Climate change effects on the biodiversity of the BES islands : assessment of the possible consequences for the marine and terrestrial ecosystems of the Dutch Antilles and the options for adaptation measures
2010
Debrot, A.O. | Bugter, R.J.F.
Due to their vulnerability and low capacity to adapt, the impact of climate change on small island nations will be far larger compared to larger countries. The Dutch BES islands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba) form part of the Caribbean global biodiversity hotspot area. The leeward Dutch islands alone possess some 200 endemic species and subspecies and the three islands count over 120 species that are on the CITES appendices. Since the economy of the Dutch Antilles depends for a large part on tourism and tourism on its turn for a large part on the natural capital of the islands, impacts of climate change on biodiversity will therefore also have important economical consequences. In this report we review and assess possible consequences of climate change for the biodiversity of the BES islands and present various options for adaptation. It is quite clear that climate change not only poses a severe threat to the ecosystems of the islands, but also to the totality of benefits and services the inhabitants of these islands derive from those ecosystems.
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