Bina, CARMABI newsletter #3, 2008

6th Year, number 3, July-September 2008
Biná
Newsletter of the CARMABI foundation
Carmabi Clear Water
Challenge 2008
Page 3
Scientific Research
Page 6
Savonet Museum
Page 16
Editors note
Table of contents
Editor’s note...
2
Carmabi Clear Water
Challenge 2008...
3
- Stand up and give nature
a voice...
3
Carmabi news!/Education...
5
Scientific Research...
6
- ENNIA sponsors Christoffelpark
Outdoor Center with 30.000
guilders!...
5
- Scarlet Ibis still around!...
5
- Educational Programs started... 5
- Coral spawning 2008...
6
- Migrations of tropical coral reef
fish: Where do they go and
how do they get there...
6
- Two new Carmabi studies
published in international
scientific magazines...
8
- Carmabi present at 11th
International Coral Reef
Symposium...
10
Christoffelpark Corner...
- The history of the
Christoffelpark (2)...
Savonet Museum...
- Museum update
GLOSSARY
Photography:
Mr. Dr. M. Vermeij
Mrs. M. da Costa Gomez
Mr. L. Pors
Miss. M. Ligthart
Miss. C. Huijbers
Mr. G. Wellen
JSC
Just sit back, relax and enjoy this newsletter. For the first time in the
history of this publication we are focussing largely on the sea. As you
will see, marine biology research is heavily included in this issue. And
with reason. Carmabi has been host to a large number of international
scientists researching the many facets of coral reefs and other marine
ecosystems, providing the island with extensive knowledge about
these issues. Our main objective is to make Carmabi, once again, one
of the top research laboratories in the Caribbean.
And of course we will keep you informed about the breakthroughs in
the research department.
We started out in this issue by inviting Miss. Chantal Huijbers to
write an article about the research work on migration of tropical fish,
she and her undergraduates have been doing on the island for the last
couple of years.
Also, Carmabi was present at the 11th International Coral reef
Symposium in Ft. Lauderdale (U.S.A.) in the person of Dr. Mark
Vermeij. Much information about the state of coral reefs all over the
world was shared during this symposium and we share some of this
information with you in the article regarding the symposium. Other
features include information of coral spawning and two new studies
which were published recently on subjects such as fish distribution
throughout the Caribbean and the dynamics of invasive algae.
The new Clear Water Challenge of this year is featured on the next
13 page. We will be keeping nature protection on everyone’s radar with
13 the fun events we planned for October 25th and November 2nd.
16 Also in this issue the second part on the history of the Christoffelpark
16 as we promised in our last newsletter.
All in all we think there is ample information in this issue that you
should not miss. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or
suggestions by mailing us at [email protected].
Enjoy!
The Editors.
Design:
Mrs. M. da Costa Gomez
Layout:
Miss. L. McCallum
Editors:
Ing. M. da Costa Gomez
Drs. L. Pors
Dr. M. Vermeij
Miss. L. McCallum
Cover Photo:
Detail of coral reef (Curaçao)
Picture by: M. Vermeij
2
Carmabi Clear Water Challenge 2008
Stand up and give nature a voice!
Lanta i duna naturalesa un bos!
Ryan kayaked around Curacao
in 2007 to put nature and its
protection on everyone’s radar.
Now its your turn to help him and
let nature remain on the radar.
The Clear Water Challenge 2008
is one way to do that.
Clear Water Challenge
2008
Together with Amigu di Tera and
Jeugd Sport Centrale, Carmabi
will organize challenges for
kids and adults in the months of
October and November.
Kids Clear Water Challenge
Jeugd Sport Centrale, well
known for its annual “vijfkamp”
for schools, exists 35 years this
year. It starts its celebrations on
October 25th with a personal
challenge for nature for almost
3000 kids in the Christoffelpark.
Together with a large number of
volunteers and of course Ryan de
Jongh himself, they will hike the
northern route in the park to give
nature a voice and show everyone
how important conservation is.
Amigu di Tera’s “A”-(Antartica)
Team will be joining the group of
children and by doing so, make
the voice a stronger one.
The north side of the park will be
closed for the entire day, which
means that on October 25th the
north side of the park will be
closed for the general public.
Stay tuned for more information
about this powerful happening.
Clear Water Challenge 2008
Several important things resulted
from last year’s Challenge: it
influenced the installment of the
Green Team with Ryan de Jongh
as godfather by commissioner
Eugene Ruggenaath, preparations
for the Marine Protection
Ordinance (which at this moment
has not been installed), and
several other nature protection
rules and guidelines. It is
important to keep nature and the
need for its protection on the radar
of everyone. Something Ryan
wants more than anything is to
make sure that natural areas stay
protected and that the coastline
remains accessible to the public.
