Project

Natuurherstel salina’s en baaien Caribisch Nederland

The economies of the islands of the Caribbean Netherlands are highly dependent on tourism and fishing, and therefore on the natural environment. However, nature in the Caribbean Netherlands is in an unfavorable state of health. This is especially true for the coral reef, but also for many of Bonaire's saliñas (salt lakes) and bays, which are currently under threat from eutrophication and silting. As a result, water quality deteriorates resulting in loss of unique habitat types that the saliñas and bays harbor, including seagrass beds and mangrove forests. Currently, for many of the saliñas and bays that occur on Bonaire, no data is available on the extent and main causes of eutrophication and silting and its effects on nature, which hinders the taking of cost-effective nature restoration measures.

Bonaire's saliñas (salt lakes) and bays provide important ecosystem services, including coastal protection, flood mitigation, nutrient and sediment capture and retention, as well as increasing biodiversity by harboring unique habitats such as seagrass beds and mangroves on which many species depend. However, many of the saliñas and bays on Bonaire are threatened by eutrophication and silting, causing water quality to deteriorate with negative effects on nature. This project aims to map the local causes and extent of silting and eutrophication and its effects on the abiotic conditions and biodiversity in the saliñas and bays of Bonaire. Next, the obtained information will be used for the development, implementation and evaluation of cost-effective measures for nature restoration in these important ecosystems.

Publications