West Point

This mainly marine Site is comprised of varying habitats: beaches, sand dunes, limestone terraces, seasonal marshes and pools, coral reefs, seagrass beds, and shallow and deeper marine waters. The beaches are nesting grounds for four species of sea turtle (leatherback, hawksbill, loggerhead and green turtles) while the limestone terraces are breeding grounds for the migratory least tern (Sternula antillarum). The waters of West Point contain relatively large patches of the critically endangered elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) while the turtlegrass beds provide nursing and feeding grounds for many marine organisms including the queen conch (Lobatus gigas) and parrotfish species. The two main land areas are the Sasarawichi sand dunes and Tera Cora, which features arid landscapes and mudflats which annually transform into a seasonal wetland. They are among the few remaining natural habitats for numerous locally endangered and protected species such as the crested bobwhite (Colinus cristatus), the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), the Aruba island rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus unicolor), the eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) and Hummelinck’s vesper mouse (Calomys hummelincki). When Tera Cora floods, it becomes an important stopover site for many foraging migratory bird species. The Site is heavily used for recreation and tourism activities, which poses a threat to its ecological character. A scientific assessment of the shallow water reefs was carried out in 2019, while a management plan was being prepared as of 2023.

All sites in Netherlands (Kingdom of the)

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