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A16 LOCAL
Thursday 9 January 2020

Aruba National Park review of 2019:

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

lections of locally relevant 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 fur-
ther trained in Shoco conservation.
Experts from the USA joined in and
played a supportive role, while
budding scientists 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 island, including at golf
courses and the marine barracks,
some of which welcomed their first
baby owls this year.

FPNA would like to extend its grati-
tude to all employees, volunteers
and community of Aruba for their
support during this past year and
extends its message to everyone
that conservation of Aruba’s na-
ture is the responsibility of all of us.
ORANJESTAD – Fundacion Parke a positive result, FPNA will continue ence when back home. FPNA will have revised operating
Nacional Aruba (FPNA) is looking its efforts and look at the possibili- hours this holiday season. Everyone
back at a year where there were ties to acquire other private lands Botanical Garden who would like to visit the national
many advancements made in re- within the borders of Arikok Na- In 2019 FPNA agreed to start devel- park is subject to a conservation
gards to conservation of Aruba’s tional Park to guarantee the con- oping a botanical garden from the fee of Afl. 5.00 for adults or Afl. 28
Nature. With the establishment of servation and management of this already existing collections at Hofi for a year pass, kids under 18 years
the Marine Park, and soon to be nature reserve. Shon Shoco and Cunucu Arikok. are free of charge. We would like
added 16+ nature areas in 2020, The future botanical garden will to wish everyone Happy holidays
the conservation work to be done Nature and Environment Education hold and display documented col- and a prosperous 2020!q
will be complex and will bring its During the month of December
challenges that FPNA will focus on the pilot project for Nature and En-
during the new year. vironment Education (NEE) was re-
alized. The pilot project will be im-
Service Level Agreement plemented as part of the National
Last August, FPNA entered into an curriculum for primary schools with
agreement with the Government pilot schools St. Jan Kleuterschool,
of Aruba, signing a Service Level Colegio Laura Wernet- Paskel, Ca-
Agreement (SLA). The purpose of cique Macuarima and Scol Prima-
the SLA is to reach a consensus rio Cacique Aterima. The pilot proj-
on the tasks and efforts that FPNA ect covers three themes: Waste,
is responsible for in order to reach Healthy Lifestyle and Flora & Fau-
its statuary goals. Additionally, the na. Visit our website to read more
SLA implies that FPNA will take full details on the pilot project.
responsibility with the task of con-
servation and protection of nature Junior Rangers
areas of management assigned This year again two very success-
to the foundation including scien- ful junior ranger camps were orga-
tific research on biodiversity which nized for Aruba’s youth of
goes hand in hand with conserva- 9-12 years old. Four of FPNA’s junior
tion education to the community rangers were so lucky as to attend
at large. an informative nature exchange
on Bonaire in October, courtesy of
Purchase of Private Land at Boca the organizer the Dutch Caribbean
Prins Nature Alliance (DCNA). They had
Another positive step for FPNA this the opportunity to engage and dis-
year was the purchase of a private cuss different environmental topics
land at Boca Prins that was effec- with the youth of four other islands
tuated last September. With such and were inspired to make a differ-