Nuisance, nature & environmental regulations

The Bonaire Nuisance Ordinance contains rules in order to prevent or restrict environmental hazards, damage or nuisance caused by operations or activities which have a negative impact on the local environment. It is prohibited to carry out, expand or change any activity which may affect the environment of Bonaire, without a permit of the government. The aforementioned ordinance is of importance to parties who wish to commence any business operations on Bonaire, after having realized a building project on Bonaire.

The Bonaire Waste Ordinance stipulates rules with respect to disposal of domestic-, industrial- and other waste categories.

The Department of Physical Planning and Management (“DROB”) is the department of the government of Bonaire, which deals with physical planning, housing, natural resources and environmental protection.

A Nature Policy Plan has been implemented by the government of Bonaire in 2008. The plan contains the policy on nature and natural resources. Certain areas of the island are protected by national laws or international treaties. For instance the waters surrounding Bonaire and Klein Bonaire are protected and form the Bonaire National Marine Park. Other protected areas are the flamingo sanctuary and the Washington-Slagbaai Park, which does not benefit from a national park status yet. Five wetlandareas are of international importance and protected by the Ramsar treaty.

More than half of Bonaire is a nature area. The Nature Policy Plan also refers to the interaction between nature and other sectors of the economy, such as tourism, fishery, agriculture, cattle breeding and mining.