Meeting with Stakeholders on Aruba’s Reforestation Project

The meeting focused on identifying the most effective strategies to achieve the ambitious goal of planting 100,000 trees over the next four years across the island. Given Aruba’s hot and arid climate, participants emphasized the importance of implementing practical and sustainable solutions that would ensure the success of the reforestation plan, both in the short and long term.
Decades of accelerated development led to the loss of over 70% of Aruba’s trees and much of its ecosystem. According to a recent report from Wageningen University, urgent action is required to reverse this trend. This urgency prompted the government to launch the initiative to plant 100,000 native trees throughout Aruba.

The success of the project depends not only on the government and NGOs, but also on the active participation of the community. Ultimately, we are all dependent on our nature in some way, directly or indirectly. Our land, our sea, and underwater life are intimately connected, and these natural resources form the foundation of our way of life and our primary attraction.

Tackling Water Challenges

Given Aruba’s persistent drought conditions, water availability is a major challenge. One key strategy is recycling water, a task spearheaded by the AWSS purification plant. Currently, a 300-cubic-meter tank in Parkietenbos supports the production of approximately 3,000 cubic meters of recycled water daily; however, much of it is discharged into the sea due to limited storage capacity.

To address this, AWSS will construct additional water tanks in Zeewijk and Barcadera next year, enabling the storage of approximately 4,000 cubic meters of water for irrigation purposes.
However, one of AWSS’s ongoing challenges is the improper disposal of oil and chemicals by some companies into the sewer system, which hampers water purification at the Bubali plant. The government plans to introduce stricter regulations and improved waste management to mitigate this issue.

Exploring Traditional and Natural Water Solutions

Water dams remain an essential resource for farmers and will play a significant role in the reforestation project. The government will inventory functional dams and assess water quality while also exploring opportunities to expand dam infrastructure and prevent rainwater runoff.
Another natural solution is to avoid excessive clearing of rooinan (dry riverbeds). Trees and plants in these areas help stabilize the soil, improve its quality, and allow rainwater to seep into the ground rather than flow directly into the sea, thus increasing natural irrigation.
Soil studies will also be conducted to identify suitable locations for new windmill wells, as many existing wells are dry or contain water unsuitable for irrigation.

A Shared Commitment

While the reforestation project is highly ambitious, the government and stakeholders are determined to make it a reality. The initiative will not only restore Aruba’s natural environment but also provide essential resources to support local farmers and safeguard the island’s biodiversity for generations.