Four projects in Bonaire and Saba selected for DCNA habitat funding

The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) has selected four conservation projects in Bonaire and Saba for more than 670,000 dollars in funding through the first call of its Conservation & Restoration of Key Habitats Program. DCNA said three selected projects are in Bonaire and one is in Saba. The call focused on reducing the effects of free-roaming grazers and increasing ecosystems’ resilience to climate change.

At Lac Bay, Mangrove Maniacs will restore mangroves, improve water flow, restore dry forest upstream and reduce erosion and sedimentation, according to DCNA. BonBèrdè will install 825 metres of fencing to protect about 160 hectares of dry forest and coastal scrub from free-roaming grazers. DCNA said the fencing project will connect protected areas around Lac Bay into a natural landscape of almost 600 hectares.

STINAPA will restore 175 hectares of tropical dry forest in Washington Slagbaai National Park’s Washington Area One, DCNA said. On Saba, the Saba Conservation Foundation will restore between three and five hectares of cloud forest by removing invasive plants, replanting native species and monitoring recovery.

DCNA launched the regional program in 2025. It covers coral reefs, seagrass, mangroves, tropical dry forest and scrub, and tropical wet forest. DCNA said future calls will focus on other strategies in its regional conservation plan.