Partners in nature conservation

Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA)

The unique natural world on the tiny islands of the Dutch Caribbean demands that we stand together to safeguard biodiversity. That’s the idea at the heart of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance. On the six islands of the Dutch Caribbean, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten, dedicated conservationists from many organisations are working hard to safeguard varied wildlife and habitats, both on the land and at sea. By creating a united voice and sharing resources, skills and experience, DCNA can strengthen individual conservation campaigns.

This is the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance, a new non-profit organisation created to protect the natural environment and to promote sustainable management of natural resources on the six Dutch Caribbean islands.

Through their website, DCNA will seek to record the efforts to realise these objectives through an innovative programme of fundraising outreach, education and research. But more than that, DCNA aims to provide a valuable online source of information and inspiration to colleagues, friends and supporters around the world who, like DCNA, are united in their dedication to protecting our planet’s wealth of natural wonders. [visit DCNA's website]

National Committee for IUCN (NC-IUCN)

IUCN, the world conservation union is a respected and high-profile organisation with a research and lobbying presence that extends across the globe. Their Netherlands committee has been critical to the success of DCNA’s fundraising efforts in the Netherlands by agreeing to act as an intermediary between DCNA and the Dutch National Postcode Lottery. They have taken the initiative to lobby on DCNA’s behalf, which is to result in a multi-year grant of Euro 1 million/year. IUCN NL considers the creation of this Dutch Caribbean conservation initiative critical to sustainable nature conservation in the region. [visit IUCN's website]

Ministry of the Interior (BZK), Netherlands

The high point of DCNA's first year of existence occurred just before Christmas 2005 but was not announced until February 23, 2006 when the Ministry of the Interior (BZK) approved a € 11 million grant to DCNA, to be paid in stages of around € 1 million a year for the next 10 years. This financial stamp of approval by the Dutch government, greatly facilitated by intensive lobbying from the Netherlands National Committee of the World Conservation Union (IUCN NL), is highly significant on several different levels. It will provide the ‘seed’ funding for the DCNA Trust Fund, the pot of capital that will one day generate enough interest to cover the annual running costs of one marine park and one land park on each of the Dutch Caribbean islands. Plus it marks the beginning of a relationship of respect and support between the people of the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean. This is something that will undoubtedly prove beyond price in the challenging years to come. [visit the BZK website]

Stichting DOEN / Dutch Postcode Lottery

By funding various initiatives, Stichting DOEN helps to create a livable world in which everyone can take part. With finances from the Postcode Lottery, Stichting DOEN supports organizations in the field of sustainable development. The main point in this support is that the funded organizations and projects confront people with their environment.

The Dutch Postcode Lottery has been an unstinting supporter of DCNA and STENAPA. Generous start-up grants supported initial operational, communications and lobbying work in the Dutch Caribbean and the Netherlands, and provided much needed financial support for the individual parks on the Dutch Caribbean islands. [visit Stichting DOEN's website]

Restore the Earth

Restore the Earth wants to gather as many supporters as possible - both organisations and individuals. They want to attract people who are already involved in restoration projects, as well as people and organisations who have related interests in the environment. So if you support the vision, please sign up and join!

The aim is to increase the amount of ecological restoration taking place worldwide and to put the concept of 'restoration' at the heart of the effort to renew the world's environment. The work to combat climate change and address shortages of resources such as water is also essentially 'restoration'. It's all about restoring damaged ecosystems and bringing them back to their natural cycle. But the specific demand of this campaign is to give a higher profile to physical restoration of the environment.

[visit the Restore the Earth website]