The National Park Foundation Aruba is aware of the activities taking place on Isla di Oro and is actively taking steps within its legal capacity to halt the ongoing activities. Isla di Oro falls under the management of the National Park Foundation Aruba. The mangroves are a protected species by law, and the area is designated as a “Natuur Gebied” under the New designation of domain lands as a nature reserve (AB 2020 no. 67) and the Spatial Development Plan with Regulations 2021 (AB 2021 no. 123), while the island itself and the surrounding sea are part of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) as per the Marine Park Decree (AB 2018 no. 77), making this area subject to high protection.

Additionally, this area has international recognition as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) by the IUCN and has recently been classified as a RAMSAR site (RAMSAR Site no. 2526), adding even more value to the area. The National Park Foundation Aruba is committed to protecting this important area – the only area in Aruba where we still see the ‘Power of 3’ interconnected healthily, namely the mangroves, seagrass, and coral reefs – three different crucial ecological systems that together provide a variety of benefits to humans and Aruba’s environment.

On Monday, March 11, 2024, the board of FPNA was alerted to ongoing activities and immediately took action to submit a Pro Forma Objection. Information received by FPNA indicates that there is no construction permit, and legal steps are being evaluated.

FPNA has been monitoring the Isla di Oro area for quite some time, and in August 2023, it was discovered that Isla di Oro had been purchased. Consequently, on August 28, an official letter was sent to the Department of Infrastructure and Planning (DIP) stating that no permission would be granted for any development on Isla di Oro.

In November 2023, FPNA was contacted by J.O.B. Holding & Management and invited to a meeting to understand their intentions regarding Isla di Oro. On January 4, 2024, FPNA responded to J.O.B. Holding & Management with a letter stating that they do not agree with any development plans for Isla di Oro.

Subsequently, on January 18, 2024, J.O.B. Holding & Management invited FPNA, along with other local organizations, to a stakeholder engagement session where they informed that they would be undertaking various activities on Isla di Oro but did not present a concrete plan for review. However, FPNA’s position remains unchanged. FPNA will not support any development plans in this area.

Government of Aruba: FPNA lost the case against the Government of Aruba

The National Park Foundation Aruba (FPNA) initiated a case against the country of Aruba and the developer of Isla di Oro to halt the developer from carrying out any cleaning work on their land.

In this, FPNA also demanded that Aruba be prohibited from granting permissions. In its verdict, the judge immediately instructed FPNA that as they manage the area, FPNA and the owner of Isla di Oro should sit down together and resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, the judge prohibited the owner of Isla di Oro from developing or even cleaning their land on Isla di Oro.

As for FPNA’s lawsuit against the Government of Aruba, FPNA lost this case. The judge stated that there is no basis to prohibit the Government.

This concerns a plot of land that the owner holds in leasehold. The area is under the management of FPNA as a protected area. In protected areas in general, it is possible to restore a building to its original state, in consultation with FPNA.