Project Description

Parks Work carried out a 4 month project at the end of 2019, working with park practitioners to strengthen species conservation in the Dutch Caribbean. Work included 2 key steps:

1. Developing detailed species list of species of conservation importance

2. Working with park practitioners to develop action-oriented Species Action Plans

The project information and goals were shared with protected area managers, local government civil servants and key National government representatives, the local press and interested parties. These groups also received:

  • verified species lists for internationally, regionally and locally recognised species that are listed, threatened, endangered, endemic or flagship.
  • species action plans for species identified by stakeholders

The outputs are now being used to support the development of an implementation plan for the Dutch Government Nature and Environmental Policy Plan (NEPP), which will guide Dutch Government conservation efforts in the Dutch Caribbean for the coming 5 years.

Project outputs have been shared with park managers, staff and key stakeholders, local government civil servants and the general public along with recommendations on how to use them.

The identification of key conservation species will provide a route map for their conservation and identify gaps in protection where overlapping local, national and international policies may have missed protection for e.g. endemic species. The Species Action Plans follow a template that includes:

  • Threats
  • Management goals
  • Recommendations
  • Gaps
  • General Information

The IUCN Species Survival Commission advocates for the development of Species Action Plans to make information available to natural resource managers, conservationists and decision makers.

This project was made possible through the generous support of the Special Areas and Wildlife, Regional Activities Centre (SPAW-RAC)

Image credits: Nassau grouper Randall, J.E. Fishbase, Mountain Mahogany (Kai Wulf), Lora (Steve Schnoll), Spiny lobster (Marta & Mark Bockstael-Rubio), Lignum Vitae (Gerard van Buurt).