BONAIRE:--- The Dutch Postcode Lottery (NPL) has just announced to continue supporting the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) activities by donating €500k each year for the next five years. DCNA will use this money for projects to safeguard nature in the Dutch Caribbean by assisting the Protected Area Management Organizations in Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten.
From rainforests to coral reefs, the Dutch Caribbeans are home to a wide variety of natural habitats. These diverse ecosystems are a magnet for tourists and at the same time one of the most important sources of income for the Dutch Caribbean. Nature on the islands is unique and important but it is also fragile and threatened. Amongst the most significant threats include poorly regulated (coastal) development, wastewater, and waste management as well as overgrazing and the impact of invasive species and climate change.
“ Our unique and bountiful tropical islands, with their high biodiversity and abundance of globally threatened ecosystems and species demand that we stand together to safeguard biodiversity. That’s the heart of the DCNA. We are extremely thankful for the support by the Dutch Postcode Lottery and are looking forward to continuing to help the Protected Area Management Organizations to safeguard the Dutch Caribbean natural treasures” stated Hellen van der Wal, Chair of DCNA.
