95 Important Bird Areas in the Caribbean – Bonaire INTRODUCTION Bonaire, which is politically part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands 1 , is one of the three Netherlands Antilles islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao) that lie off the north-west coast of Venezuela. Bonaire is the easternmost of the three islands (c.50 km east of Curaçao) and the island furthest (c.85 km) from mainland Venezuela. It is 35 km long, 8–15 km wide, and consists of a volcanic core, surrounded by limestone formations. The northern end of the island, within Washington-Slagbaai National Park (IBA AN009), is dominated by hills including Mount Brandaris, the island’s highest point. The flat, low- elevation southern end of the island contains the Pekelmeer (IBA AN014), once a series of natural shallow lagoons that have been modified over hundreds of years for salt production. Bonaire has jurisdiction over an offshore island—Klein Bonaire (IBA AN012)—situated c.1 km from the central west coast. Klein Bonaire is a low coral-limestone island fringed with sandy beaches. Bonaire (as Aruba and Curaçao) is very dry with an average annual rainfall of 450 mm falling mostly in the period October–January. As a result, the island’s vegetation is generally xerophytic with many areas dominated by columnar cactus intermixed with low scrub and large expanses of land largely devoid of vegetation, especially along the eastern shoreline which receives slightly less rainfall on average than the western side of the island. Virtually all trees on the island were removed by the early nineteenth century and woody vegetation continued to be cut for charcoal production into the twentieth century. Grazing animals were introduced by 1700 and have significantly altered the vegetation. Free- roaming goats and donkeys have continued to have an impact in many areas even to the present day. In some regions, notably within Washington-Slagbaai National Park, there are patches of thicker and taller (3–4 m) thorn scrub forest supporting some epiphytic growth. Lac Bay (IBA AN013) on the south- eastern side of the island supports Bonaire’s only significant mangrove woodland. Bonaire’s human population is significantly less than that of neighbouring Aruba (100,000) and Curaçao (138,000). The island’s economy is largely dependent on ecotourism centered on scuba diving within the marine park. Apart from tourism, the salt production industry, a small oil transfer facility, ■ BONAIRE LAND AREA 288 km 2 ALTITUDE 0–240 m HUMAN POPULATION 14,000 CAPITAL Kralendijk IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS 6, totalling 238 km 2 IMPORTANT BIRD AREA PROTECTION 50% BIRD SPECIES 214 THREATENED BIRDS 2 RESTRICTED-RANGE BIRDS 3 BIOME-RESTRICTED BIRDS 2 JEFF WELLS (BOREAL SONGBIRD INITIATIVE) AND ADOLPHE DEBROT (CARMABI FOUNDATION) Washington-Slagbaai National Park. (PHOTO: ROWAN O. MARTIN) 1 At some point in the near future the “Netherlands Antilles” will be dissolved. St Maarten and Curaçao will become separate countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands (similar to the status currently enjoyed by Aruba). The islands of Bonaire, Saba and St Eustatius will be linked directly to the Netherlands as overseas territories.