| Sumario: | This paper presents the first ecological economic model of tropical dry forest on Bonaire Island. The model projects the economic benefits of the ecosystem services provided by the forest under two management alternatives: The baseline scenario assumes that the current short-term extractive practices continue for the following thirty years while the alternative scenarios includes the implementation of a birdwatching program, enhancement of agriculture, goat eradication and husbandry and reforestation program.
The study reveals that the alternative scenario brings about $8.5 million more than the baseline scenario. Higher benefits could be obtained depending on the combination of the implemented programs though the implementation of the goat eradication and husbandry program together with the reforestation program is the most cost-efficient combination.
The sensitivity analysis showed that doubling tourism doubles the economic benefits while reducing it in a half increases four times the economic benefits. In the other hand, the analysis showed that grazing by goats and other roamers costs about $4 million to the island; it is necessary to reduce the grazing to 70% of the current state in order to have benefits and goats at the same time. The research also estimates the value of seed dispersal and pollination on the Bonairean forest in $ 17 million.
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