Exploring images of a future Aruba: A positive future for people and nature

Nature is the foundation of all life and the basis of local culture (Steffen et al., 2015). Globally, nature is deteriorating despite efforts to preserve and restore it. Nature on small tropical islands is particularly sensitive to pressures, such as climate change and over-exploitation (Hay, 2013). The Caribbean island of Aruba is one of the four countries that form the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The island is facing major challenges: urban expansion and population growth; managing (mass)tourism; strained infrastructure; halting biodiversity loss; loss of culture; the dependency on food imports; and adaptation to extreme weather events. As a result, Aruba will very likely look completely different within a few decades from now. Progressing on current trends will increase the pressures and it will be harder to cope with the challenges. A new way of thinking, planning, and acting is needed. Together with local government, NGO’s, businesses and households, we have looked for ways to strengthen nature by interweaving it into the daily lives of the people in Aruba. We therefore did not consider nature protection alone, but sought synergy with sectors such as culture, tourism, construction industry, agriculture and fisheries. We call this nature inclusive. A vision for Aruba 2050 is portrayed, in which nature and natural processes play a key role in many activities – a ‘nature inclusive vision’. The vision aims to inspire for action. It outlines a future in which a healthy economy and a nature inclusive society join forces to maintain what is precious, and to improve what is already impaired or threatened. These images of the future are based on results from a series of interviews, workshops and interactive design sessions. Inspired by the rich history of Aruba and the wider Caribbean and by experiences from elsewhere in the world, we propose several dozen measures. These measures were collectively mapped out by jointly reflecting where, why, and how these could be adopted. An example of such a measure is rooftop rainwater harvesting, the primary purpose of which is to water the garden with rainwater and avoid having to buy expensive desalinated seawater. In addition, rainwater capture ensures that rainwater does not simply wash off the island during heavy rainfall, carrying soil that ends up in the mangroves and on the reef. Another example is stimulating traditional cactus hedges, meant to keep livestock on the property, and simultaneously providing habitat for insects, reptiles and birds. Nature inclusiveness is not primarily about conservation, although that remains crucial. Nature inclusiveness is about taking nature and its benefits for people into account in advance in planning, rather than compensating for potentially adverse effects afterwards. The vision presented in this report considers the characteristics and cultural contexts of the different landscapes of Aruba, builds on the local history of planning, and deepens ongoing Aruban dialogues, visions and strategies. The report starts by describing the research methodology, followed by the policy context and challenges. It then looks at what nature inclusive concepts can offer to navigate some of the challenges Aruba is experiencing illustrated by three-dimensional landscape visualisations.