At Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, sustainability is intrinsic to who we are and what our discerning guests cherish. This July, in honor of the UNESCO International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystems, we turned our focus to one of the most vital yet often overlooked protectors of our island’s coastline: Aruba’s mangroves.
As the Caribbean’s first and only certified carbon-neutral hotel, Bucuti & Tara integrates environmental stewardship into every stay. From over 32 years of monthly beach cleanups to founding the Stimami Sterilisami program and the Bucuti & Tara – GMC Nature Preserve, our goal has always been to protect Aruba’s natural heritage for generations to come.
This month, we partnered with the Aruba Conservation Foundation (ACF) to deepen our efforts and create opportunities for our team and guests to experience the importance of mangrove conservation firsthand.
Mangroves are often called the guardians of the coast, and for good reason:
They act as nurseries for marine life, sheltering baby fish, crustaceans, and other species.
Their roots protect shorelines from erosion, storms, and rising sea levels.
They are powerful carbon sinks, helping to combat climate change.
In Aruba, mangroves include the iconic fofoti tree seen along Eagle Beach. The fofoti tree is the most recognized in Aruba. It is a species Bucuti & Tara actively protects and replants at our resort and within the Bucuti & Tara – GMC Nature Preserve.
This July, our mangrove program unfolded in three meaningful steps:
Monthly Beach Cleanup. Our team’s decades-long tradition of cleaning Aruba’s beaches helps keep marine habitats – including mangrove areas – free from harmful debris.
Mangrove Education Session. Experts from the ACF shared insights on the types of mangroves found in Aruba and their unique role in the island’s ecosystem.
Hands-On Conservation. On July 24, our staff joined ACF at Spanish Lagoon, rolling up their sleeves to restore mangrove channels so these coastal ecosystems can thrive.
Bucuti & Tara’s dedication to conservation extends far beyond a single event. Recently, we were honored with the 2025 AHATA Impact Awards for Championing Cultural Heritage and Environmental Conservation. Our 130,000+ square meter Bucuti Tara - GMC Nature Preserve is home to reforestation projects with over 1,000 native plants already in the ground and thousands more are planned. In addition to fostering the reawakening of fragile ecosystems and serving as a serene setting for the community and visitors to relax or stroll the trails, the nature preserve also serves as a carbon sink, drawing down CO2 emissions from the atmosphere while producing oxygen.
Our work is guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and we are the only hotel in UN history to win a Global UN Climate Action Award for our scalable, replicable sustainability program.
Guests at Bucuti & Tara can become part of the solution through our voluntourism program, which offers experiences themed by land, sea and animal welfare, including mangrove restoration projects.
Whether you’re planting seedlings, cleaning coastlines, or learning about native species, your vacation can leave a positive footprint on Aruba’s environment.
To arrange your mangrove conservation experience, simply connect with your personal concierge at concierge@bucuti.com.
Protecting mangroves means protecting the future of Aruba. Join us in preserving these extraordinary coastal ecosystems and take home more than just vacation memories, leave knowing your regenerative travel made a difference.