BESTLIFE2030: nature conservation on the Caribbean islands

Header photo: Arikok Natural Park © Diego Mariottini from Getty Images Pro

BESTLIFE2030 provides funding for nature conservation and restoration projects in the European Union’s overseas territories, including Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten.

A key aspect of the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 is to help stop and reverse the loss of global biodiversity. The EU’s Outermost Regions (ORs) and associated Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) host particularly rich biodiversity yet find themselves, at the same time, among the places that are most vulnerable to climate change and exposed to a series of specific environmental pressures.

The BESTLIFE2030 programme provides funding for projects aimed at protecting and restoring biodiversity, protecting natural resources and adapting to climate change in these areas.

The programme focuses on six regions: Amazonia, Caribbean, Pacific islands, Indian Ocean,Macaronesia and Greenland. As a regional hub, IUCN NL is the focal point for Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten.

The IUCN BESTLIFE2030 programme is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Grantees and projects

In 2025 and 2026, the organisations and projects listed below have been funded by the BESTLIFE2030 program, with a total budget of nearly €2.2 million. The links take you directly to feature stories within the programme.

Aruba

University of Aruba: Restoring Ecosystems and Empowering Future Leaders through Community Transformation (REEFLECT)

Bonaire

Foundation Internos:
- Nature Based Solutions for sediment stabilization and erosion control
- Lagun restoration. Interventions in the catchment, restoring mangroves and improving conditions in the bay
Stichting Nationale Parken Bonaire:
- Klein Bonaire: building climate resilience through sustainable use and habitat restoration
- REWILD Slagbaai: Reducing invasive grazer pressures to restore native vegetation and enhance biodiversity in a terrestrial protected area

Curaçao

Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity Foundation: CORAL BANK: Rescue, preservation, and propagation of endangered coral diversity through cryopreservation and coral breeding
Foundation Curaçao Deep Reef Research Center:
- Optimize the production of juvenile Queen Conch of the Curaçao Queen Conch Hatchery
- Reaching conservation goals for the Queen Conch population on Curacao
Ministry of Health, Environment and Nature: Santa Rosa nature & heritage park
Reef Enhancement And Community Training Foundation: Community-Driven Reef Enhancement in Curaçao: Integrating Propagation, Enhancement & Stewardship
SMD Consultancy BV: Harmonization of Cetacean Management in the ABC islands toward new sanctuaries and crossboundaries regulations for crossboundaries endangered species (phase 1).
Stichting Friends of Sea Turtle Conservation Curacao: Building Turtle Conservation Infrastructure on Klein Curaçao: Nesting Beach Protection Amid Tourism Pressure

Saba

Public Entity Saba: Safeguarding Saba’s Biodiversity: Initiating Biosecurity Controls and Protecting Biodiversity via Invasive Species Eradication

Eustacius

Government of St. Eustatius: Syntropic Agroforestry Farming Pilot Project for Sint Eustatius
Sint Eustatius National Parks Foundation: Habitat Mapping and Marine Spatial Planning of the Sint Eustatius National Marine Park