State of Nature in the Dutch Caribbean: Saba and the Saba Bank

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State of Nature in the Dutch Caribbean: Saba and the Saba Bank State of Nature in the Dutch Caribbean: Saba and the Saba Bank Open sea and deep sea (EEZ) Figure 1: Habitats of Saba (Verweij & Mücher, 2018) Wageningen Research recently published fields underwater, Saba is rich with a variety an alarming report on the state of nature of different habitats. Unfortunately, the for the three Dutch Caribbean islands recent Wageningen Research report shows (Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius), com- that many of these areas, both above missioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, and below water, are showing signs of Nature and Food Quality. All 33 experts degradation. that worked on this report concluded that the “Conservation status 1 of the Governments are beginning to understand biodiversity in the Caribbean Netherlands that managing nature goes beyond just is assessed as moderately unfavorable to protecting natural assets, but can also very unfavorable”. help promote positive economic growth (Ministry of Economic Affairs, 2013). Saba and St. Eustatius are two special mu- Protecting the environment means pro- nicipalities which make up the Caribbean tecting the services they provide such as Netherlands leeward islands. Saba con- natural coastal protection and recreational sists of the main island, Saba, and a large use for locals and tourists (de Knegt, 2014). submerged carbonate platform, the Saba TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and Bank. The Saba Bank is the largest national Biodiversity) recently valued the annual park in the Kingdom of the Netherlands total economic value of nature on Saba at (Saba Bank: 268.000 hectares; Wadden 28.4 million USD (Cado van der Lely et al., Sea 240.000 hectares), and has some of the 2014). It was also found that nature-orient- Cloud forest Rainforest richest biodiversity within the Caribbean ed tourism made up 27% of this value (van Dry tropical forests Sea (Sabapark.org). From the cloud and de Kerkhof et al., 2014). This clearly shows Severely degraded rain forests on top of Mount Scenery vol- the importance of properly protecting and dry tropical forests Relative habitat surface (excluding open sea and deep sea & Saba Bank) cano to the rich coral reefs and seaweed managing natural environmental resources. Caves Beaches Seagrass and seaweed fields * seaweed fields Saba Bank** Coral Reefs Coral Reefs Saba Bank ** * Seagrass has a surface of 20 hectares. Seaweed and algae fields 1. The Conservation Status is used in the European Union for reporting on the status of species and Open sea and deep sea have a surface of 570 hectares. habitats protected under the European Habitat Directive (see http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ Bare rock nature/legislation/habitatsdirective/index_en.htm). ** The Coral Reefs and Seaweed fields Buildings and agriculture on the Saba Bank are estimated figures. BioNews BioNews 24 Subscribe to BioNews Other BioNews issues Tropical cloud, tropical states against historical data, it can be seen that very little beach vegetation to stabilize sediment Coral Reefs rainforest and dry tropical forest these areas have been negatively affected due to as it is washed ashore (De Freitas et al., 2016). Due Over the last 25-40 years coral reefs around the Saba is 1 of the 2 Dutch Caribbean islands which changes in the island’s land use. Agriculture and to the steep bathymetry and high wave action world have seen downward trends, with one study has tropical cloud, rain and dry forests. Starting livestock grazing have degraded the dry forest to around Saba, very little sand is available in shallow indicating that groundcover of coral has fallen by at sea level, its typical to find tropical dry, rain mostly grasses and shrubbery. Invasive species of waters. It is for these reasons that beaches are not over 50% in the Caribbean over the past 40 years and then cloud forests as height increases. Since insects have wiped out almost all local white cedar very common on Saba. The conservation status of (Bak et al. 2005a, de Bakker et al. 2016, de Bakker Saba has been mostly isolated, this has allowed and Opuntia cacti population along the coast. For beaches has been evaluated as “very unfavorable”. et al. 2017). The Saba Bank hosts over 255 km2 of the vegetation and fauna of these forests to be these reasons, the conservation status of the dry coral reef, whereas Saba has around 8 km2 (van quite unique (De Freitas et al., 2012, 2016). Using forests has been evaluated as “very unfavorable”. Seagrass and Seaweed Fields der Land 1977, Bak 1977). There are differences a classification system set up by the World Wildlife Seagrass and seaweed fields play an important between these two areas, the Saba Bank hosts a Fund (WWF) Neotropical Ecoregion, the status of It is recommended that measures be taken to role in the environment as they provide food, traditional coral reef, where coral skeletons pro- the tropical cloud and rain forest of Saba has been minimize overgrazing by stray