Biodiversity Strategy for the Dutch Caribbean

Biodiversity Strategy for the Dutch Caribbean

Dutch Caribbean

Biodiversity Strategy

(draft version 10.2)

23rd December 2013

Chapter 2

Governance

Committee members:

Paul Hoetjes

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2.  Governance

In order to implement this Biodiversity Strategy an appropriate organizational structure with clearly defined roles and responsibilities for each component is proposed.

This structure fits into a broader organizational/governance structure governed by the Nature Policy Plan, the Nature Conservation Framework Act BES, the Fisheries Act BES, and the Memorandum of Cooperation for the management of marine biodiversity and fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The proposed structure is presented in the diagram below.

Since the work of these committees and commissions will overlap significantly each Committee must be represented in the Nature Commission.

Nature Commission

The Nature Conservation Framework Act BES (Article 3) provides the option of establishing a “Nature Commission” for the BES islands. This Commission would be charged with giving advice, asked for or otherwise, to the Minister of EZ and the Island Governments of Bonaire, Saba and St Eustatius, on any issues related to the implementation of the Nature Conservation Framework Act BES. The Nature Policy Plan Caribbean Netherlands (NPP) restates the intention to indeed establish such a Commission.

EEZ Committee

In addition to this Nature Commission, there is an Committee for the management of Marine Biodiversity and Fisheries (EEZ Committee) established in 2010, based on a Memorandum of Cooperation intended to include all six Dutch Caribbean islands. The committee meets twice a year.

Fisheries Commission

The Fisheries Commission was established in 2013 as prescribed by the Fisheries Act BES. This Commission will meet in conjunction with the EEZ Committee

Biodiversity Monitoring Committee

A Biodiversity Monitoring Committee should be establishedis envisaged to coordinate and oversee the biodiversity monitoring strategy. The tasks and responsibilities of this committee are described in more detail below.

Nature Commission meetings should be preceded by Bi-annual Dutch Caribbean Nature Platform meetings which wcould provide a broad platform for discussion amongst a range of stakeholders (government, non-governmental, businessprivate sector) on nature and nature conservation in the region, identifying themes or issues from a multi-island perspective, and provide recommendations for the Nature Commission and its counterparts in the other Dutch Caribbean islands.

Island Platforms

Each participating island will set up an Island Platform, which will include Island Government representative/s, local nature conservation practitioners as well as any local nature monitoring groups.

Membership / Role / Tasks
Island Government
Park management organizations
Nature conservation organisations
Business Private sector / Networking and on island co-ordination of biodiversity strategy / Local networking
Coordination with Biodiversity Monitoring Committee
Identify resource needs
Periodic updates
Information exchange/resource sharing

Island Platforms will:

-  Exchange information and/ or resources related to nature conservation in general and biodiversity monitoring in particular

-  Co-ordinate local monitoring activities

-  Communicate with the Monitoring Committee on monitoring priorities, protocols, resources, knowledge gaps, etc.

-  Communicate with the Monitoring Committee on monitoring activities (planned and completed)

-  Flag to the Monitoring Committee, and others, their resource needs (expertise, funds, materials)

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