Happy International Day of Education!🎓

On this day, we want to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who supported and donated to our educational initiatives in 2025. 💙
Your support helps us inspire young minds, empower communities, and protect the natural beauty of our island.
And a huge thank you to all the teachers and educators who believed in us in the last few years.

Environmental education is essential — it teaches us how our actions impact the land and sea, and why caring for our ecosystems is key to preserving the island we all love. Because of our sponsors generosity, we can continue building awareness, respect, and responsibility for our environment. 🌿🌊

As we look ahead to 2026, we’re excited for the new initiatives, programs, and opportunities to keep learning, growing, and protecting our island together.

If you’d like to support our work or learn more about our educational initiatives, please email us at info@naturefoundationsxm.org.

💚 Thank you for being part of this journey!

WIB bank
@aucmed_edu
@thescubashopsxm
@orcobanknv
Avis Car Rental
@grantthorntonsxm

A coral is not a souvenir — it’s a living city 🪸

Coral reefs are alive — growing, breathing ecosystems that provide shelter for fish, protect our coastlines from storms, and support the livelihoods of our communities. ♻

Each piece of coral provides a home for fish, supports biodiversity, and plays a role in maintaining the balance of the ocean. When coral is touched, broken, or removed, the damage goes far beyond what we can see. Entire habitats are destroyed, leaving marine species without shelter and weakening the reef’s ability to recover.

What may look like a simple souvenir is, in reality, a vital part of our natural infrastructure — one that cannot simply be replaced. Coral grows slowly, often taking decades to regenerate, if it recovers at all.

Visit with respect and leave coral exactly where it belongs — in the sea 🌊

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From Reef to Runway is a conservation initiative led by the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten to combat the illegal removal, trade, and export of marine species and natural materials from the island. Funded by the CITES Secretariat with significant local in-kind support, the project strengthens Sint Maarten’s capacity to monitor, manage, and reduce wildlife trafficking linked to tourism.

Thecadactylus, a genus of geckos present on the island of Saint Martin known for their thick tails. Two species are believed to live here - T. oskrobapreinorum and T. rapicauda. Locally they are known as “giant woodslaves,” though this term is also colloquially used for a different genus of house geckos as well. They tend to prefer old fruit trees and other natural areas rather than human-frequented buildings. 🦎 💙

🌎 Nature Foundation Sint Maarten is Hiring: Join Us as a Senior Conservation Officer 🇸🇽

Our small non-profit organization is seeking a Senior Conservation Officer (SCO) to lead our technical conservation work and ensure science-based management of Sint Maarten’s ecosystems. This is a hands-on leadership role that combines field monitoring, research oversight, and strategic planning.

Key responsibilities:

✅ Execute and lead monitoring of coral reefs, seagrass, mangroves, sea turtles, sharks, and terrestrial ecosystems
✅ Oversee data integrity, update protocols, and sign off on scientific reporting
✅ Provide technical guidance to staff, interns, and volunteers
✅ Translate monitoring data into policy, conservation strategies, and marine park management plans
✅ Represent Nature Foundation in technical meetings, workshops, and regional initiatives

This role is central to bridging on-the-ground conservation action with long-term environmental planning, ensuring our work remains credible, consistent, community-informed, and grounded in science.

🧐 Interested in applying? Review the job vacancy at https://naturefoundationsxm.org/about/work-with-us/. Be sure to carefully follow the submission instructions on our website and submit your application by 31 January 2026!