Green Aruba

In December 2009, Aruba took a giant step in the production of alternative energy with the official opening of Vader Piet Wind Park on the eastern end of the island. This history-making event took place on December 2009, culminating a project begun some years ago and placing the island at the fore in the use of environmentally friendly, non-fossil fuel sources.

Ten giant wind turbines will generate 18-20% of the island’s energy. When completed, the windmills are expected to supply a total of 30 megawatts of renewable energy when operating at maximum efficiency, provided by Aruba’s steady winds and chosen location. This project was made possible through an investment by the Danish Company, VESTAS, which in turn will sell electricity to WEB Aruba N.V., the island’s water and power company.

Vader Piet Wind Park is one of the many initiatives undertaken by Aruba to become less dependent on fossil fuels and help preserve and protect the island’s environment.

Begun in 1994, the Aruba Reef Care Project has become one of the most ambitious environmental events in Aruba and throughout the Caribbean. Along the coast from Baby Beach in Seroe Colorado all the way north to Arashi Beach, refuse is removed from reefs, public beaches, and shallow waters.

Aruba holds an annual Coastal Clean-Up Day as part of the international event in which 60 nations worldwide participate. Public and private sectors join together in this national activity organized for the past eight years by the Environmental Committee of the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association.

The Eagle Beach Area Coalition for Aruba's Sustainable Tourism participates in the Sponsor-A-Mile Program, a monthly drive that usually takes place on the third Wednesday of the month to keep the beaches of Aruba clean.

Green Globe is the worldwide benchmarking, certification and performance improvement system assisting the travel and tourism industry to attain sustainability and respond to the major environmental problems facing the planet, including climate change, waste reduction and non-renewable resource management.

Areas covered in the Green Globe 21 certification process are corporate social responsibility, conservation, and environment and energy (reuse, reduce and recycle).

Of the 57 Green Globe-certified hotels in the Caribbean area, seven are in Aruba:

• Playa Linda
• Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort
• Bucuti Beach Resort and Tara Beach Suites
• Costa Linda Beach Resort
• Aruba Beach Club
• La Cabana Beach & Racquet Club
• Manchebo Beach Resort

Other resorts have implemented their own internal environmental management systems. Atlantis Submarines recently became the first attraction in Aruba to be certified by Green Globe.

Aruba hosted the first “Green” CHA (Caribbean Hotel Association) Marketplace in 2007, an important annual trade event, with such environmental initiatives as recycling bins, emphasis on digital file storage rather than paper, use of carton cups and water refilling stations, and landscaping with local plants and herbs.

The island’s First National Congress for the Preservation of Aruban Wildlife (Wild Aruba) took place in August 2008, attended by biologists, teachers, zoo professionals and naturalists form the Dutch Caribbean, Venezuela and the United States.

Key recommendations were:

• Institution of an Environmental Management Authority to formulate an integrated policy towards nature conservation
• Establishment of a Marine Park and legislation to protect nature
• Researching species habitat and distribution of such animals as the sea turtle (turtuga), burrowing owl (shoco), rattlesnake (cascabel), donkey, nectar-feeding bat)
• National awareness campaigns banning irresponsible driving on land and sea areas, cleaning the air and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Mangroves, cacti, coral reefs, aloe vera plants, and trees such as divi-divi, kwihi and kibrahacha must be protected.
• Recycling of carton, paper, newspaper and aluminum cans is possible through Ecotech, a private full-service waste management company. Efforts are being made to recycle bottles and plastics in the future.

Aruba has successfully completed Phase One in the process of having Arashi, Mangel Halto and Baby Beaches become Blue Flag certified, an international certification program of eco labor which upholds quality standards in four main areas: 

• water quality
• safety, services and facilities
• environmental education and information
• environmental management

This $ 6 million dollar project is scheduled for completion next year, at which time approved Aruba Beaches will be able to display the prestigious Blue Flag.

The popular Aruba beaches of Arashi, Mangel Halto and Baby Beach were improved through integrated design to achieve better management and conservation of natural resources. This was achieved through:

• landscaping
• designated parking
• demarcation of specific zoning for conservation areas and public areas
• placement of facilities and awareness materials
• wider beach with fresh sand and new updated and durable palapas (shade structures)

In Phase Two of the project, additional public facilities will be constructed making it possible for Aruba beaches to surpass the requirements of the Blue Flag criteria and obtain certification. These include:

• increased signage to inform the public on natural and cultural facts
• creating public amenities such as restrooms
• obtaining beachcombing machines to maintain beach cleanliness

Blue Flag certification is part of a larger Sustainable Economic Development program.  Legislation is being drafted for Marine Park protection status for the island’s entire coastline and the development of better sewage, waste and recycling treatment facilities. The overall project is an investment of over $ 22 million.

Aruba’s community is not only environmentally aware but also active. Recent grassroots initiatives include the Waste-Rec Committee in San Nicolas to achieve a clean and healthy community.

Foundations have been set up by volunteers to protect the environment and animal life, including:

• Turtugaruba (Save the Turtles)
• Salba nos Buriconan (Donkey Sanctuary)
• Fundacion Aruba Limpi (cleans up litter along main routes)
• StimAruba (a 250-member environmental advocacy group that facilitates love and respect for nature)

Animal Rights Aruba (ARA) is a non-profit Animal Welfare Organization that aims to protect all Fauna, Flora and Marine Life on and around the island of Aruba. A member of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), ARA was founded on May 3, 1999, and run solely by volunteers. In 2005 ARA started a sterilization, rescue and adoption campaign to deal with the stray dog and cat overpopulation dilemma.

Initiatives of the Environmental Committee of AHATA (Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association) include clean-up activities in hotel, coastal and inland areas and Coastal Cleanup Day; media and general awareness campaigns and school programs, signage on beaches and dunes, and the recycled art competition.