2025 Workshop

Nature Based Solutions for Climate Resilience

Read the conference report here!

This report includes a day to day breakdown of the 5-day conference.

From October 13–17, stakeholders from across the region will come together on Bonaire for a training on Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) for Climate Change Mitigation. The workshop will focus on the role of mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs in capturing carbon, protecting coasts, and building resilience against climate change.

Participants, including government representatives, MPA Managers, NGOs, and knowledge institutes, will strengthen their capacity to design adaptive management plans and monitoring strategies for coastal ecosystems. With expert instruction by Delft Institute of Water education (or UN – IHE), the sessions will also combine instruction with peer-to-peer learning, ensuring participants gain both practical skills and opportunities for collaboration.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

– Understand the climate mitigation potential of mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs.

– Compare their benefits as NbS.

– Develop monitoring and capacity development plans.

This workshop supports ongoing efforts to protect Lac Bay and its catchment area while building knowledge and capacity that can be applied across the wider Caribbean.

Register online

*Please note you must register for each day individually

Monday, October 13th

Morning: Introduction and background information (IHE Delft)

Afternoon: Benefits of NBS (IHE Delft) and Sustainable Financing (WWF)

Register now: https://vimeo.com/event/5387489/3d01c3794d

Tuesday, October  14

Morning: Participant Presentations

Afternoon: Case Study for Implementing NBS Projects (WWF)

Register here: https://vimeo.com/event/5407496/64e70eddbb

Wednesday, October 15

Morning: Field Excursion (no online portion)

Afternoon: Conservation Standards Workshop (DCNA)

Register now: https://vimeo.com/event/5407498/78889e3d37

Thursday, October 16

Morning: Monitoring Plans Workshop (IHE Delft)

Afternoon: Science-based Management of MPAs Case Study (STINAPA/ FSU)

Register now: https://vimeo.com/event/5407504/1d8d4d7ef8

Friday, October  17

Morning: Science-based Management of MPAs Case Study (STINAPA/FSU)

Afternoon: Capacity Mapping (IHE Delft)

Register here:https://vimeo.com/event/5407506/f359da485a

 

DatePresentation TitlePresenterPresentation
Day 1Workshop Introduction
Mangroves and Climate Change
Internos Bonaire and IHE DelftView Presentation
Day 1Working with Nature to Protect PeopleWWF - NL
Day 1WWF Colombia and Red Cross AgreementWWF - ColombiaView Presentation
Day 1Resilient Bold Belize OverviewWWF - BelizeView Presentation
Day 2Participant Presentation - Bonaire

Reviving Cultural Historical Water Management Practices for Nature-Based Solutions
Internos Bonaire / Mangrove ManiacsView Presentation
Day 2Participant Presentation - Martinique

Mangrove Conservation, a local concern
Roots of the SeaView Presentation
Day 2Participant Presentation - Curacao

Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Change Mitigation on Curacao
CARMABIView Presentation
Day 2Participant Presentation - St. Maarten

Towards Nature-Based Solutions: Preparing for Successful Restoration Efforts in Sint Maarten
Nature Foundation St. MaartenView Presentation
Day 2Participant Presentation - Saba

Restoration of invertebrate herbivores
Reef Grazer Research GroupView Presentation
Day 2Participant Presentation - Bonaire

Coral Restoration:
Nature Based Solutions
for Resilient Reefs
Reef Renewal Foundation BonaireView Presentation
Day 2Participant Presentation - Aruba

ScubbleBubbles:
Involving Aruban Youth in Ocean Conservation
ScubbleBubblesView Presentation
Day 2Participant Presentation - Global Mangrove Alliance

A worldwide ollaboration, founded in science, to conserve and restore angroves at a scale that matters.
WWF Mexico, Belize and ColombiaView Presentation
Day 2Participant Presentation - Suriname

Real-life impacts of climate change and improving coastal development in Suriname.
WWF - GuianasView Presentation
Day 2Participant Presentation - Tropical Restoration Network

Organizational Overview
Tropical Restoration NetworkView Presentation
Day 2Nature-Based Solutions for flood resilience on BonaireWWF - Dutch CaribbeanView Presentation
Day 2Vulnerability and Climate Risk Assessment of Mangrove Socio Ecosystem in ColombiaWWF ColombiaView Presentation
Day 2POLICY & NbS: Leverage Regional Frameworks for Climate Resilience in the CaribbeanWWF ColombiaView Presentation
Day 2WWF Caribbean Regional PlanWWF - NLView Presentation
Day 3
Field Session

Visit to Lac Bay Mangrove Forest
Internos and IHE Delft
no
Day 3Case Study Introduction to Conservation StandardsGlobal Conservation Standards (DCNA)View Presentation
Day 4Monitoring Plans
Workshop with Feedback
IHE Delft
Day 4Case Study
Science-based Management of MPAs
Florida State University and STINAPA
Day 5QGIS WorkshopFlorida State University and STINAPA View Presentation
Day 5Science-based Management of MPAsFlorida State University and STINAPA
Day 5Capacity Mapping WorkshopIHE DelftView Presentation