Page 12 - AHATA

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local Wednesday 23 april 2025

ACF and Ban Lanta y Planta give back to nature on Earth Day!

(Oranjestad)—The Aruba peared in the past decade.
Conservation Foundation Since 2017, all mangrove
(ACF), an independent species in Aruba are pro-
conservation manage- tected by law (AB 2017 no.
ment organization, and 48) and also internationally
Ban Lanta y Planta (BLyP), under the SPAW Protocol
an organization dedicated Annex III.
to planting native trees to
restore Aruba’s ecosystem, It is crucial for the commu-
joined forces to contribute nity to understand the vi-
to the improvement of Aru- tal role mangroves play as
ba’s nature in celebration habitats for small animals
of Earth Day. As part of this like crabs and juvenile fish,
collaboration, employees native plant biodiversity. ture. They were fortunate and as areas where fish
and volunteers from ACF to have suitable weather and shrimp feed. They also
and BLyP came together What types of mangroves conditions, and the young provide nesting grounds for
for a small activity to share were planted and why? mangroves were ready to birds and other animals.
knowledge and give back A total of 28 mangrove be planted on Earth Day, Mangrove roots are es-
to Mother Earth by planting trees were planted, con- marking the start of this col- sential breeding areas for
28 mangrove trees grown sisting of two different spe- laboration. creatures like crabs and
by ACF and BLyP them- cies: Avicennia germinans, oysters, and in turn, they For more information, you
selves. commonly known as Black Location: Spaans Lagoen support millions of people. can contact Aruba Conser-
Mangrove, and Conocar- These 28 mangroves were Mangroves also filter runoff vation Foundation at info@
This meaningful occasion pus erectus, better known planted in the protected water from land before it acf.aw, visit their social me-
began with the active par- locally as Fofoti. area of Spaans Lagoen, in enters the ocean, prevent- dia pages on Facebook or
ticipation of Prime Minister The Black Mangrove typi- locations identified as suit- ing sea grass and coral Instagram, or contact Ban
Mike Eman, together with cally grows on the edges of able for the species and reefs from being smothered Lanta y Planta at banlan-
the Director of the Direc- salt flats and near brackish currently being restored as by sediment. Finally, man- tayplanta@gmail.com.q
torate of Nature & Environ- water, but it prefers slightly part of the European Union- groves provide coastal pro-
ment, Gisbert Boekhoudt. drier habitats because it funded RESEMBID program tection during storms.
The team demonstrated sometimes struggles to get project, "Turning the Tide."
the full process of germinat- oxygen when soil is clay- It's important to respect
ing mangrove seedlings. heavy or underwater. The The planted mangroves will mangrove forests. Do not
Next, they will evaluate the solution is that it grows be monitored in the com- cut or remove mangroves,
survival of the plants in na- special aerial roots called ing months for growth and and do not throw trash into
ture to continue improving pneumatophores, which survival. It’s important to them. Keep a respectful
the process of propagation allow the tree to breathe note that restoring man- distance and allow man-
and nurturing both types of – like snorkels. You can rec- groves doesn’t just mean groves space to fulfill their
trees in designated areas, ognize Black Mangroves planting new ones. Under essential role in nature.
and later replant them in by the salt residue found the "Turning the Tide" pilot
nature. This is to begin re- on the underside of their project, analysis showed ACF and BLyP’s
storing degraded areas of leaves. that environmental condi- Commitment
tions – like water flow – also ACF and BLyP remain com-
The Fofoti is Aruba’s iconic need to be restored. At mitted to restoring Aruba’s
tree that tolerates high sa- Spaans Lagoen, canals are nature with native trees to
linity but prefers to grow currently being restored to support biodiversity and
near the edges of salt flats allow the mangroves in the climate resilience. With the
or slightly higher and drier area to grow healthily. The planting of these young
areas compared to the ultimate goal is for the eco- mangroves on Earth Day,
Black Mangrove. system to one day restore they hope to learn how to
itself naturally, without the plant more in the future to
Why these mangrove need to plant new man- enhance natural restora-
species? groves. tion.
ACF and Ban Lanta y Plan-
ta are experimenting with What can individuals do to To get to know the man-
germination and optimal help the health of Aruba’s grove species better, you
growth conditions for all mangrove forests? can visit the ACF green-
mangrove species found in Globally, mangroves are house located at San
Aruba. The goal is to maxi- under threat, and in Aruba, Fuego 70, or the Ban Lanta
mize the potential to plant almost 90% of the island’s y Planta nursery in Para-
more mangroves in the fu- mangroves have disap- guana, Noord.