Dutch Caribbean
Biodiversity Strategy
(draft version 10.2)
23rd December 2013
Chapter 2
Governance
Committee members:
Paul Hoetjes
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Biodiversity Strategy for the Dutch Caribbean
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
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Biodiversity Strategy for the Dutch Caribbean
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) states 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 is envisaged to coordinate and oversee
the biodiversity monitoring strategy. The tasks and responsibilities of this
committee are described in more detail below.
Bi-annual Dutch Caribbean Nature Platform meetings could provide a broad platform
for discussion amongst a range of stakeholders (government, non-governmental,
private 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
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Biodiversity Strategy for the Dutch Caribbean
Island Government
Park management
organizations
Nature conservation
organisations
Private sector
Networking and
on island coordination 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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Biodiversity Strategy for the Dutch Caribbean
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