Page 16 - ARUBATODAY

A16 LOCAL
Thursday 23 January 2020

Aruba National Park review of 2019:

Conservation of Aruba’s Nature is responsibility of all of us

ORANJESTAD – Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba (FPNA)
is looking back at a year where there were many ad-
vancements made in regards to conservation of Aruba’s
Nature. With the establishment of the Marine Park, and
soon to be added 16+ nature areas in 2020, the conser-
vation work to be done will be complex and will bring its
challenges that FPNA will focus on during the new year.

Service Level Agreement
Last August, FPNA entered into an agreement with the
Government of Aruba, signing a Service Level Agreement
(SLA). The purpose of the SLA is to reach a consensus on
the tasks and efforts that FPNA is responsible for in order to
reach its statuary goals. Additionally, the SLA implies that
FPNA will take full responsibility with the task of conserva-
tion and protection of nature areas of management as-
signed to the foundation including scientific research on
biodiversity which goes hand in hand with conservation FPNA would like to extend its gratitude to all employees, volunteers and community of
education to the community at large. Aruba for their support during this past year and extends its message to everyone that
conservation of Aruba’s nature is the responsibility of all of us. FPNA will have revised
Purchase of Private Land at Boca Prins operating hours this holiday season. Everyone who would like to visit the national park
Another positive step for FPNA this year was the purchase is subject to a conservation fee of Afl. 5.00 for adults or Afl. 28 for a year pass, kids un-
of a private land at Boca Prins that was effectuated last der 18 years are free of charge. We would like to wish everyone Happy holidays and a
September. With such a positive result, FPNA will contin- prosperous 2020!q
ue its efforts and look at the possibilities to acquire other
private lands within the borders of Arikok National Park
to guarantee the conservation and management of this
nature reserve.

Nature and Environment Education
During the month of December the pilot project for Na-
ture and Environment Education (NEE) was realized. The
pilot project will be implemented as part of the National
curriculum for primary schools with pilot schools St. Jan
Kleuterschool, Colegio Laura Wernet- Paskel, Cacique
Macuarima and Scol Primario Cacique Aterima. The pilot
project covers three themes: Waste, Healthy Lifestyle and
Flora & Fauna. Visit our website to read more details on
the pilot project.

Junior Rangers
This year again two very successful junior ranger camps
were organized for Aruba’s youth of
9-12 years old. Four of FPNA’s junior rangers were so lucky
as to attend an informative nature exchange on Bonaire
in October, courtesy of the organizer the Dutch Caribbe-
an Nature Alliance (DCNA). They had the opportunity to
engage and discuss different environmental topics with
the youth of four other islands and were inspired to make
a difference when back home.

Botanical Garden
In 2019 FPNA agreed to start developing a botanical gar-
den from the already existing collections at Hofi Shon Sho-
co and Cunucu Arikok. The future botanical garden will
hold and display documented collections of locally rel-
evant living plants for the purposes of scientific research
and conservation, and for the education, inspiration and
wellbeing of the community at large.

Shoco Conservation
In November – for the third year in a row – the team of
Shoco (Aruba burrowing owl) volunteers was further
trained in Shoco conservation. Experts from the USA
joined in and played a supportive role, while budding sci-
entists from Venezuela also came to learn from our suc-
cessful joint-project with the Aruba Birdlife Conservation.
Numerous artificial burrows were installed all over the is-
land, including at golf courses and the marine barracks,
some of which welcomed their first baby owls this year.