The Christoffelpark is one of his
favorite locations on the island
and he is often seen there while
climbing the mountain several
times as part of his training.
In addition, 2008 is a year
of many celebrations: the
Christoffelpark exists 30-years,
the Curacao Marine Park exists
25 years and it’s the international
year of the reef.
Amigu di Tera, a non-profit
organization having basically the
same goals that Ryan has, joined
3
Carmabi Clear Water Challenge 2008
Let’s show that we care, stand up and give
nature a Voice!
the Challenge and together we
decided to organize a social event
on November 2nd in which Ryan
makes another statement for
nature. And everyone can join!
“Boka Grandi, point of entrance of the
Christoffelpark during Ryans Challenge and
Christoffel Mountain, the last part of the
route..”
100 km Challenge
On November 2nd at 03.00 AM
in the morning, Ryan de Jongh
and Leon Pors will start kayaking
from the Marine Park Visitor
Center at Carmabi Piscadera and
will paddle to Playa Piskado at
Westpoint (40 km). From here
Ryan will continue his Challenge
on a mountain bike and bike
from Playa Piskadó to the main
entrance of the Christoffelpark.
This bike ride will take him
past Shete Boka, Boka Grandi
and the northern car route in
the Christoffelpark (20 km). At
the main entrance he will leave
his bike and hike all routes in
the southern part of the park,
including the green route, the
orchid- and Zevenbergen trail
and last but not least: climbing
the mountain to collect a flag to
celebrate the completion of the
challenge (all hiking routes: 40
km).
Everyone is invited to make this
challenge a personal one and give
nature a voice. Bike with us, hike
certain parts, or the entire hike
with Ryan and give us a hand
keeping nature on the agenda!
How to participate?
Everyone interested in
participating can join us. Fill in
your form at Carmabi on October
15th from 12.00-18.00 PM or
from the 20th to the 24th of
October at our Challenge booth in
4
the FATUM building from 18.0021.00 hrs. Participation to one
section (biking or hiking) costs
Nafl.10 per person. For two or
more sections of the Challenge the
fee is Nafl.20 per person. Take a
look at our website www.carmabi.
org for more information about
the routes and procedures. Or email us at [email protected].
Let’s show Curacao that we care,
stand up and give nature a Voice!
Challenge goals
The most important goal for
Amigu di Tera and Carmabi is for
nature and its protection to stay
on everyone’s mind, including our
politicians who are responsible
for the drafting of essential laws
and other protective measures.
By showing them that we care
about this issue, we can give
nature a voice in matters that are
often forgotten or set aside as not
important.
We are not specifically aiming
for a monetary goal with this
Challenge. All revenues from
inscriptions and additional
sponsoring will go to educational
projects focusing on the sea.
But if you feel the need to assist
us financially, do not hesitate to
contact us!
Of course we will take all measures
to limit the impact on the park to
an absolute minimum. Our rangers
and volunteers will make sure that
the children stay on the paved route,
and groups and schools have to stay
together to limit mingling and hence
uncontrollable situations.
CARMABI news!/ Education
ENNIA sponsors Christoffelpark Outdoor Center with 30.000 guilders!
ENNIA Insurance Company
sponsored Christoffelpark with
a total of 30.000 guilders to be
paid in a period of three years
in amounts of 10.000 guilders a
year for the establishment of the
Christoffelpark Outdoor Center.
This Center will be the central
point of sales for tours and hikes
as well as mountain bike rentals
and other nature-related activities.
With this sponsoring we are
able to restart the mountain bike
rental in the park and upgrade
the existing camping facilities
to accommodate larger groups.
When the complete make-over of
the Savonet plantation house and
other buildings are complete, the
Outdoor Center will move into its
own location in the central visitor
area around the museum.
We thank ENNIA very much for
their generous support!
Scarlet Ibis still around!
We mentioned the presence of
the first Scarlet Ibis youngster
on the island last year. Since
that moment it has been spotted
several times in the neighborhood
of “Klein Hofje”, Malpais and
“Vaarsenbaai”, both places near
Piscadera. Now however, the
bird has transformed into its
phenomenal scarlet plumage and
can no longer be overlooked or
confused for any other species.
There is still only one confirmed
individual on the island.
The animal often roosts with
small groups of Cattle egret
(Bubulcus ibis) and Snowy egret
(Egretta thula) in mangrove
clusters in the Piscaderabay.
“Scarlet Ibis at Vaarsenbaai.”
Photo by: Gerhardus Wellen
Educational programs started!
Our educational officers visited
the local primary schools
to subscribe all schools for
the environmental education
programs for the school year
2008-2009.
