Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis). This critically endangered species attracts abundant fish and can still be found at several locations within the marine Ramsar sites. Photo Credit: Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba
Environment ArubaWetland Protected Area Increased… by Over 20,000 per cent!
The island country of Aruba is expanding its wetland protected area in a colossal way, bringing the total from a mere 70 to an impressive 14,000 hectares, hoping to restore the ecosystem to its former glory.
“Although these areas are no longer pristine, they still contain impressive biodiversity values,” explains René Henkens, senior ecologist at Wageningen Environmental Research. “Not least because of the many years of passionate efforts of, among others, the nature conservation NGOs on the island; their contribution was essential to achieve this result.”
Wetlands are protected under the Ramsar Convention of Wetlands. Four new Ramsar sites have been designated – Western Wetlands, Westpunt, Zuidkust, and Oostpunt – and the Spaans Lagoen, the only existing Ramsar site since 1980, will be extended from 70 to 259 hectares. A total of 14,408 hectares will be protected under the Convention. All areas are subject to major ecological restoration and conservation efforts, including a coral and mangrove restoration within the EU-funded Turning the Tide project.
