Page 13 - ARUBA TODAY

A13
Thursday 14 June 2018

During event with speakers of the World Nature Fonds:

Sale of environmental conservation with tourists proposed

ORANJESTAD—During last This is what Mr. De Groene Aruba, according to Mr. De
week’s event at the Uni- proposed to the audience Groene. The first of them is
versity of Aruba organized present at the university, to integrate marine con-
by the Environment Minis- emphasizing that WNF goal servation with tourism : by
try with the name ‘Marine is to stop the degradation selling nature restoration to
Protected Areas In Blue of the planets resources our tourists. “People want
Economies’ speaker Arjan and to build a future where to feel like they’re contrib-
De Groene, adviser of the humans live in harmony uting to a great cause.”
World Nature Fonds (WNF/ with nature. Observing that
WWF) ocean and coast- usually value is measured Another consideration is to
lines programs in Holland by money, Mr. De Groene start planning everything
brought forward various mentioned that the total that allowed and not al-
points which could help value of Aruba’s nature, lowed in our oceans. “We’ll
Aruba begin protecting among what nature has argue with each other for a
marine life in it’s coastlines to offer us, is a 300 mil- while but in other countries
in the most efficient ways. lion dollar income yearly it has been already dem-
for Aruba.He also quoted onstrated that marine spa-
Govenor Alfonso Boek- that in a poll, although not tial planning brings results
houdt also shared some representative, 50% of the on the long term.”
words during the event, ex- tourist coming to our island
plaining during his speech expressed that if the marine Learn from Bonaire
what the ‘blue economy’ environment continues to At the same time we can
consists of. An example of degrade they will decide take the example of our
this is to make sure to an- to not continue visiting Aru- brother island Bonaire
ticipate and incorporate ba. which for a long time has has a lot of debs so this did her project of citizen
the impact that climate it’s marine areas protect- would be a realistic option. science for her testis.
change has on our marine Interdependence ed. And the way that this Countries like Mexico have
ecosystem. Mr. De Groene argued work would be the same as already done this before.” “Creating a legislation
But also to avoid economic that we need to do more Aruba’s Parke Arikok (Na- which would make possible
development which would research on what services tional Park), a foundation Community Initiative to change the economic
mean degradation of the nature provides us and that protects these areas. To close Mr. De Groene system would take time.
environment but also the by what means would this This foundation should get recommended develop- But if Aruba don’t take ac-
ecosystems of our island. “ bring economic devel- it’s finance in a sustainable ing more initiatives that tion there is a chance it
The blue economy is a con- opment. He mentioned matter, by having it’s own comes from the commu- will loose it’s corals, riffs or
cept of economic growth, Zeerovers Restaurant in Sa- way of income to keep this nity itself. An example of beaches.
social inclusions and pres- vaneta of which by his un- foundation existing and this is that there’s little data ” We talk after this event
ervation and the improve- derstanding sells fresh fish fighting for the marine pro- about the health of the with Mrs. Geerman which
ment of people’s life’s but from Aruba’s coastlines. tected areas. corals and the marine eco- found that even though
also the environment.” We want to make sure that “Tourism brings more than system surrounding Aruba, many ideas where brought
such attractions stay exist- 3 million of direct and in di- it would be imperative to forward this evening, she
Integrate tourism with envi- ing and to achieve this we rected income to Aruba. come with an initiative to would like to see more in-
ronmental conservation need to make sure that We should also use this to collect data surrounding teraction and exchange
One of the proposed ideas the fished around Aruba’s protect our oceans.” An- the health of our oceans. of ideas between the pub-
to integrate the concept coastlines stay healthy. other alternative that Mr. This recommendation con- lic and the speaker. “If
of economic development De Groene had brought cords with research student there was a type of town
together with nature con- ‘Sell nature conservation to forward is to exchange Annemieke Drost of the hall meeting she believes
servation is by integrating our tourism’ debt payments with envi- University College Utrecht there would be more dis-
tourism together with en- There are many ways to ronmental initiatives financ- in collaboration with the cussions than just a simple
vironmental conservation. protect marine areas in ing. “It seems that Aruba University of Aruba, which presentation.”q