We are starting two new programs
this year, that take place at the
Carmabi/ Marine Park Visitor
Center at Piscadera. These
programs are designed for the
old 3rd grade of primary school
(or 5th group in the FoundationBased Education system). One
of these programs is about the
coral reefs of the island, providing
students with basic information
about these marine ecosystems
and provide them with the
opportunity to observe several
reef creatures themselves.
The second program focusses
on the bats on the island and
their importance to the terrestrial
ecology.
Students come to Carmabi with
their teachers and will be given a
full morning program by one of
our educational officers.
5
Scientific Research
Coral Spawning 2008
“Brittle star releasing red eggs”
“Sea urchin releasing sperm”
This year Carmabi once again
organized several lectures on the
biology behind the annual coral
spawning. During a period of
three days, multiple invertebrate
species such as corals, gorgonians,
sea urchins and sea stars
reproduce during the night. This
amazing phenomenon is often
mentioned as one of nature’s
greatest miracles. Together with
several dive schools around the
island, lectures were held during
which those interested could learn
about what happens with the eggs
after the corals released them in
the water, how larvae are formed
and how these find their way
back to the reef to start building
a coral colony themselves.
Approximately a hundred people
attended the presentations.
Researchers from Carmabi,
in cooperation with scientists
from the SCRIPPS Institution
of Oceanography (San Diego,
U.S.A.) then set out to study this
year’s coral spawning at several
locations around the island. At
night, large plastic tents were
placed over coral species expected
to spawn, i.e. release their
reproductive material (gametes),
and when they did the floating
eggs and sperm released by the
corals was collected using a
specially designed collector at
the top of the net. All gametes
were then mixed so fertilization
could occur after which the
embryo’s were brought back to
the laboratory at Piscaderabaai.
Here the embryos are presently
reared in filtered seawater so
they can develop in larvae. This
will take approximately take one
week after which the coral larvae
will be used in various scientific
experiments. The main goal of
these experiments is to determine
whether water pollution leads to
higher abundance of bacteria that
then cause coral larvae to die.
Some of this work was already
conducted at Carmabi during
last year’s coral spawning and
the results were presented during
the International Coral Reef
Symposium that was held in July
of this year in Ft. Lauderdale (FL,
U.S.A.).
The main event of this year’s
coral spawning, i.e. the release
of gametes by mountainous star
coral (Montastraea faveolata)
the major reef- building coral
species on Curacao, occurred on
September 21st , resulting in a
spectacular “upside-down snow
storm” on the reef consisting of
coral gametes floating to the water
surface. Many other species that
spawned were observed as well,
including gorgonians, sea urchins
and several other coral species.
Migrations of tropical coral reef fish:
where do they go and how do they get there?
“Chantal Huijbers @ work.”
The island of Curaçao is
surrounded by a beautiful coral
reef, with which hundreds of
fish and invertebrate species are
associated. For years, the Animal
Ecology group from the Radboud
University in Nijmegen has been
conducting research at Carmabi,
6
led by Dr. Ivan Nagelkerken.
Currently, Chantal Huijbers
is conducting her dissertation
research, which is focused on the
use of mangroves and sea grass
beds by coral reef fish.
Most coral reef fish species have
a pelagic larval stage during
which they float around in the
ocean, before they change into
larvae with strong swimming
and orientation abilities and then
settle on the reef. Besides fish
species that spend their entire life
on the coral reef, some species
are known to use back reef
habitats, like sea grass beds and
mangroves, during their juvenile
life stage. These species include,
among others, the French grunt,
Yellowtail snapper, Schoolmaster,
Barracuda, Gray snapper and
Striped parrotfish. On Curaçao,
we find mangroves and sea grass
beds in bays like Spanish Water
Bay, Piscadera Bay, St Joris Bay
etc. It is believed that these bays
provide more shelter against
predators, and as such they may
favor growth and survival of
the fishes. In the absence of sea
grass beds or mangroves, the
abundance of some coral reef fish
species is significantly lower on
adjacent reefs, which stresses the
importance of the conservation of
these habitats.
One part of Chantal’s research
focuses on the existence of
migrations of fishes from bays
with mangroves and sea grass
beds to adjacent coral reefs. In
order to do this, different methods
are being used.
One of these methods is to tag
fishes in the bay with so-called
coded wire tags. Each tag has
a unique code, which makes it
possible to identify individual
fishes. On the coral reef, fish
are caught and then scanned
for presence of a tag. If a tag is
recovered this will prove direct
migrations from the bay to the
reef, and besides that it will
give information on the growth
patterns of the fish.
Another method to study
Scientific Research
migrations is by use of stable
isotope analysis in muscle
tissue and ear bones of fish.
Concentrations of stable isotopes,
like carbon, of juveniles will
be compared to those of adults
on the reef. This will reflect if
adults have spent some time in
the mangroves or sea grass beds
during their juvenile life stage.
