August 20th, 2007: STINAPA: Protection of nature and economic growth can co-exist
Kralendijk. The economy of Bonaire depends on tourism, and our tourism depends in turn on nature. That is the result of a survey that was conducted among 245 Bonairean households by the “Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek” (CBS or Statistics Bureau) at the request of STINAPA Bonaire. It was for the first time that such a large survey was undertaken to study the thoughts of Bonaireans on nature and the environment. The survey was a part of the information campaign NOS TA BIBA DI NATURALESA. It will be repeated in the future to measure the effects of the campaign.
The initial results showed that almost all households in Bonaire think that nature and environment are important. Also most people are of the opinion that it is necessary that measures are taken to protect nature and the environment. A large majority furthermore agrees with the statement that economy of Bonaire depends on tourism. The same amount of people believe that our tourism in turn depends on nature. Almost two-thirds of the interviewees think that tourism is important for his or her income. From these results it seems clear that the slogan for the info-campaign “NOS TA BIBA DI NATURALESA” was well chosen.
Nature protection and economic growth can co-exist on Bonaire
slightly more than half do not agree with the statement that economic growth is more important than nature and the environment. Only one-fifth agrees.
A vast majority talks sometimes or often about nature and environment while a small portion talks about nature every day and one-fifth never. More than one-third of the house-holds interviewed are worried about nature and the environment. The care for nature and environment is everybody’s business, according to two-thirds of the people. The willingness to take action is big. Almost everyone wants to participate personally to protect nature and the environment.Information regarding nature and environment which is given by the nature- and environmental organizations is considered truthful by two-thirds of the households that were interviewed. Information given by the government is only considered reliable by one-third of the same group. Slightly over a quarter of people know that the government has a nature plan. Almost three-quarters do not know. The environmental policy plan is virtually unknown. The knowledge about the nature and environmental policy is not large.
The survey was conducted last year. STINAPA concludes from these results that nature and the environment have large support on the island, but that it is important that there is more transfer of knowledge and information regarding measurements to comply with the policy. For the implementation of these measures the cooperation of all people and organizations is necessary. With the NOS TA BIBA DI NATURALESA-campaign, that started in January, this nature organization, together with other social organizations, companies and the government will continue to inform the people of Bonaire.