BioNews is a monthly newsletter by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), focusing on the biodiversity research and monitoring in the Dutch Caribbean. BioNews presents you with an overview of the on-going research and monitoring efforts and provides a regular update on what’s currently happening on our islands.

Our breaking news story is about new species discoveries by IMARES researchers led by Dr Lisa Becking and Dr Erik Meesters on an Curasub expedition in 2013. Sadly they also recorded signs of nutrient enrichment, garbage as well as invasive lionfish.

September’s issue focuses attention on the value of nature in the Caribbean Netherlands. Efforts to establish the total economic value of nature on our islands have been underway for some years and TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity) studies have been completed by Esther Wolfs and her team for Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius with more to follow. The results are fascinating and the final conclusion is that, as far as nature conservation goes, … “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” !

Our focus on economic valuations was prompted by a three day ICRI Environmental Economics Workshop held on Bonaire in mid September at which Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten were represented.

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