Another objective of the
research project is to reveal the
mechanisms which are used
by these fish species to detect
certain habitats. Recognition
of suitable settling sites has
been hypothesized to be based
on acoustic, chemical, solar
direction, magnetic, visual, wave
motion or thermal cues. By use of
choice experiments, Chantal will
try to determine the importance
of smell, sound and vision in
tropical reef fishes. Fish from
different size classes (pre- and
post-settlement, juvenile and
adult stages) are tested on their
ability to detect sea grass beds,
mangroves, coral and rocky reef
habitats by visual, chemical and
sound cues. The study is set up
to reveal the mechanisms on how
fish larvae find mangroves and sea
grass habitat when settling from
the open ocean, and how subadult
fish find the coral reef after having
grown up in the bays. By revealing migration patterns
and mechanisms of coral reef
fish species which are associated
with mangroves and sea grass
beds during their juvenile
life stage, the connectivity
between these habitats can be
determined. Connectivity is a
crucial parameter in models of
marine population dynamics,
and therefore most important for
the management of the marine
environment.
7
“ French Grunt.”
“Mangroves.”
“Barracuda.”
Scientific Research
Two new Carmabi studies published in international scientific magazines
This month
two studies conducted at Carmabi have been
published in the “Journal of Biogeography” and
“Biological Invasions”.
The first reports on the
distribution of fish species
throughout the Caribbean and
was conducted in cooperation
with the SCRIPPS Institution of
Oceanography (U.S.A.) and the
National Center for Ecological
Analysis and Synthesis (U.S.A.).
The goal of the study was to
test fundamental predictions
of biogeographical theories in
tropical reef fish assemblages, in
particular relationships between
fish species richness and island
area, isolation and oceanographic
variables (temperature and
productivity) in the insular
Caribbean. These analyses
complement an analogous and
more voluminous body of work
from the tropical Indo-Pacific.
The Caribbean is more limited
in area with smaller inter-island
distances than the Indo-Pacific,
providing a unique context to
consider fundamental processes
likely to affect richness patterns
of reef fish. It was found that
diversity of reef-associated fishes
increases strongly with increasing
island area and with decreasing
isolation. Richness also increases
with increasing near shore
productivity. Within the relatively
small and densely packed
Caribbean basin, fish species
richness fits the classical species–
area relationship. Richness
also was related negatively
to isolation, suggesting direct
effects of dispersal limitation
in community assembly. These
results highlight fundamental
8
mechanisms that underlie spatial
patterns of biodiversity among
Caribbean coral reefs, and which
are probably also are functioning
in the more widespread and
heterogeneous reefs of the IndoPacific.
The second publication looked at
the dynamics of invasive algae
of species that are native in the
Caribbean, but were accidentally
introduced in Hawaii. This study
was conducted in cooperation
with the University of Hawaii
(U.S.A.) and the University of the
Virgin Islands (USVI). Humanmediated introductions of nonnative marine species have broken
down the historic biogeographical
separation between floras
and faunas in various parts of
the world. An interconnected
global economy now allows for
unnatural long-distance transport
of marine organisms beyond their
natural dispersal boundaries.
The intake and release of ballast
water by ships, ‘‘hitchhiking’’
on floating debris and ships, the
aquarium trade and intentional
introductions for aquaculture and
fisheries enhancement represent
the most common routes by
which such transport takes place.
While many introductions are
unsuccessful, some introduced
organisms become extremely
abundant which can negatively
impact native flora and fauna.
Such introduced species are
often referred to as ‘‘invasive
species’’. Because invasive
species presently cause major
economic losses and local and
global reductions in biodiversity,
understanding the factors that
allow species to become abundant
after they are introduced, is
a critical step towards future
prevention and management of
marine invasions. Macroalgae
represent roughly 20% of the
world’s marine invasive species
that cause significant local
ecological and economic damage
by altering the structure and
functioning of ecosystems they
invade. For invasive macroalgae
and invasive species in general,
regulatory processes that control
their abundance in their native
range often no longer exist
or have changed at their new
location. A commonly proposed
mechanism that builds on this
premise is the Enemy Release
Hypothesis (ERH). The ERH
states that introduced plant
species increase in distribution
and abundance because coevolved herbivores or other
natural enemies are generally
not transported with them to the
invaded location. The effects of
the ERH become enhanced when
introduced plants face ample
supply of resources at their new
location that can be allocated
to growth and reproduction.
The study aimed to quantify the
difference in herbivore pressure
experienced by two native and
two invasive macroalgal species
in their native (Caribbean)
and invasive range (Hawaii).
Secondly, the same species
were provided with additional
nutrients to see whether invasive
species respond differently to
higher resource availability
than their native congeners.
