This Policy is about environmental protection in the Caribbean Netherlands (CN) consisting of the municipalities of Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba. The Caribbean Netherlands is home to a wealth of natural resources, providing many ecological, cultural and economic services to the local population as well as regionally and globally. Important Ramsar wetlands and other protected areas are within its boundaries. This Plan aims to provide an integrated framework addressing responsibilities, policy targets, and legal obligations related to management of the natural environment in the CN. From this, the public entities of each of the three islands, with support of the national government, will develop their own, specific, implementation plans that function as the action plans for local nature and environmental policy on each island. Special attention is given to protection and restoration of the coral reefs and to maximize their resilience in the face of climate change. The first three Chapters describe the socioeconomic, legal and ecological context for nature and the environmental protection. Chapter 4 sets out strategic goals and underlying targets of this Plan. Finally, in Chapter 5, the elements that ensure effective implementation and evaluation of this Plan are described. Chapter 2 sets out the legal and policy framework. The CN largely has its own laws and regulations. Within this legal framework, the public entities have their own local legislation. Obligations derived from international treaties and conventions are incorporated into this legislation, specifically into the Nature Conservation Framework Act BES. This Act requires the Minister to develop a nature policy plan Caribbean Netherlands. It also requires the island council to protect the biodiversity, in which respect the requirements of the CBD are applicable. The CBD requires the development of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). Thus, the ministerial nature policy plan is not only an implementation of the requirement to develop such a plan, but it will also function as an NBSAP for the region of the CN. Furthermore, the Nature Conservation Framework Act BES contains the obligation for the public entities of Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius to develop an island level nature plan (the implementation plans), which must be aligned with the framework of the Plan. Other laws relevant to nature biodiversity and environmental protection are described. Also, regional cooperation, notably within RFMOs is described. Chapter 4 defines strategic long-term goals and targets. This functional framework shall support a vision in which nature in the CN can flourish and be sustainably used by current and future generations. This framework should ensure the well-being of the islands’ inhabitants, including their culture and traditions. It should allow nature to provide the basis for a sustainable local economy and that investments are made and ensure ecosystems and species are resilient to local, regional and global pressures and threats. The Strategic Goals are: to reverse the trend of coral reef degradation to create healthy, resilient and restored coral reefs, ensuring well-being in the CN (including the target of wastewater management to improve water quality); to restore and conserve the unique habitats and species in the Caribbean Netherlands for current and future generations; to sustainably use of land and water for the development of the local economy (including the target investing in sustainable fisheries); Create the local conditions to ensure sustainable results of nature policy in the CN. Chapter 5 touches upon the development of implementation agendas, the necessary governance structure, legislation and enforcement, ensuring financial capacity, monitoring and evaluation, and the next steps for implementation.
Bonaire, San Eustaquio y Saba (Países Bajos) · 2020-03-01