livestock. In addi- shelter and nurseries for many different reef spe- vide the support structure as the coral colonizes labeled “critical/threatened” while the tropical tion, protection of native species can only be done cies (Chaves et al., 2013). In addition to this, sea- and grows, whereas around Saba corals grow on dry forest has been classified as “vulnerable” through the careful managing of invasive species. grass can capture CO2, improve water quality and solidified lava rock. (WWF, 2017). Finally, it is recommended that research should be mitigate erosion by stabilizing sediment. Saba has done to establish breeding methods of local plant some small seagrass and seaweed fields, measur- Saba has also experienced a downward trend for Saba hosts 71 hectares of rainforest and 6 hec- species to aid in reforestation efforts. ing 20 and 22 hectares respectively. The Saba its coral coverage, which has been documented tares of cloud forest. Unfortunately, historical Bank does not have any known seagrass fields over the last 25 years. Due to limited data col- values of these areas are unknown, which makes Caves but it does have a very large seaweed field, recent lected within the Saba Bank prior to 2010, trends determining shifts in habitat coverage, area and Caves provide important habitat for many differ- estimates put it at >25.500 hectares. The seaweed for historical data are limited with consistent data distribution very difficult. However, by comparing ent types of bats and other animals. Since Saba fields of the Saba Bank are considered to be the only available for the last decade. Since 2010, current maps with vegetation maps from 60 years has a volcanic origin, there are not as many caves most diverse area for seaweeds in the Caribbean. regular trips have been taken to study the status at ago, researchers have highlighted some of these here as on other Dutch Caribbean islands. The sul- The surface area of the seaweed fields of the Saba 10 unique locations. Overall, there has been a de- differences. Hurricanes and tropical storms can phur mine serves as a type of cave system, along Bank do not appear to be shrinking over time, cline in coral coverage, especially after Hurricane have devasting affects on the local cloud and rain with natural caves which form along the steep however, they are threatened by degraded water Lenny in 1999 and two bleaching events in 1998 forests, however, if given enough time to recover, cliff edges of Hell’s Gate. Caves on the island can quality due to climate change and pollution. and 2005. These results are particularly interesting most of these forests’ “return” to their earlier state be threatened by urbanization and disruption by due to the remoteness of the Saba Bank, as it can (Freitas et al. 2016). In 2017, hurricanes hit Saba, visitors, along with water quality issues if sewage Since 2011, large patches of floating seaweed, be assumed this area is minimally affected by levying damage both on land and underwater. is untreated and drained near the caves. This can Sargassum (S. fluitans and S. natans), has been landpollution, yet still shows similar downward Unfortunately, damage done by hurricanes cou- have negative impacts on the various species of a Caribbean wide problem. This seaweed floats trends as the other Caribbean islands. pled with grazing by free roaming feral livestock animals living in and around these caves. For these into shallow waters or onto shore where it limited the recovery of these areas. For these rea- reasons, the conservation status of caves has been decomposes, creating a thick mat along the Changes in sea water temperature, water quality, sons, the conservation status of the cloud and rain evaluated as “moderately unfavorable”. sandy bottom. This mat can cause damage to the increase in algae and overfishing of herbivore graz- forest have been evaluated as “very unfavorable”. local seaweed and seagrass fields. This is an issue ers has led to an overall decrease in coral coverage Beaches that is continuing to get worse and will need to be throughout the entire Caribbean. It is recom- Dry tropical forests account for 972 hectares of Beaches around the Caribbean are under severe carefully monitored in the future. The assessment mended that measures are taken to maintain a land on Saba, all of which show signs of degrada- pressure due to urbanization, tourism, climate for the state of seaweed has been evaluated coral coverage of at least 30% , a value derived off tion and a 40% of this area even shows signs of change (rising sea levels), invasive species, pol- as “moderately unfavorable”. historical averages. The conservation status of heavy degradation. Although long-term monitor- lution and illegal mining of sand. Saba has very coral has been evaluated as “very unfavorable”. ing data are lacking, when comparing current limited permanent beach areas and therefore, State of Nature in the Dutch Caribbean: Saba and the Saba Bank Would you like to share a news item? Please e-mail us: [email protected] BioNews BioNews 24 Subscribe to BioNews Other BioNews issues Open Sea and Deep Sea marine mammals.
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