This information will aid in
determining if (1) the negative
impact of local herbivores on
plant growth differs between
Scientific Research
a species’ native and invasive
range, thus providing a species
with ‘‘enemy release’ sensu the
ERH, and if (2) invasive species
respond differently to increased
nutrient availability compared to
native species, suggesting that
biogeographic differences in
nutrient availability could drive
invasive success. Herbivorous fish
suppressed growth of invasive
algae in their native (Caribbean)
and invaded range (Hawaii), but
despite similar levels of herbivore
biomass, the intensity of herbivory
was lower in Hawaii. Algal
species with a circumtropical
distribution did not show a similar
effect of herbivores on their
growth. Nutrient enrichment did
not enhance growth of any algal
species in either region. The
reduction in herbivore intensity
experienced by invasive algae
in Hawaii rather than an escape
from (native) herbivores provided
invasive macroalgae with ‘‘enemy
escape” sensu the Enemy Release
Hypothesis (ERH). Since native,
Hawaiian herbivores still feed and
even prefer invasive algae over
native species, invasion scenario’s
that involve predation (e.g. the
ERH) could be falsely dismissed
when invasive species are only
studied in their invasive range. We
therefore argue that escape from
herbivores (i.e. enemy release)
can only effectively be determined
with additional information on the
intensity of predation experienced
by an invasive species in its native
range.
“Algae on a beach.”
Picture by: Dr. Mark Vermeij
9
Scientific Research
Carmabi present at 11th International Coral Reef Symposium in Ft. Lauderdale (FL, U.S.A.)
Every four years all coral reef
scientists and marine park
managers from all over the world
come to gather to discuss the
latest scientific and management
information for coral reefs during
the International Coral Reef
Symposium (ICRS). In July this
year the symposium was held in
Ft. Lauderdale (FL). 3500 people
from 75 countries attended the
symposium and Carmabi was
represented by the new science
director, Dr. M. Vermeij. A special
poster was designed to advertise
Carmabi as a venue for research
by those attending the symposium
and so far 20 research groups have
shown interest to conduct future
research project in Curaçao. In
addition, presentations of research
findings of work conducted at
Carmabi were presented to the
large international audience
Coral reefs continue
to suffer fever-high
temperatures.
A defining theme of the 11th
International Coral Reef
Symposium is that the news for
coral reef ecosystems is far from
encouraging. Climate change is
now much faster than in an iceage transition, and coral reefs
continue to suffer fever-high
temperatures as well as sour
ocean conditions. Corals may be
falling behind, and there appears
to be no special silver bullet
remedy. Nevertheless, there are
hopeful signs that we should not
despair. Reef ecosystems respond
vigorously to protective measures
and alleviation of stress. For
concerned scientists, managers,
conservationists, stakeholders,
students, and citizens, there is a
great role to play in continuing
to report on the extreme threat
10
that climate change represents to
earth’s natural systems. Urgent
action is needed to reduce CO2
emissions. In the interim, we can
and must buy time for coral reefs
through increased protection from
sewage, sediment, pollutants,
overfishing, development, and
other stressors, all of which we
know can damage coral health.
In short, the time to act is now.
Over a third of the world’s coral
species are at elevated risk of
extinction. Reefs of the Western
Atlantic have generally decreased
in living corals since the 1970s,
and although reefs of the Great
Barrier Reef were resilient until
1996, they are now beginning
to struggle. It is good news that
reefs far from continents and
direct human pressures, including
Bermuda in the Atlantic; the
Flower Garden Banks in the Gulf
of Mexico; American Samoa, Fiji,
Palau, and French Polynesia are
still resilient and able to recover
from damage. We still have
some time! The degradation and
ponderous recovery of many reefs
are due to combination of the
global stresses of climate change
coupled with regional and local
stressors including runoff from
agriculture, other land-based
sources of pollution, over-fishing,
and habitat destruction associated
with coastal development.
Many studies have laid down
stepping stones to understand
ongoing changes in coral and
fish community dynamics. A
prime driving factor is climate
change. NOAA satellites reveal
tropical oceans have warmed at a
significantly faster rate over the
past decade. Coral cover in many
locations remains low and is not
recovering. This is especially true
in areas that have experienced
severe bleaching, a phenomenon
on the increase with increasing
ocean warming. Such changes
are not restricted to corals. Coral
loss clearly leads to loss of
associated organisms; decreasing
fish abundance and diversity, for
example, go hand in hand with
loss of corals and decreasing coral
cover.
The time to act is
now!
Ocean acidification and ocean
warming can be thought of
as the ‘evil twins’ of climate
change. The same carbon dioxide
that causes ocean warming
is entering the oceans and
causing chemical changes (i.e.,
lowered pH, lowered carbonate
ion concentration) that affect
marine life. Coral reefs are
threatened because carbonate
ions, essential for building their
calcium carbonate skeletons,
become less available. Reef
structures are further endangered
because lowered pH is likely
to reduce resistance to erosion.
