Page 12 - AHATA

Friday 14 June 2024 LOCAL
A10

Enjoy one of the best views on Aruba at the top of the Hooiberg Hill

(Oranjestad)—If you are a in Venezuela, providing one National Park. may still be a work out to get
regular hiker, or maybe want of the best views you can get The staircase that run on the on top. In addition, there is
to spice up your morning work on Aruba. side of the hill was first built now a gazebo placed half-
out session, then you might in 1951, when Mr. Eduardo way up the stair for a little rest.
enjoy one of the most popular located at the center district Tromp constructed it. At that The view at this resting stop
climbing sites on the island: of the island, Santa Cruz, the time, the staircase consisted is also a sight to see.
The Hooiberg Hill. Accompa- Hooiberg Hill is the second of 900 steps. Over time, as the
nied with a 600-step staircase, highest point on the island at steps faced erosion, the gov- The best time to climb the hill
this hill overlooks a great part 165 meters above sea level ernment decided to renovate would be early in the morning
of the island, the Caribbean (or about 540 feet above sea these stairs in 1991. This new or right before sunset, as it
sea, and sometimes even the level). The highest point is Ja- project delivered the newer may not be as hot. However,
Santa Anna mountain located manota Hill at 189 meters (620 staircase with only 587 steps. the hill is of course open all
in the coastal state of Falcon feet), located in the Arikok However, don’t be fooled—it day, every day.q

Episode CXXXI- 131 - Aruba’s reforestation

NOORD — In this episode recreate a landscape tak-
we will focus on the need ing as a reference the veg-
to reforest the island com- etation that supposedly
bating rising temperatures would have existed there if
of our planet. We must work there had been no human
form out local communities incursion.
and increase the pressure The advantages of this
on our leaders. However method are abundant
reforestation is not a mat- and are not only linked to
ter of repopulating without the growth speed of the
ecological criteria but of chosen native species but
opting for island of endem- also from a recreational
ic biodiversity as an eco- and social point of view,
logical strategy. incorporating native plants
allows them to be valued,
In the 1990s, after decades made known and with their
of observation and years of rapid growth it achieves
study, Akira Miyawaki dem- that people love them by
onstrated that the recov- protecting and caring for
ery of the potential natural them.
vegetation of a degraded The success of implement-
land was achieved more ing the Miyawaki method available land and follow they exist, and do not use its layers, which are what,
quickly by planting indig- consists primarily in adapt- their growth with minimal pesticides or added prod- guarantees the ecosystem
enous species, as opposed ing it to the place accord- intervention. ucts. Follow the growth rate services that we expect.
to what was previously be- ing to the environmental In a first step, the soil must of the plants during the first The Miyawaki method is
lieved to be with the mas- conditions and in parallel be identified, looking for two years through irrigation based on taking advan-
sive repopulation of non- knowing exactly the lo- its deficiencies and nutri- and weeding and plant tage of the “potential
native trees fast growing. cal vegetation, its variants ents that it has, defining them at a very high density. natural vegetation” prin-
The Miyawaki method is and the way in which it is the species that adapt to We must be aware that ciple. Where any land that
an ecological restoration expressed. Fundamental the climate and the place. planting more trees does is fertile and without any
method that, based on stages to achieve amazing Search the region for the not create forests because human intervention would
the Potential Natural Veg- results. In this way, the idea biomass necessary to fill the the forest is a living structure develop a lush and sustain-
etation of a space, aims to is to plant native plants in deficiencies of the land, if that requires its border and able forest in a maximum
of 1000 years.
If human support and sus-
tainable collaboration ex-
ists in this same area, the
development time of the
forest would be shortened
to 100 years.Q

To get to know a little more
regarding Aruba’s and its
cultural origins, etc. We
highly recommend you to
book your participation in
our cultural encounter ses-
sion. A mind opening rev-
elation and entertaining
island experience. What-
Article by: Etnia Nativa sapp + 297 5922702 or mail
etnianativa03@gmail.com
Whatsapp us +297 592 2702 and book our facilities and activities
your Aruban exprerience take place close to high
rise hotels.q
Etnia Nativa is close to the high rise hotels