Curaçao & Sint Maarten - UNDP Trinidad and Tobago

Goal 7: Ensure environmental
sustainability
This Goal is not on track although critical for small islands and their inhabitants.
The Nature & Environment Policy plan Netherlands Antilles 2004-2007, issued by the
Environmental Department-Ministry of Public Health & Social Development, notes that
the state of nature and environment in the former Netherlands Antilles urges serious policy actions. It further notes
that the lack of a coherent policy for the prevention, reduction and recycling of waste in the past has led to a steady
growth of the volume of waste, whereas the small islands have very little space for waste disposal. Healthy coastal
waters and protection of the extremely sensitive coral reefs is of fundamental importance. A healthy environment and
a rich diversity of nature are required for the existence and well being of humankind and for economic development.
The management and conservation of nature and the environment was the responsibility of the central government
as set out in article 2, paragraph e.10 of the Islands Regulation Netherlands Antilles (ERNA, 1998): “Environmental
and nature management and conservation as they derive from treaties” and based on legislation (the yet to be
passed National Environment Ordinance, and National Nature Conservation Ordinance, passed in 1998).
The key environmental issues facing the islands as discussed at the 2006 and 2007 EU-OCT For a, include the
high impact from human activities both direct and indirect introduction of alien species and pollution (effluents,
waste, noise). The links with tourism are equally important as the islands need to develop tourism for economic
development. The report notes that if this is not subject, however, to conservation of biodiversity and environmental
care, the development will be self defeating.
92 First National Report | Curaçao and Sint Maarten Millennium Development Goals | 2011 Report