There is mounting evidence
that acidification can cause a
slowdown in the growth of corals
and in coralline algae, both vital
to the reef structure. Results
presented at the Symposium
show that calcification rates in
many corals are already declining
from a combination of factors
including increasing temperature,
decreasing water quality, and
ocean acidification.
In addition, ocean acidification is
now shown to reduce the ability
of coral larvae and coralline algae
to successfully settle and grow
new colonies, which will affect
the ability of degraded reefs to
recover through reseeding with
larvae. The Symposium witnessed
many new science advances
Scientific Research
that increase our understanding
about coral reef ecosystems.
Several scientists used new
genetic techniques to show that
reefs are connected primarily
at a scale of tens of kilometers
(km). In contrast with previous
thoughts that reefs were highly
interconnected at scales of
thousands of km, these studies
show that only occasional pulses
of propagules leave the reef
‘village’. Coral larvae settle in
close proximity to their parents,
and some fish are homing in to
local coral heads after tens of km
of travel. Such local connectivity
suggests that local protection and
management will lead to local
benefits. Action and protection
also buys time for adaptation.
Simultaneously we must not lose
sight that important ecological
connections and stressors (e.g.,
migration, larval transport,
upwelling, pollution, pathogens,
climate change) also exist at the
larger ecosystem scale.
Molecular tools are revealing a
diverse array of microorganisms
living around and in association
with reefs and able to adapt
subtle environmental shifts. The
microorganisms have vital roles in
reef health, but if perturbed, these
roles can break down in a variety
of detrimental ways and lead to
infection and disease. Researchers
are reporting a link between
coral disease and environmental
change, and even viruses are
now implicated in coral disease
and associated coral tumors. Yet,
there is also some evidence of
developing immunity, whereby
Vibrio and other bacteria that
once caused harm to corals are no
longer found in association with
the coral-disease.
By 2015, half the world’s
population will live along a
11
Scientific Research
narrow band of coast, putting
unsustainable pressures on
coastal resources. There will be
coral reefs in our future only to
the extent that they are valued
by people. Understanding the
value of reef ecosystem goods
and services can help to promote
protection and thwart degradation.
Economic benefits, incentives,
and cultural values need to align
with conservation efforts. Social
scientists have much to contribute
to this aspect as well as towards
environmental use planning
within local and regional areas.
Likewise, managing reefs must
include managing people’s
behavior toward reefs. Social
science can help us understand the
root causes of people’s behavior,
including poverty, global demand
for fish products, and tourism.
Rising food and fuel prices can
put greater fishing pressure
on near-shore reefs. Fisheries
catches from many islands are
vastly underreported, and fish
populations severely depleted
and in critical condition. Local
action is one key method to
achieving management success,
and communities and government
can be effective stewards of coral
reefs once it is understood that it
is in the interest of the public and
individual good to do so. Linking
coral reef conservation to human
welfare: ‘Healthy Reefs for
Healthy People’, is a useful theme
to be repeated with ties to tourism,
livelihoods, food security, as
well as cultural and spiritual well
being.
Marine Protected Areas are
multiple-use areas, in which
various tools, particularly zoning,
are used to protected marine
resources (marine reserves or
no-take areas), define and confine
human uses, separate conflicting
12
activities, and consolidate
administration to eliminate
duplication and overlap. Studies
in the Philippines and Guam,
for example, show that corals
inside MPAs have less disease
than fished areas which have
large gaps in diversity affecting
affect disease transmission.
MPAs represent effective
management tools and work best
when providing interim benefits
as well as longer conservation
benefits. Scientists reiterated
that MPAs are necessary but
not sufficient. Protection of as
much reef territory as possible
recognizes that local efforts
can build to regional ones
which in turn can build into
global ones. Organizational and
scientific capacity is needed to
establish and maintain marine
management areas. In some cases,
hybrid designs of no-take and
periodically closed areas may
better address economic needs of
the community and conservation
objectives.
Healthy Reefs
for
Healthy People.
The Symposium concluded that
changes needed to protect the
word’s coral reefs include: 1)
convincing communities that
reefs are at risk, 2) enlisting
multiple levels of public, industry
and government support, 3)
providing necessary legislative
and regulatory powers, and 4)
conducting needed science with
sufficient information transfer. In
this way effective management
rooted in broad interdisciplinary
science and stakeholder buy-in,
working at local, regional, and
international scales, coupled
with global efforts to reduce
atmospheric CO2, will give reefs
a chance.
