Bonaire Celebrates the Day of Biodiversity This Saturday, May 22, 2010
The United Nations designated 2010 as the international year of biodiversity and May 22nd, 2010 is the Day of Biodiversity. Bonaire will celebrate this international day of biodiversity with family activities and events at the island’s Lac Cai location.
This location was chosen as it is considered to be the area with the highest biodiversity on the island. The area is a protected area of the Bonaire National Marine Park and home to two threatened species, the green turtle and the queen conch. Furthermore, it is an area where fish and other animals build their nests and where juvenile animals can live protected by the roots of Bonaire’s mangroves, hiding from predators until they can mature. Lac is home to oysters, crabs, sea-stars, insects, and many other animals that together make up the immense biodiversity of Lac.
The ecosystem of an island is more vulnerable than that of a continent, and the species are more limited, thus making it obligatory for them to adapt to their environment. In doing so, they actually become endemic and separate species. Because many of Bonaire’s fauna are endemic, there is even a greater degree of importance to protect them, as well as to create an awareness among everyone to help protect these plants and animals. It is this reason that STINAPA and Tourism Corporation Bonaire have joined together to host this Day of Biodiversity. May 22nd, 2010 will be a day of activities and celebration from as early as 9 AM through to 4 PM. Family events will be the main focus, including guided tours, kayaking, boat tours, snorkeling tours, a kids’ painting area, a kids’ play area, and more. There will be booths selling local foods, beverages, and local music will accompany the day’s festivities.
CIEE also will be on hand starting at 11:00 AM to launch their “Adopt a Rock” program. Since Bonaire’s mangroves do face several threats--coastal development. the input of pollutants, the impact of invasive species, damage from changes in environmental conditions, as well as increased vehicular and foot traffic--CIEE and STINAPA wish to diminish the threat of anthropogenic disturbance in the protected area of the mangrove forests of Lac Cai by coordinating volunteers to place yellow stones, symbolic of the Bonaire National Marine Park, which would advise visitors to stay clear. Accordingly, this Saturday, everyone is invited to adopt a rock (these rocks have already been washed and painted with 2 coats of yellow paint by CIEE volunteers). Then write “NO ENTRY” on the rock in Papiamentu, Dutch, or English, along with your name, initials, or a positive message on the back of the rock (if desired). Then place the rock in the designated area, with the NO ENTRY facing the road. Tables with the rocks will be set up, paints and brushes will be provided as well as refreshments.
(Source: TCB-NY and CIEE Bonaire)
