Forests on the semi-arid ABC islands (7) – Local forests under the magnifying glass

Biologically, a distinction is made between different types of vegetation on our islands, and therefore different types of forests. The distinction is closely related to the geological composition of the soil on our small islands.

Wild flowers – Beyisima

One of the most conspicuous flowers you can find almost all over the place on all three islands of Aruba Bonaire and Curaçao is of the invasive plant called Beyisima, Beyísima or Coralita (Antigonon leptopus).

Stewardship vs. Conservation

It happens that someone uses one specific word in a speech which inspires you to write about, and elaborate on that topic. This time it is the word stewardship. In a world where there exists a deafening cry for nature conservation it is important to reflect on what certain terminology actually implies.

Forests on the semi-arid ABC islands (6) – Microclimates on a tree

One tree can have a variety of microclimates suitable to a wide array of species of animals, other plants, fungi, lichen and more.

Help make the seabird breeding season on Curaçao a success!

April, May, June, July and part of August are the months that mark the breeding season of seabirds on Curacao. In April, the breeding rituals and nesting begin, a crucial period that we point out every year. And where you too can make a major contribution to making this a successful breeding season. Read on and help!

Forests on the semi-arid ABC islands (5) – Undergrowth and Canopy

Forests have layers, called the undergrowth, middle layer and canopy. Even with the semi-arid environment of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao the mondi also has layers, only not as impressive and pronounced.

Shrubs and trunks full of shells

Anyone who walks in the mondi of Jan Thiel on Curaçao during the dry season, and other locations as well, can regularly come across a strange phenomenon; trees, grasses and shrubs that are completely covered with the white Kokolishi di kalakuna (Cerion uva).

Forests on the semi-arid ABC islands (4) – ‘Sexy’ forest: the Amazon

There is no tropical rainforest in the world as famous as the Amazon rainforest, an area of approximately 7 million square kilometres where more than half of all the rainforest in the world is located. This tropical jungle is spread over nine different countries.

Forests on the semi-arid ABC islands (3) – Forests and climate

Forests worldwide have more than just the function of a habitat (place to live) for plants and animals. The large numbers of trees and other plants in forests together provide a large part of the oxygen that humans and other animals so desperately need to survive.

Forests on the semi-arid ABC islands (2) – Wet forests

The most striking ‘wet’ forests in the world, but still somewhat the ‘underdogs’ of the forests as a whole, are the mangrove forests, the only forests that can grow and flourish in and near salt water.
Mangrove forests were the neglected child, forgotten by many despite major information campaigns by nature organisations over the years.

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