Christoffelpark Corner
The history of the Christoffelpark (2)
Christoffelpark is in a festive
mood this year. The largest nature
park of Curaçao celebrates its 30year anniversary. Time of course
to take a look at the history of
those 30 years in which nature
protection and management were
core issues. In our last newsletter
we wrote about the period before
the park was officially opened and
the first years after its opening. In
this article we take you along the
development of Environmental
Education in the park, the many
attractions and activities which
were developed during the years,
the unique flora and fauna,
Museum Savonet and of course
the future.
Environmental education
in Christoffelpark
From the very beginning, the
park was a popular destination
for schools wanting to do outdoor
activities. The Christoffel
Mountain was a popular climb,
which was done by schools
themselves and guided by park
rangers. Other hikes were popular
as well. However, efficient
educational programs for school
were nonexistent. This changed
in the second half of the 80’s.
The government appointed one
employee to work for STINAPA
with the sole purpose to develop
Environmental Education
programs for schools. This
employee organized several
workshops for teachers consisting
of a wide variety of themes
and for the different levels in
the educational system. These
workshops consisted of theoretical
material and many excursions
all over the island. Educational
material was produced which
was used by teachers for
presentations. STINAPA produced
and distributed audiovisual
materials, organized presentations
and took many initiatives so that
Environmental Education became
included in the curriculum of
schools.
In the 90’s these initiatives
developed into packages so
schools not only received
educational materials to be
used in the classroom, but also
participated in excursions in
which a trained educational guide
accompanied the students.
Thanks to government subsidies,
sponsoring from the private sector
and the appointment of an extra
educational employee by the
government, it became possible
for all children between 4 and 12
years old to get acquainted with
several natural areas during their
school period. Christoffelpark was
the focal area of these excursions.
Even now, in the 21st century,
you can come to the park on
any given day and encounter
groups of students during a
daytrip to the park, accompanied
by an educational guide, while
discovering its ecological and
cultural attractions.
Attractions and activities
From the very beginning, the
Christoffel Mountain and the
caves in the park were the most
popular attractions for visitors.
Several attractions and activities
were developed to maximize the
visitors’ experience of the park.
Trails were made to see orchids
and other special plants for
visitors who were not so mountain
and cave oriented.
In 1989, the number of visitors
increased to 20.235 paying
visitors a year. In the same year
a wooden deer observation tower
was built next to the deer reserve.
13
Christoffelpark Corner
“White-tailed hawk ”
“Yellow Oriole ”
“Common Emerald ”
This reserve was part of a research
project focused on the Curaçao
white-tailed deer (Odocoileus
virginianus curassavicus) that
started a couple of years earlier.
The tower gave visitors the
possibility to observe deer without
being noticed, under supervision
of a trained ranger. After the
research project was finished,
the tower was used for special
deer spotting tours, held in jeeps
starting at the main entrance of the
park. These tours are still part of
the regular activities of the park,
and the tower is still used during
the tours.
Several popular “open houses”
were organized and expositions in
the former Mangasina were often
changed and adapted. Jay Haviser
and Leon Pors reconstructed the
skeleton of a whale in 1991. In
1992 Mr. Pors installed an expo
about de geological history of
the island, which formed a part
of the attractions for many years
there after. A few years later the
nature exposition by Peter van
der Wolf was installed, containing
many materials and pictures of the
park’s flora and fauna.
In 2006 the nature exposition was
removed and the skeleton of an
11-meter long Sperm whale was
installed as part of an exposition
about whales and dolphins,
that had washed ashore on the
island. This whale expo is the
last one before the mangasina
will be transformed into the
natural history section of the
Savonet Museum, expected to
open for public around the end of
December 2009.
An other attraction in the park
was the center for birds of
prey, developed for educational
purposes and with the intention
to start breeding programs for
endangered species on the long
run. Unfortunately the project did
14
not go as planned and does not
exist anymore.
Horseback riding and mountain
biking became possible, a cactus
garden was developed, and animal
presentations with iguanas, snakes
and birds of prey became daily
activities. Full moon excursions,
deer spotting and jeep tours were
added to the list of activities. At
this moment, all these activities
are once again part of today’s
park’s programme, except for the
bird of prey presentations and
horseback riding.
Unique flora and fauna
The flora and fauna in
Christoffelpark represent the
island’s nature, represented by
animals and plants composed
of animals and plants that have
adapted to dry and hot climate,
where water and food are scarce
during large parts of the year.
Natural water wells, as well as
the water supply from the cultural
and historical heritage like water
holes and man made wells provide
animals with additional sources
of water in dry times. Almost
all species of flora and fauna
on the island live in the park.
