BEST III - Working document Remark: This document gathers information from the list of references previously validated for the island. It is a working document that will be implemented following your comments and corrections. It will be used as a guide during the consultation process that will involve local governments, institutions and organizations. The objectives are to identify and map Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in order to define conservation outcomes. KBAs are defined at 3 ecological levels: (1) species, including: globally threatened species, restricted-range species, and species gathering in important number during their life cycle; (2) sites: habitats that are home to the species previously identified; habitats and ecosystems that play important ecological processes and contribute to the persistence of biodiversity ; (3) ecological corridors: inter-connected landscapes of sites. Regarding the information and references cited hereafter, a list of "potential KBAs" is proposed in App.2. This is a work in progress that will be validated through the consultation of local actors. Ecosystem profile draft - Curaçao Terrestrial and Underwater Parks & (planned) Protected Areas (no fishing zones) 1 BEST III - Working document 1. Policy and Socioeconomic context 1.1. Geography, climate and political status Curaçao (12°2'80''N, 69°10'00"W) lies off the north-west coast of Venezuela, located between Aruba (76 km) and Bonaire (41 km). Curaçao, together with the islands of Aruba and Bonaire form the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and are often referred to as the “ABC islands”, Curaçao is the largest of the 3 ABC islands (444 km2) and is 59 km long and between 4 and 11km wide. Mount Christoffel, is the highest hill on the island at 378 m. The ABC islands are separated from South American mainland by a deep water trench. Based on the mean annual rainfall (573 mm), the climate on the island qualifies as semi-arid. Annual variations in temperature are small and average around 28°C. Precipitation levels differ throughout the year and in the period between October and January rainfall is higher than all other months and therefore referred to as the wet season (Meteorological Services of the Netherland Antilles and Aruba 2008). As of October 10th 2010, Curaçao became an independent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands similar to St Maarten and Aruba. This island is an European Oversea Territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. 1.2. Demographic Trends and Socio-economic context - Area: 444 km² - EEZ: 30,398 km², total EEZ of the ABC Islands: 68,873 km² - Population: 150,563 inhab., density: 339 inhab./km² (2011) - GDP (US$/ inhab.): 18,360 (2012) Curaçao's economy is mainly based on tourism (18.5% GDP in 2009; Strategic Tourism Master Plan for the Island of Curaçao 2010 – 2014) and associated services, oil trans-shipment, offshore banking and services. The oil refinery represents more than 90% of all exports (data: Central Bureau Statistics). With about 150,000 inhabitants, Curaçao has the largest population of the Leeward Islands. Most of the population is centered around Willemstad, the capital city, which surrounds the Schottegat inland bay. About 200 cruise ships and 240,000 tourists visit annually of which 104,497 people visited the Terrestrial Parks in 2013. 1.3 Protected and/or managed areas (References: DCNA 2012a; Dilrosun et al. 2012, http://www.ramsar.org/news/netherlands-names-four- new-caribbean-ramsar-sites) Christoffel Park (created in 1978 over 2,300 ha) has the highest diversity of flora and fauna on the the ABC islands that are otherwise rare on and endemic to the island. Rare species include a population of about 250 individuals of the White-tailed deer, an endemic sub species. The Christoffel Park also harbors vegetation types that are only found in the Christoffel Park. See also: Northwest Curaçao. SheteBoka Park (created in 1994 over 470 ha) is located on the island's rocky north coast and has been designated to protect the pocket beaches (“bokas”) in this area that constitute important sea turtle nesting sites. See also: Northwest Curaçao. Curaçao Underwater Park (1983, 600 ha of marine area and 436 ha of inland bay habitats) is located in the southeastern part of the island (from high-water to 60m deep) and extends 21 km from the eastern outskirts of Willemstad. It covers 12 km of coastline (undeveloped and uninhabited, Bruckner 2003) harboring pristine fringing coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves and a high diversity of fish species (c. 350 fishes). One of the main issues is the low level of enforcement in the MPA, mainly due lack of Government funding. 