Forests on the semi-arid ABC islands (12) – Forests, natural areas in danger (A)

Forests worldwide are under threat. This includes forests on our islands. Television and newspapers regularly report that forests are being cut down, burned, bulldozed, plundered, and so on. Terms like biodiversity, habitat destruction, impoverishment, and erosion are all used to illustrate the threats to forests. But what exactly does all this mean? What actually happens when a piece of forest is removed while many others remain? And what about this process on our islands?

Bird watching on Curaçao in August

The month of July is usually reasonably hot, a little windy and dry. However sometimes some rain showers in early July, accompanying tropical depressions extend into the month of August providing food and also water to birds. The first migratory birds will also start to arrive. Not in the large quantities that can be seen in September and October, but just enough to illustrate that the exciting months are on their way.

Wild flowers: Hilu di diabel

The Hilu di Diabel is very easy to recognize. If you see a bush along the side of the road that is covered with long orange-yellow tentacle-like threads, then you have located a specimen of Dodder

Nature in August – Cicada Concerts

In various locations on Curaçao, Bonaire and Aruba, it’s happening again: those incredibly loud chirping sounds emanating from the mondi, growing to deafening proportions. The cicadas have awakened.

Invasives: Giant African snail

Giant African snails are invasive species that have been introduced and established on the islands of Bonaire and Curaçao.

Natural introductions: Southern lapwing

The Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) was a bird species that only occasionally visited the islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao and was known as an infrequent visitor from South America. Now it is a breeding bird.

Forests on the semi-arid ABC islands (11) – Cacti; special trees

The most picturesque plant on our islands is simply the cactus, and especially the columnar cactus. On the islands there are three different native columnar cacti that each have their own name on each of the islands. Learn how to differentiate between them.

Wild flowers – Bourreria succulenta

A tree that will lose its leaves when the drought keep going on, but is also often the last one to drop all its leaves when it gets to dry.

Tiny critters: Six-spotted zigzag ladybird

The Six-spotted zigzag ladybird is a species native to Asia and Australia but now widespread across the world, including the Caribbean.

Forests on the semi-arid ABC islands (10) – Trees in our local history

Our history is full of trees. Used as building materials, as a food supply for humans and livestock, to tan leather of to make quicklime, the stories are ample.

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