PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Nature Foundation Manager Tadzio Bervoets will be leaving the Foundation to head the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance as of October 1st. The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), based in Bonaire, is a regional partnership of conservation organizations including the national parks on the six islands of the Dutch Caribbean (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten) and is intended to support and strengthen nature on the islands.
“After almost ten years working at the Nature Foundation, where I have been honored to be a part of the conservation movement on Sint Maarten, my expertise is now required to support not only St. Maarten but also the conservation activities on all six islands of the Dutch Caribbean. The purpose of DCNA is to protect the extensive biological resources and promote sustainable development of the natural resources of these islands, both on land and at sea.
“My work on Sint Maarten has been challenging, but I am proud to have played a role in the establishment of the Marine Park, to establish Mullet Pond in the Simpson Bay Lagoon as a protected area, and to have been involved in conservation activities focused on nature education, protection of sea turtles, sharks, marine mammals and other species and areas. It was a complete pleasure to work at such an incredible organization. Now I look forward to work with the Board, Partners and Secretariat of DCNA to support conservation activities in the wider Dutch Caribbean. I also look forward to the community of Sint Maarten continuing to support the work of the Nature Foundation and its new Interim Manager Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern, “Commented Bervoets.
Hellen van der Wal, Chairlady of the Board of DCNA, stated that after almost a decade of exemplary service as Managing Director at the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten, Bervoets has accepted a new challenge to become Interim Executive Director at the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance as of October 2019; “Supported by island park management authorities and DCNA Board members, Tadzio shall lead efforts to build ties not only within the Dutch Caribbean, but regionally and nationally, developing strong working relationships with the Dutch Ministries and top tier conservation organizations such as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Bird Conservation Netherlands and the World Wildlife Fund.
“Tadzio will work alongside a voluntary DCNA Board and professional secretariat during his tenure, jointly building a unique mechanism of multi-island cooperation for park management support and nature conservation in the Caribbean.
The park management authorities and Board members of DCNA are grateful to Tadzio for accepting this challenge and we hope that his experience and expertise will continue to benefit the interests of nature conservation in the Dutch Caribbean,” continued van der Wal.
The structure and governance of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance are currently undergoing a much-needed modernization. This process is quite fundamental and designed to improve DCNA’s services to the six park management organizations in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. DCNA is keen to ensure its readiness to jointly address growing conservation and climate change challenges in the region and to intensify cooperation with various actors and partners in the European Netherlands, Caribbean and internationally.
The extensive biological resources are the basis of one of the main sources of income on the islands: nature tourism. DCNA not only focuses on the sustainable management of existing protected areas, but also to increase awareness and knowledge of the value of nature.
The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance is a non-governmental, not-for-profit foundation that is designed to assist the national park organizations of the islands of the Dutch Caribbean, i.e. the islands of Aruba (Parke Nacional Arikok), Bonaire (STINAPA Bonaire), Curaçao, Saba (Saba Conservation Foundation), St. Eustatius (STENAPA) and St. Maarten (St. Maarten Nature Foundation). The central office of the DCNA is on Bonaire.
DCNA’s mission statement is to “safeguard the biodiversity and promote the sustainable management of the natural resources of the islands of the Dutch Caribbean, both on land and in the water, for the benefit of present and future generations, by supporting and assisting the protected area management organizations and nature conservation activities in the Dutch Caribbean”.[1]
DCNA is funded by the Dutch National Postcode Lottery and Queen Beatrix is one of DCNA’s patrons.
Bervoets was already in Bonaire last week when Minister of Agriculture, Nanture and Food Quality Carola Shouten opened up the new DCNA Offices in Bonaire with Governor Edison Reina.
Photocaption: From left to Right DCNA Board Treasurer Norman Kuiperi; former Director of STINAPA Bonaire Arjen de Wolf; Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality Carola Shouten; Chairlady of DCNA Ms. Hellen van der Wal; DCNA Vice-Chair Mr. Binkie Van Es; Incumbent DCNA Interim Director Tadzio Bervoets; DCNA Board Member Paul Stokkermans; and former DCNA Director Kalli De Meyer.
