ORANJESTAD (AAN) – The Aruba Conservation Foundation (ACF) has been working closely with the Blue Marine Foundation, a UK-based organization dedicated to marine ecosystem restoration and sustainable fishing practices, since 2018. This collaboration is part of an international effort to meet the global goal of conserving biodiversity by 2030.
The Blue Marine Foundation, which operates in 29 countries, focuses on marine protection and works only at the invitation of individual countries. In partnership with ACF, they are assisting Aruba’s Directie Natuur en Milieu (DNM) in achieving the 2030 goal set by the Convention on Biological Diversity. The agreement requires each country to allocate at least 30 percent of their land and water areas as protected natural zones.
Sietske van der Wal of ACF emphasized in a recent interview that it is vital to protect 30 percent of the world’s land and water by 2030 to safeguard biodiversity. She highlighted that Aruba is currently protecting nearly 25 percent of its natural areas, with less than 6 percent still needed to reach the target. DNM, alongside the Department of Infrastructure, is working on assigning the remaining areas for protection.
However, the task remains challenging as almost 30 percent is still unprotected. Van der Wal remains optimistic, noting that Aruba is making progress toward this target with the help of the Blue Marine Foundation and ACF, who manage Aruba’s protected areas. This effort aims to ensure the long-term health of Aruba’s ecosystems and biodiversity.
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