April 4th, 2010: CARE FOR NATURE AND ENVIRONMENT SHOULD CONCERN US ALL
Kralendijk. The majority of Bonaire's population is of the opinion that taking care of nature and the environment should be a matter of all of us. That is a result of a survey that was held by the ‘Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek' (CBS: Census Office). The survey was held at the request of STINAPA taken from 250 households on the island. It was the second time such a large survey was conducted about nature and environment. The first time was in 2006, a so-called ‘zero-measurement', to assess the situation right before the start of the ‘NOS TA BIBA DI NATURALESA' campaign. Another survey will be held in the future to measure the effects of the campaign.
More than two-thirds of Bonaire's households have heard of the campaign and felt a link with it and find nature and environment important. And they also find measures to protect nature and environment important.
A large majority agree with the statement that the economy of Bonaire depends on tourism. Just as many people are of the opinion that tourism is based on nature. Almost half of those questioned believe tourism is important for their income, just as they believe that the slogan ‘NOS TA BIBA DI NATURALESA' was well chosen.
A majority believes that the care for nature and environment is a question for all of us, a result that made everyone at STINAPA very happy. Almost half of all households worry about nature and environment. The willingness to act is very evident on Bonaire. Almost everyone is willing to personally contribute to nature and environmental protection.
Information supplied by nature and environmental organizations on the island regarding nature and environment is regarded as trustworthy by three-quarters of all households. General information supplied by the government only is trusted by one-third of the households. One-third know that the government has a Nature Management Plan. Almost two-thirds do not. The Environmental Management Plan of the government is virtually unknown. The knowledge about governmental management of nature and environment is widely known.
The survey was held last year. STINAPA concluded from all the previous results that nature and environment enjoy wide support on Bonaire, but that there is need for better and more knowledge transfer of the governmental policies. In order to implement the policies the cooperation of all people and organizations is necessary.
With the ‘NOS TA BIBA DI NATURALESA'-campaign, started in 2007, STINAPA together with all campaign sponsors, other civil organizations and the government will keep informing the Bonairian population.
