Responsible Green Travel to Bonaire
Sustainable Eco-Tourism in Bonaire
The government of Bonaire follows the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals when planning it’s Sustainable Tourism and Conservation programs. Bonaire is recognized by the non-profit organization Green Destinations as a ‘Silver level – Quality Coast’ award winning island and is one of only three Caribbean islands to make their top 100 list of ‘Sustainable Destinations’ in 2017.
Bonaire’s impressive list of environmental conservation efforts include:
- Starting in 2012, Bonaire collaborates with the Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF) to conserve it’s reefs and preserve the reef’s genetic diversity via a coral nursery and reef restoration projects
- Bonaire protects it’s five main wetlands via the Ramsar Convention (An international framework)
- Founded in 1962, STINAPA is a National Park management groups that protects nature in Bonaire National Marine and Washington Slagbaai National Parks. They launched a Queen Conch Restoration Project for Lac Bay in 2010.
- Echo Bonaire (Parrots and People) is a non-governmental conservation organization whose goal is to ensure a stable and growing population of the Yellow-shouldered Amazon Parrot on the island. You can visit the Echo’s Dos Pos Conservation Centre, located at the north end of the island just below Washington-Slagbaai National Park. Public tours are available (Wednesday afternoons), where you’ll see parrots and a Guide will provide an educational walk around Bonaire’s dry forest for about an hour.
- Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) is a non-governmental research and conservation organization that has been protecting sea turtles since 1991
Tour Operators on the island exemplifying Sustainable Eco-Tourism include:
- Organize a quarterly ‘Underwater Clean Up Dive’ as well as a weekly east coast shoreline clean up (Debris Free Bonaire program)
- Is an 100% AWARE (global ocean protection/conservation organization) partner, a REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation) Survey Station and a sponsor of the Sea First Foundation
- Offers a Dive Against Debris specialty course and promotes sunscreen awareness (oxybenzone negatively impacts coral)
- Have bottle recycling bins and battery disposal containers
VIP Diving has received a PADI Green Star Award for supporting local initiatives for nature conservation and sustainability (see below).
- Have their own solar panels (no batteries, which are a disposal problem) that power most of their facility, which also uses LED lighting
- Is an 100% AWARE (global ocean protection/conservation organization) partner
- Conserves and reuses water where possible (water from rinsing tanks for regulators / cameras is re-used to rinse other equipment before being used to water their garden)
- Supports the work of the local NGO ‘Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire’, with a number of initiatives
- Supports the training of the STINAPA Junior Rangers, who learn how to protect Bonaire’s valuable natural resources
- Participates in waste separation (separate bins for paper, glass, plastic and crushed cans, as well as batteries) where possible and use reusable batteries in their shop
- Provide guests with reusable VIP-water bottles and promote sunscreen awareness (oxybenzone negatively impacts coral)
AB Dive offers “sustainable” drive-through tank refill service and dive tank rentals, operating entirely on solar power
In terms of Accommodations, Bonaire offers the following “environmentally friendly” options:
Plaza Beach & Dive Resort Bonaire
- Have installed over 5000 solar panels and are working towards energy self-sufficiency
- Use LED lighting and are deploying energy saving air conditioning and water heater units
- Use sustainable water savers on taps and toilets to reduce water consumption, they reuse their treated wastewater to irrigate their gardens
- Re-use & recycle as much as possible (eco-friendly drinking cups; food waste feeds local farm animals) and they separate their waste
- Has been constructed with new environmentally friendly construction technologies such as ‘screw piles’ instead of concrete and exterior cladding made from recycled plastic, not wood. A modern septic system utilizes a bio-filter to purify wastewater (to 98%) without the use of any chemicals. All taps and showers are equipped with an Eco friendly system that reduces water consumption and all toilets are water saving and rim free (resulting in less chloride and other cleaning detergents).
- The resort also utilizes power from WEB, a local solar park
- Have covered their roofs with high yield, state of the art solar panels
- Choose products (detergents and Plastic) that is most respectful of our environment, our nature, our planet
- Uses solar water heaters, energy-efficient equipment (pool pumps, lights, refrigerators, etc), has a low chlorine swimming pool
- Harvests rainwater they have a ‘water reuse drip’ system
- Uses environmentally friendly cleaning products and they separate their waste
- Aims to use 100% renewable energy in the future.
- Their founder, was instrumental in the creation of Bonaire’s permanent mooring system and eventually to the Bonaire National Marine Park. For his efforts in marine environment conservation Captain Don has received many awards and recognition all over the world
- Was the first resort on the island to install a state of the art waste water treatment system, removing harmful nutrients that would negatively impact Bonaire’s reefs. The treated water is used to irrigate their (fertilizer free) gardens.
- Preserve half of their property for nature
- Plant a local plant or tree for every new guest
- Uses solar energy and they recycle as much as possible
Sustainable Energy Production in Bonaire
The government of Bonaire, through their Water and Energy Company of Bonaire (WEB) recognize their social and environmental responsibilities and are moving towards a sustainable lifestyle for the residents of the island. Bonaire is striving to become a Carbon Neutral island, monitoring and minimizing their gas emissions (GHG), while offsetting their remaining emissions through renewable energy, energy efficiency and or reforestation projects.
Bonaire is working towards a 100% sustainable energy supply, based on a 40% – 60% split of wind power (supported by battery storage), along with biodiesel power. Bonaire has a near constant easterly trade wind providing a consistent 15 mph breeze, making it ideal for harnessing the wind. The island’s largest wind farm, located at Morotin near the north-east coast, has been in production since 2010 – Now with 12 wind turbines, each producing 900 KW. On the south-east coast at Sorobon there’s another wind turbine producing 330KW. These wind turbines are currently providing approximately 40% of Bonaire’s 12 megawatts power requirement.
In order to become 100% sustainable, Bonaire will need to transition away from using diesel fuel in their generators. The near term plan is to utilize existing algae growth from the southern part of the island’s salt flats as bio-fuel. Activities are underway to make this a reality.
While most of Bonaire’s sustainable energy focus has been on wind, solar energy is also being explored. In 2015 a pilot project at Barcadera (Aruba) was established to provides power to over 50 homes – This development is being studied for viability of larger implementations. As of 2017, three companies have successfully partnered with WEB to utilize rooftop solar panels contributing to Bonaire’s electrical grid. In addition, discussions are also underway for developing localized “solar gardens” that could be used as centralized sources of solar energy for small communities.
Back to Sustainability in the Caribbean
Back to Bonaire Vacations
Back to the Active Caribbean Travel Home page