Mammals like the white-tailed
deer, the cottontail (Sylvilagus
floridanus nigronuchalis), and
several species of bats; birds
like the rare white-tailed hawk
(Buteo albicaudatus), the endemic
subspecies of Barn Owl (Tyto
alba bargei), hummingbirds
like the Common Emerald
(Chlorostilbon mellisugus) and
the Ruby-topaz Hummingbird
(Chrysolampis mosquitus), the
endemic Yellow Oriole (Icterus
nigronuchalis curacoensis) and
even the Caribbean flamingo
(Phoenicopterus ruber ruber)
when the salt plains at Boka
Grandi are filled with water.
Reptiles and insects are also well
represented.
Orchids like the Lady of the
Night (Brassavola nodosa)
and Humboldt’s Schomburgkia
(Myrmecophila humboldtia),
the 3 pillar cacti species
occurring on the island: the datu
(Lemaireocereus griseus), the
Kadushi (Cereus repandus),
and the Kadushi di pushi
(Cephalocereus lanuginosus).
Some plants only occur in the
Christoffelpark area, like the rare
Myrcia curassavica, an endemic
species for Curaçao, and the
Maytenus versluysii, endemic for
Curaçao and Bonaire.
Museum Savonet
Finally the many attempts to
transform the Savonet plantation
complex and its historical
structures into a museum have
met fertile ground. With the
assistance of Dutch Development
Funds by USONA, work has
started to restore the buildings to
their former glory and to establish
space for a museum collection.
The main theme of the museum
will be interdependence between
nature and culture during the
long history of human beings on
Curaçao. Starting at the beginning
of the human occupation of the
island, about 5000 years ago.
Christoffelpark Corner
Christoffelpark now
and in the future
A new age will start for the park,
when the Savonet Museum opens
its doors to public for the first
time, in December 2009. This
“new” Christoffelpark offers
a great variety of regular and
special activities and events, well
maintained attractions, regular and
special expos and of course many
nature and culture related events.
Combined these attractions will
transform the park into a mustsee location for recreation and
education for locals and visitors,
for the young and the old. The
museum will be well accessible
for visitors in wheelchairs or
using rollators. The educational
program will be expanded. The
outdoor center provides visitors
with the chance to explore the
park by guided hikes, safari trips,
hiking trails, mountain bike trips,
mountain climbs, team building
programs and much more.
And of course the management
and protection of the natural assets
will remain the most important
core business. All will be done to
expand the protected area and to
offer facilities for researchers.
The coming years many
challenges will cross our way.
Carmabi is more than ready to
confront these challenges and to
keep this beautiful area in the best
of care.
Opening Hours CHRISTOFFELPARK
Monday- Saturday
7.30 AM -16.00 PM (no admittance after 14.30 PM)
Sunday
6.00 AM - 15.00 PM (no admittance after 13.30 PM)
Interested in camping, team building, company celebrations and/or
other nature activities for groups:
Call Cyrill Kooistra or Woti Samboe at 864-0363
15
“ Kadushi di pushi”
“ Humboldt’s Schomburgkia”
Savonet Museum
Museum update
As we were silently hoping for,
the restoration process brings
interesting details to life. Apart
from architectural details and
insight in the evolution of the
color scheme (the main house
of Savonet used to be white
originally!), an old coin turned up!
When one of the sliding windows
in the central room of the main
house was disassembled, a copper
coin from 1828 was found in the
space between the window and
sill. Clearly someone lost this
coin in the past, for us to find it.
The next step will be to contact
the coin museum for an official
description and classification. We
seriously doubt that the museum
has been transformed into a
museum in possession of a highly
prized artifact, but who knows?
Felix de Rooy was on the island
again, to participate in an expert
meeting on the heritage of slavery,
and to continue his planning
activities for the museum. The
existing concept has been finetuned and some additional gaps
have been filled during his stay.
One of the working class jobs
that we failed to high-light in the
planning was the making of strawhats. We now have an exhibit on
this part of history in the works as
well.
One area of concern is the need
for a stable and dependable supply
of electricity. The experiences of
the last few weeks, with lots of
black-outs caused by lightning,
were not very comforting.
Therefore, steps are taken to
organize some sort of power
back-up. The most wonderful
solution would be to implement a
sustainable ‘off the grid’ solution
for the museum, using wind and
solar energy. Soon we will contact
the local power company in order
to see if together we can come up
with a solution.
Gabri Christa, a local dancer but
living in the USA, has finished
editing her wonderful dancemovie she recorded in January
on the Savonet premises, as part
of a series on historical buildings
(she already brought out a movie
recorded in the quarantine
building at Caracasbaai). The
movie will be premiered in
November. This production will
become part of the museum’s
collection, and will be shown in
the section on the architecture of
the plantation complex: a very
cool and artistic way of showing
the ‘before and after’ situation.
Well, that’s it for now. We
will keep you posted on future
developments.
16