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!
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@aucmed_edu
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@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
Over the past few weeks the Nature Foundation, together with talented artist Nascha Kagie and an amazing group of community volunteers, brought some new life and color to the shaded area at the Great Salt Pond Birding Platform in Philipsburg!
The shapes, patterns, and colors of the artwork were inspired by two fundamental inhabitants of our ponds: pelicans and mangroves 🦤🌱
These beautiful species are an essential part of our local ecosystems, and we are so happy to see them represented in a space where the community can enjoy and learn about nature.
Next time you're passing by the bird platform bring your binoculars, take a seat, and enjoy one of Sint Maarten's most special natural spaces!
A project like this would not have been possible without the incredible support of our community. A huge thank you to every volunteer who came out, picked up a brush, and helped turn this idea into reality 💚
A very special thank you to Nascha Kagie for designing the artwork and bringing her creativity to the project, and to Island Gems Charity Foundation for generously donating all the painting materials that made this project possible 🎨
This is what community and conservation look like when we work together! 🌿💙
🪶 In recent months, the Nature Foundation had the honor of caring for a very special guest. This brown pelican, who we called "Rocky," earned his name because of his rocky start.
🌊 Rocky was reported by a visitor at the Divi Little Bay property near Fort Amsterdam - the only currently recorded nesting site for brown pelicans on the island- after washing up on a rocky beach. When our ranger arrived, she found that Rocky couldn't fly, walk, stand, or even react.
🩺 He was in critical condition. Rocky was rushed to the veterinarian for diagnostics and was immediately started on fluids and medication to treat a suspected diagnosis of botulism. Once he arrived at his recovery area, he began daily water therapy and gentle physical therapy to help prevent further loss of movement.
🐟 Just a few days later, Rocky was able to stand and eat on his own. Soon after, he began taking his first steps. Every milestone gave both our staff and veterinarians renewed optimism. Before long, Rocky began stretching his wings every day. Additional wing-strengthening exercises were introduced, and slowly his confidence grew. He started flying down from elevated spaces, then onto parked cars. He glided into his pool to catch fish and behaved more and more like a healthy wild pelican.
🌅 After nearly a month of treatment, it was time. Our staff returned Rocky to where he was found. As the crate door opened, he stepped out slowly and looked around. Then, finally, he spread his wings and soared over the water before circling back toward the breeding rocks. In that moment, he flew into the sky as though he had never left it.
📢 Stories like Rocky's remind us why wildlife rescue matters. Botulism is commonly caused by ingesting spoiled fish contaminated with a deadly neurotoxin. It is a serious condition that can be fatal if not treated quickly. If you ever see a seabird or shorebird that is unable to fly or walk, please contact us immediately.
💙 We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the veterinarians who always make time when wildlife needs them most, to Abri voor Dieren for their support, and to every donor who makes rescues like Rocky's possible.
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
"What nature is even left to protect on Sint Maarten?" 🇸🇽
We hear this from locals and tourists, from lifelong islanders and newcomers, from people who love nature and people who've never seen the value of it.
It always hurts to hear, but this statement is borne from an uncomfortable fact: over the decades, St. Maarten has indeed lost much of its natural beauty and biodiversity to poor planning and management practices. But the island still packs a punch as a regional biodiversity hotspot, and there's still so much worth protecting.
That's why we're so grateful for WOW The Nature Film’s beautiful episode on Sint Maarten's nature. Framing the island as “one of contrasts” — where urban development, intense hurricanes, and rich biodiversity all coexist — the episode spotlights two things that make us stand out:
🦈 Our coastal waters as a potential breeding and pupping nursery for tiger sharks
🦅 Our rocky coastline as a significant rookery and breeding site for brown pelicans
Both species are regionally important here, and both have an uncertain future. Protecting their habitat from harm and these species from human disturbances matters for both our island and the wider region that depends on them.
There is so much value in protecting our other species, ecosystems, and natural spaces we have in our country — not only for the health of the environment, but for our connection to nature as a society, the preservation of heritage and traditions, the physical and mental benefits that come from spending time in natural areas, and so much more.
Our team was glad to contribute to the shark tagging, birding, and diving segments, alongside other local experts and voices who brought incredibly valuable perspectives. Thanks to the WOW team and everyone who helped bring this episode to life.
🎥 Watch the 30-minute episode (and the sister island episodes) here: npo.nl/start/serie/natuur-in-de-cariben/afleveringen
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
Bless the Nature Foundation and the good work they do to protect the environment 🙏🏼 💕
Plenty go outside and touch the soil ❤️🌱
It is never to late to protect the environment. There are stil some endemic species not extinct. Natural freshwater is almost gone or polluted. Starting to identifying, restoring and protecting freshwater habitats could be the first step toward rebuilding the islands natural ecosystems.
It was a super busy weekend for our team and sea turtle lovers on Sint Maarten! 🐢✨
In just 24 hours, we received four nesting reports across Simpson Bay Beach and Gibbs Bay - three on Simpson Bay alone, with two confirmed egg layings! A huge thank you to the observant community members who reported these sightings and set up barricades so our team could collect data and set up protective nest barriers.
As we head into the peak of sea turtle nesting season, sightings of nesting females and emerging hatchlings will become more common. Despite heavy human activity on popular beaches like Simpson Bay, Dawn Beach, and Mullet Bay, these resilient turtles keep coming back.
Share this with a friend or family member to help safeguard SXM's sea turtles:
📞 Report immediately: Call +1 (721) 544-4267 (business hours) or WhatsApp +1 (721) 581-6365 (after-hours).
💡 Keep it dark: Turn off bright white lights, flashlights, and camera flashes.
🤫 Keep your distance: Stay at least 15m (~45ft) away, move slowly, and stay quiet.
🐕 Leash pets: Keep dogs restrained and away from the area.
🗣️ Speak up: Kindly educate anyone you see disturbing a turtle or nest.
🇫🇷 On French Saint-Martin? Report to Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin via WhatsApp: +590 690 47 02 13 or +590 690 34 77 10.
📲 Share this post to spread the word!
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8 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thank you for doing this it looks amazing i was there with my bike tour guest yesterday. it was a pleasure to the nice job that was done
Great job! What a big difference
Great work, Looking great!!!
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