About the Project
Located in the Dutch Caribbean, the island of Bonaire is a safe haven for many endangered plants and bird species. Tragically, over the last two and a half centuries the distinct landscape of this territory has changed dramatically. Bonaire's precious dry forest ecosystems have been subject to unsustainable harvesting and overtaken by non-native plant species.
The degradation of Bonaire’s dry forest habitat has far reaching implications:
- Reduced plant diversity has driven the wild parrots to forage in urban areas, leading to conflict with fruit growers.
- Fewer large trees means less rainfall is retained, leading to gradual aridification and lowered ecosystem productivity.
- Reduced nutrient cycling leads to a decline in soil fertility, which negatively affects local agriculture.
- Increased water run-off causes erosion, while the loss of nutrients elevates the rate of sediment deposition and harmful nitrification on Bonaire's protected coral reefs.
- Reduced plant diversity has driven the wild parrots to forage in urban areas, leading to conflict with fruit growers.
- Fewer large trees means less rainfall is retained, leading to gradual aridification and lowered ecosystem productivity.
- Reduced nutrient cycling leads to a decline in soil fertility, which negatively affects local agriculture.
- Increased water run-off causes erosion, while the loss of nutrients elevates the rate of sediment deposition and harmful nitrification on Bonaire's protected coral reefs.
Reforestation will not only ensure that Bonaire and the Netherlands meet their obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity, but it will also bring about a world of change to the micro-climate, resiliency, and overall well-being of the people and animals on this special island.
Echo is working hard to restore the dry-forest habitat across Bonaire -- but we need your help!