The Nature Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental environmental organization located on the island of Sint Maarten, in the heart of the Caribbean. We aim to conserve and enhance our natural ecosystems in the present and for generations to come through a variety of management, research, education, and policy initiatives.
Our Mission
“To improve the conditions for the conservation of Sint Maarten’s natural environment through research programming, public education, management actions, and policy advising relating to all aspects of the island’s terrestrial, coastal, and marine ecosystems.”
Management
The Nature Foundation works to preserve the natural environment on St. Maarten. Our most prominent protected area, the Man of War Shoal Marine Park, boasts an abundance and variety of dive spots, habitats, and marine life. We also conduct several ongoing projects to strengthen the resilience of our ecosystems and native wildlife.
Research
From sea turtle conservation to water quality testing and shark tagging, the Nature Foundation spearheads various research and monitoring projects on St. Maarten. We also collaborate with environmental organizations from other islands to foster regional conservation connections and protect Caribbean biodiversity.
Education
We actively promote environmental awareness in the community and teach the value of nature and sustainability in local schools. By giving presentations to student groups, offering events for residents and visitors, and providing teaching materials, we work to facilitate eco-consciousness and foster a love for the environment.
Policy
As an environmental organization that works closely with government, the Nature Foundation is involved in providing official advices to key policy makers. We lobby for regulations that protect our natural environment, provide training for civil servants, and fund drafting of legislation that helps us achieve our goals.
Explore the Beautiful Underwater World of Sint Maarten
Diving in St. Maarten
As the designated authority of the Man of War Shoal Marine Park, the Nature Foundation also manages the rest of the island’s dive sites. We welcome divers from all regions and encourage visitors to explore our website for more information and book a dive with one of our local shops. To dive in our waters, visitors must purchase a dive tag online, and private and commercial vessel operators must register their boat to use the moorings.
The Nature Foundation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Nature Foundation?
The Nature Foundation is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that formally assists the government of Sint Maarten (the “Dutch Side”) with the management of our marine and terrestrial environment, including that of the protected Man of War Shoal Marine Park. Tasked as a scientific and environmental authority on the island through CITES, we are also the national contact for the SPAW Protocol. The Nature Foundation is most active in the realms of management, policy, research, and education, without an enforcement branch.
What types of issues do we respond to?
- Marine Park and diving inquires
- Wild animal management
- Nesting sea turtle sightings
- Flora and fauna monitoring
- Damaged moorings
- Environmental disasters
- Illegal vegetation clearing
- Import/export of protected species
- Environmental research proposals
- Educational initiatives
- School presentations
- Water quality testing
Please contact us to find out whether or not we can help with a particular issue.
What issues do we not handle?
- Domestic animal problems
- Pest control and removal
- Diving emergencies
- Waste management
- Maritime violations
- Vessel inspections
Please visit our Contacts and Referrals page to find the contact information for the organizations and agencies that handle these issues.
Is there a website dedicated to diving?
No, but the Nature Foundation handles St. Maarten’s dive sites, and our website has a dedicated portion to scuba diving. Check it out for relevant diving information, including registering, local dive shops, and regulations.
What is the 'French side' environmental agency?
The overseas territory of Saint-Martin (the “French side”) has multiple agencies overseeing environmental management. It is highly recommended to include all the stakeholders in an email for direction towards the correct contact point:
- Protected area of the Réserve Naturelle, sea turtles and marine mammals – l’Association de Gestion de la Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin (AGRNSM)
- Coastal and wetland areas – Conservatoire du Littoral (CELRL)
- CITES, pollution, invasive species – Direction de l’environnement, de l’aménagement et du logement (DEAL) Guadeloupe and/or L’Unité territoriale de Saint-Martin (UTSBSM)
- Fisheries and maritime inquiries – Direction de la Mer Saint-Martin (UT DM)
- Immediate environmental enforcement – Gendarmerie Nationale and/or Brigade Nautique
- Environmental investigations, national commitments – Office Français de la Biodiversité (OFB) Antilles
Do we accept donations?
Yes, we do, and we depend on the generosity of our donors to fund our work! Please visit our donate page to learn more.
Latest News & Events
Social Media
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
Jan 24
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.
Jan 23
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. 🦎 💙
Jan 20
🌎 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!
Jan 14
The Nature Foundation office will be closed on April 3 for Good Friday and April 6 for Easter Monday.
Regular hours (8 AM - 4 PM) will resume on Tuesday, April 7.
Happy Easter everyone! 🐣
🐚 Every shell you find on the beach has already lived a life.
🏖️ It may have once been home to a living creature, protecting it from predators and the elements. Empty shells are quickly reused by hermit crabs and other small creatures in need of protection.
🩵 Over time, shells break down and become part of the sand, helping to build and maintain our beaches and they even play a role in supporting healthy reef systems.
♻ In nature, nothing is wasted. Every shell continues a story long after it’s empty.
When we pick up shells to take home, we remove more than just something beautiful — we interrupt that story and the role it plays in the ecosystem.
🌊 Next time you’re walking along the beach, take a moment to appreciate what you see, knowing it all belongs to something bigger.
Let the story continue - leave shells where they belong.
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Keep the Reef Off the 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.
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Might be useful to add that exporting conch shells is not permitted under the CITES treaty
Please welcome the Nature Foundation’s newest intern, Vincent Roberts!
🦈 Vincent is from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. His passion for sharks and rays has led him across the Atlantic Ocean. Vincent is an Applied Biology student at Aeres Hogeschool Almere. For his graduation thesis, he is studying shark and rays. His study mainly focuses on the habitat use and presence of spotted eagle rays and lemon sharks around Sint Maarten / Saint Martin. The information collected during his research can help to identify critical habitats for these species
🎥 Vincent is completing his internship with Wageningen Marine Research and is currently based at Nature Foundation Sint Maarten, where he conducts his fieldwork. His days are filled with deploying videos systems, reviewing their footage, and collecting community science data to better understand how sharks and rays use our local waters. In his free time, he enjoys illustrating sharks and rays and spotting these animals out at sea in their natural habitat.
🌊 Sharks and rays play an important role in our oceans by regulating species below them in the food chain, thereby maintaining the structure, balance, and function of marine food webs. This supports the health of local fisheries and coral reef ecosystems.
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Have you seen a shark or ray on Sint Maarten/Saint-Martin? 🦈
📋 Scan the QR code or use the link to upload your sighting to our online form at bit.ly/4lVnnJS. It takes fewer than 5 minutes to contribute to local science, and every sighting helps.
The Nature Foundation Sint Maarten, in collaboration with an undergraduate researcher from Aeres Hogeschool and Wageningen Marine Research, is collecting community science data to better understand how sharks and rays use our local waters.
Sharks and rays play an important role in our oceans by controlling species below them in the food chain, thereby maintaining the structure, balance, and function of marine food webs. This supports the health of local fisheries and coral reef ecosystems.
By sharing your observation, you help us:
💙 Identify which species are present.
💙 Understand which habitats are important.
💙 Learn how these animals use different habitats.
💙 Track movements between areas.
💙 Improve management and conservation efforts
❓Want to learn more? Email info@naturefoundationsxm.org.
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