2 BEST III - Working document - 4 managed RAMSAR sites: These RAMSAR sites are managed and considered as protected areas (enforcement of regulations). Management plans are about to be implemented for all the RAMSAR sites (Mark Vermeij, pers. com. 2015). Malpais/SintMichiel (RAMSAR area, 05/02/2013; Curaçao; 1,100 ha; 12°10'N 069°00'W. Important Bird Area). Malpais is a former plantation just to the north of SintMichiel. There are two freshwater lakes and a hyper-saline lagoon connected to a bay in which coral reefs are found. The bay is surrounded by dry deciduous vegetation and a well-developed woodland vegetation. The area provides refugee for many birds, such as the IUCN Red Listed Caribbean coot (Fulica caribaea). The lagoon also supports a significant fraction of the global population of the Common tern (Sterna hirundo) and is part of a regional network of foraging sites for the Caribbean flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), protected under the Convention of Migratory Species. Freshwater habitat is scarce in Curaçao and therefore of great ecological, social and economic value. The dam of Malpais is located downstream of a local watershed. Freshwater infiltrates into the soil, recharging groundwater reservoirs which allow woodlands to grow in the area. When freshwater is present, the area harbors also Anatidae spp. that are protected under the Convention of Migratory Species. One of the current threats that may affect the ecological character of the site is the landfill situated c. 2 km away. Ramsar Site no. 2117. Most recent RIS information: 2013. Muizenberg (RAMSAR area 05/02/2013; Curaçao; 65 ha; 12°09'29"N 068°55'07"W. Important Bird Area; Natural Park). Muizenberg comprises an intermittent shallow lake created by the damming of a stream that drains the surrounding low hills. Periodically inundated grassland and woodland surround the wetland. A separate small pond, in ‘Kaya Fortuna’, is situated 200 m to the west. The Muizenberg area is internationally significant for its population of the Caribbean coot (Fulica caribaea), near- threatened under the IUCN Red List, and the Caribbean flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) protected under the Convention of Migratory Species, but it also supports many other waterbirds, both residents and migrants that are internationally important such as Anatidae spp. that are protected under the Convention of Migratory Species. The Muizenberg dam was built by Shell Curaçao in 1915 to collect freshwater for industrial cooling. With a capacity of 650,000 m3, it is the largest freshwater reservoir on the island. The area was designated as a (EilandelijkOntwikkelingsplan(EOP) 1996) for the improvement of urban living conditions of the nearby population and is mainly used by hikers for recreational purposes. Illegal dumping of garbage, pollution, drainage of surrounding wetlands, and recreational disturbance are regarded as the main potential threats. A general environmental education program is being implemented. Ramsar Site no. 2118. Most recent RIS information: 2013. Northwest Curaçao (RAMSAR area 05/02/2013; Curaçao; 2,441 ha; 12°21'11"N 069°05'00"W. Important Bird Area, Conservation Areas in the EOP 1996). The area comprises a great variety of ecosystems such as coral reefs, coastal lagoons with sea grass beds and mangroves, coastal limestone terraces, inland hills supporting evergreen woodland, freshwater dams, natural springs and dry deciduous shrublands. The Ramsar site includes parts of SheteBoka and Christoffel National Parks (‘Conservation areas’ in the EOP 1996). The wetland covers approximately 20 km of the rocky, wave-exposed north coast of Curaçao, including 10 pocket beaches (“bokas”) and at least 3 inland bays that are used as nesting and foraging sites for threatened sea turtle species as Dermochelys coriacea and Eretmochely imbricata. There is also a breeding colony of more than 500 individuals of Least Tern. Moreover, the northwestern coast of Curaçao locally harbors fringing coral reefs, characterized by more than 80% coral cover and the presence of such critically endangered coral species as Acropora palmata and Acropora cervicornis as well as endangered fish species like Epinephelus itajara. Some of the caves in the area are important as nesting and roosting sites for rare and endemic bat species and Indian drawings can be found estimated to be more than 5,000 years old. Numerous manmade dams in the area retain freshwater for several months after the wet season has passed. Subterraneous groundwater reservoirs in turn sustain local vegetation types year-round which are used by several bird species, pollinating bats and mammals to survive Curaçao's dry season. Ramsar Site no. 2119. Most Recent RIS information: 2013. 3 BEST III - Working document Rif-Sint Marie (RAMSAR area 05/02/2013.Curaçao; 667 ha; 12°12'16"N 069°03'16"W. Conservation Area, Important Bird Area). The area of Rif-Sint Marie is relatively undisturbed and undeveloped and comprises a salt mash surrounded by mud flats, shrub land, and woodlands (including relatively undisturbed limestone woodland vegetation). The marsh is a strategic feeding habitat for flamingos and several waterbirds. The coral reef of Rif-Sint Marie is well developed and shelters several threatened coral species such as Acropora palmata and Acropora cervicornis, as well as endangered turtle species as Dermochelys coriacea and Eretmochely imbricata and threatened fishes like the Goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara.