Tourists to Lend a Hand with Green Projects in Aruba
In September visitors to Aruba will be able to get hands-on with the Dutch Caribbean island's ground-breaking green initiatives with the annual reef care project.
The Aruba Reef Care Project began in 1994 and was one of the island's most ambitious environmental projects to involve both tourists and residents. It now forms just one of a series of measures aimed at making Aruba a world-leading 'green' destination.
Around 900 volunteers can join the reef care project, scheduled for September 21 this year. They will cover a 20-mile stretch of the southern coastline, including those in front of the main resort hotels, collecting any litter from beaches. Snorkelers and divers will also remove debris from the sea which could potentially threaten the island's diverse marine life.
Supported by the Aruba Tourism Authority and many of the island’s hotels, the project also provides a valued opportunity for visitors to work with locals and help preserve Aruba's prized coral reefs.
Aruba has adopted a policy of reducing its dependency on fossil fuel energy and CO2 emissions and has joined the Carbon War Room's Ten Island Challenge with other Caribbean islands aiming for a transition to 100% renewable energy.
Aruba's Prime Minister, Mike Eman said: “Aruba has grown from 200,000 visitors a year to nearly 1.5 million and increased from 2,000 hotel rooms to 8,000. And all of this is a very small country, with a population density of 500 people per square kilometre - that is higher than New York. It was time for us as a nation to reassess where we should go in the next 25 years and it was clear to us we should focus on quality not quantity in expanding our economy, without making heavy demands on our infrastructure and natural resources”.
In 2009 Aruba took a major step in the production of alternative energy with the opening of the Vader Piet Wind Park at the eastern end of the island. A second park is now planned for a site nearby.
Sustainable projects to upgrade and improve the island's infrastructure include a 'Green Corridor' project, which will include cycle paths, sustainable lighting, landscaping and facilities for public transport and the US$350 million 'Bo Aruba' project to upgrade various sites and create pedestrian-friendly zones, linked to the recently-introduced tram system, running on renewable energy.
A further landmark project is Aruba's Linear Park, which when complete will be the longest of its kind n the Caribbean. With the downtown section almost complete, the park will ultimately create an accessible, scenic link between the airport and the resorts along Palm Beach 10 miles to the north.
