Friday, January 04, 2008

Reforestation Efforts Continue in Washington Slagbaai Park and on Klein Bonaire

Recently, STINAPA Bonaire and Carmabi from Curacao planted rare trees in Washington Slagbaai National Park and on Klein Bonaire.  A total of 121 plants were planted.  The purpose of this reforestation, jointly funded by STINAPA Bonaire, Carmabi and the KNAP Fund, is to put back the species which have been lost so that the woodlands can recover their former glory and ecological significance. The trees planted all produce fruits important as food to birds and other animals.

On Klein Bonaire plants such as mata piska, manzalina bobo, palu di pushi, and wayaka were planted. In former times, Klein Bonaire was densely wooded with evergreen forests, but had lost most trees by 1950 to overgrazing and charcoal production.

The Washington Slagbaai National Park also suffered heavy deforestation in the past due to overgrazing and charcoal production. As a consequence, today the woods miss many important tree species and many species have become rare or have disappeared altogether. A total of 12 different species were planted in areas closed by fences to keep the goats out, including the rare sabal palm and makura, both seriously threatened and practically extinct on Bonaire. The young plants were in part raised by Captain Don’s and partly by Carmabi in Curacao. The previous planting from last year was found to have been very successful. Interesting was also to note that thanks to the enclosures, many seedlings appeared of plants that were not planted but that had regenerated naturally. This is clear proof that removal of goats is essential to recovery of the forests in the park. At present STINAPA has fenced off Slagbaai and will soon start removing the goats so as to allow natural regeneration to take place. The rare trees planted in this project will produce seeds to give ecological recovery a head start. (Source:  STINAPA release)