Our Power, Our Planet — But Are We Using It?

In my previous blogs, I argued that a greener future begins with protecting the trees we already have — not just planting new ones — and questioned why we so often choose planting over protection. On Bonaire, where growth is slow and conditions are harsh, every mature tree matters.

But that leads to a final and perhaps most important question:

Now that we understand the problem, what are we going to do differently?

Because awareness alone does not change anything.

From Awareness to Responsibility

It is easy to agree that nature should be protected.

It is harder to act when that protection requires change:

• Changing how we build
• Changing how we manage land
• Changing what we accept as “normal”

Real progress begins when awareness turns into responsibility.

Solving the Cause, Not Just the Damage

On Bonaire, one of the most visible pressures on nature is grazing.

Free-roaming goats and donkeys limit regrowth.
Young plants are eaten before they can mature.
Natural recovery becomes slow — or impossible.

But grazing is not the only pressure.

Development is another.

As land is cleared for housing, roads, and infrastructure, natural areas become smaller and more fragmented. And as nature shrinks, the pressure on what remains increases.

Fewer green areas mean:

• Less space for vegetation to recover
• More stress on existing ecosystems
• Greater vulnerability to erosion and degradation

In other words, the problem is not only loss — it is concentration.

Fencing parts of nature is often presented as a solution to protect specific areas. But if the overall pressure on the landscape remains the same, it does not disappear — it shifts.

And when pressure shifts, it typically increases on the areas that remain unprotected.

Protection in one place should not mean increased pressure somewhere else.

This raises an important question:

Are we solving the problem — or moving it?

When Solutions Become Cycles

Not all solutions lead to lasting change.

Some solutions require continuous effort because the underlying problem is never fully addressed.

This is not necessarily intentional.
But it is something we should be aware of.

Because if we focus only on visible action — planting, restoring, repairing — we may overlook the quieter, more difficult work of prevention.

And without prevention, progress remains temporary.

Our Power, Our Planet

The theme of Earth Day 2026 is “Our Power, Our Planet.”

But power is not just the ability to act.

It is the willingness to take responsibility — especially when the solutions are less visible, more complex, or require long-term commitment.

Power is:

• Protecting what already exists
• Addressing root causes, not just symptoms
• Choosing long-term resilience over short-term results

That kind of power is not always easy.
But it is necessary.

A Different Way Forward

If we truly want a greener future, the approach must evolve:

• Protect mature trees before planting new ones
• Prevent damage first and reduce the need for restoration
• Address root causes, not just visible effects
• Support solutions that last, not just those that look good

This does not mean stopping restoration efforts.

It means making sure they lead somewhere.

The Role of Each of Us

Governments, organizations, and communities all play a role.

But so do individuals.

Not looking away.
Asking questions.
Speaking up when something does not seem right.

Because change does not only come from large projects.

It also comes from small decisions — repeated over time.

Our power is not only in what we create.
It is in what we choose to protect — and what we refuse to ignore.

HELP US TO SAVE PLANTATION BOLIVIA FROM DESTRUCTION