture will begin at 7:30 PM, is free of cost, and everyone is welcome.  The CIEE Research Station is located at Kaya Gobernador Debrot 21, on the main road between Kralendijk and Harbour Village Resort, next to the Seaside Apartments.  (Source:  CIEE)

Monday, March 17, 2008

Upcoming Presentation on Bonaire’s Coral Reefs

Dr. Robert Steneck, a professor of marine sciences at the University of Maine, and his team are completing a research project and will present their findings in a presentation entitled, “A Report on the Status of Coral Reefs of Bonaire in 2007.”

This presentation will summarize five years of research on Bonaire in such different areas as abundance of corals, abundance of algae, trends of distribution, abundance of carnivorous and herbivorous reef fish, coral recruitment, and impact of traditional fishing methods, among other items.

The presentation will take place in Captain Don’s Habitat conference room at 7:00 PM on Thursday, March, 20th, 2008, and all are invited to attend.  (Source:  Bonaire National Marine Park)

Note Update April 1, 2008:  A copy of Dr. Steneck’s final report on his monitoring work on Bonaire can by found online by clicking here (in PDF format). (Source:  Bonaire National Marine Park)

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Bonaire’s STINAPA Spearheads Campaign to Get Back to Tap Water

On Bonaire, where water is made through a salt water desalination process, you can safely drink from the faucet.  The water tastes great and is refreshing.  Yet each day, thousands of bottles of water are used and then the plastic bottles are casually discarded.

Many people don’t think about how that extra garbage is being handled, but these hundreds of thousands of plastic bottles are dumped in Bonaire’s landfill (which is very close to its maximum capacity), where they can take up to 700 years to disintegrate.  Bonaire, being a small island, doesn’t yet have facilities for recycling plastic bottles.

Since 2008 has been designated as the International Year of the Reef (IYOR 2008), STINAPA and the Bonaire National Marine Park want to motivate people to drink tap water when on Bonaire, instead of buying bottled water.  Selibon N.V., the sanitation company managing the landfill, does not yet have an alternate way to process our waste.  While they are searching for a solution they can afford, we (residents and tourists alike) all have an obligation to reduce the pressure on the landfill by simply reducing the waste we produce.  One way to do this is to stop buying bottled water and begin drinking from the tap instead.  Visitors, who are “on the road” diving or sightseeing, are urged to re-use empty plastic bottles and re-fill them with tap water.  (Source:  STINAPA)