WILLEMSTAD – Mangroves have been removed as part of the development of The View Marina at Zakitó, project developer Adam Kiolle has confirmed, although the company says approximately 92 percent of the area's mangroves remain intact.
According to calculations provided by the developer, less than 4,000 square meters of mangroves have been removed, while approximately 52,000 square meters remain.
Those figures originate from The View and have not been independently verified.
The removal of mangroves has been one of the environmental concerns raised by Movimentu Save Zakitó, which has also questioned the potential impact of the development on the reef and surrounding ecosystem.
Kiolle said mangroves removed specifically for construction of the marina are subject to a replanting requirement.
The situation is different for mangroves removed in connection with construction of the apartment development. According to Kiolle, there is no formal replanting obligation for those mangroves.
The View nevertheless intends to compensate voluntarily for the mangroves removed in connection with the apartments, he said.
The replanting has not yet taken place.
According to the developer, The View is seeking expert advice to determine which mangrove species should be planted, where they should be located and how many should be planted.
Mangroves play an important role in Curaçao's coastal ecosystems, providing habitat for marine and bird species while helping protect shorelines.
The eventual scale and location of the promised restoration will therefore be an important part of assessing the environmental impact of the Zakitó development.