We are very excited to announce the official dates for the Nature Foundation 2026 Sint Maarten Biodiversity Fest, taking place on April 25 and 26, 2026. This annual event invites residents and visitors to explore and celebrate Sint Maarten’s rich biodiversity through a series of engaging and educational intiatives.
Biodiversity Fest Weekend Schedule Highlights:
April 25
- 7 AM: Biodiveristy Hike – A beginner-friendly guided hike to the island’s natural pools on the East side, offering participants a chance to explore one of Sint Maarten’s one of the most beautiful natural areas.
Register here for the biodiversity hike. - 9 AM: Snail Safari – A free shuttle will transport participants to Les Fruits de Mer, where they will explore the fascinating world of snails and take part in the Endemic Species Festival.
- 6:30 PM: Creatures of the Night – An evening exploration of nocturnal wildlife, highlighting the often unseen species that play a crucial role in supporting ecosystems and bird populations.
Register here for the “Creatures of the Night” event.
April 26
- 9 AM: Free Snorkeling Tour – A free guided snorkeling tour, offering insights into the underwater ecosystems and their importance to seabirds and overall marine health.
Register here for the snorkeling tour. - 6 PM: Documentary Screening Night – The festival will conclude with a documentary screening at Van Dorp Spaces, bringing together participants for a final moment of reflection and inspiration.
Register here for the documentary screening.
Email gaia@naturefoundationsxm.org with any inquiries. Make sure to register for the events that have limited spots!
Sint Maarten Biodiversity Fest 2026 is sponsored by Vogelbescherming Nederland.
Have you heard about our Shark and Ray Discovery Day?
🦈 Join us this Saturday, from 9 am to 2 pm, at the Simpson Bay Fish Market! There will be *free* lagoon boat tours, interactive games and prizes, and educational booths for all ages to enjoy.
💬 Pre-registration for the lagoon tour is highly advised, and activities are weather-dependent. Message us on WhatsApp +1 721 581-6365 to book your spot.
🎉 This is especially a time for celebration, as the Sint Maarten Insular Shelf was just designated an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA) by the IUCN Species Survival Commission. This means that our local waters have internationally recognized as being critical for the survival of species ranging from tiger sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, and spotted eagle rays.
💙 Our incredible thanks to the ISRA applicants, Caribbean Shark Coalition @caribsharks and Shark Conservation Fund @sharkconservationfund, who helped push through this exciting nomination, and our booth participants and supporters - Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin @agrnsm, The Scuba Shop @thescubashopsxm, Friendly Island Divers @friendlyislanddivers, and collaborating vendors and fishers of the Simpson Bay Fish Market.
This initiative is part of the MENAA project, funded by IUCN Bestlife2030, which supports Sint Maarten`s marine areas as nurseries for sharks, rays, and other species crucial to reef health and fishery stability.
Learn more at the link in our bio.
We are seeking a motivated Invasive Species Monitoring Intern to support a technology-driven program focused on monitoring invasive mammal populations in Sint Maarten. This internship will utilize advanced survey methods, thermal drone technology, remote camera operations, and some spatial analysis to assess the distribution and abundance on invasive mammals on the island. The internship will run from August through December 2026.
Key responsibilities include:
✅ Conduct invasive mammal population surveys using thermal drone technology
✅ Deploying and retrieving remote camera traps at field survey sites.
✅ Data entry and analysis
✅ Habitat mapping using GIS
✅ Field work materials maintenance and upkeep
👀 We are seeking qualified candidates with experience in environmental management, invasive species management, ecological field surveys, or drone operations. Applicants must be fluent in English and hold a valid driver`s license. Experience operating drones, along with proficiency in drone software and flight planning applications, is considered a strong asset.
📩 To apply, send your CV and cover letter to info@naturefoundationsxm.org with the subject line: Application for Invasive Species Monitoring Internship.
Application deadline: July 25 2026
For more information, go to our website: https://naturefoundationsxm.org/about/work-with-us/
The Nature Foundation office will be closed on Wednesay, July 1, for Emancipation Day. Regular hours (8:00-16:00) will resume on Thursday, July 2.
The Turk`s head cactus (Melocactus intortus) faces growing pressure from three main threats:
🦋 Invasive moth — Cactoblastis cactorum, originally from South America, lays larvae on native cacti. When they hatch, they burrow into the plant`s tissue, injuring and sometimes killing it.
🏗️ Habitat loss — Melocacti grow on coastal slopes: prime development land. Most remaining wild populations are now concentrated in the Réserve Naturelle on the French side, and in unprotected areas like Fort Amsterdam and Guana Bay on the Dutch side.
🐐 Grazing animals — Feral donkeys, goats, and horses trample juvenile plants, degrade surrounding habitat, and sometimes may even eat the cactus directly.
These pressures are increasing. Active monitoring and management are now essential to this species` future on the island.
The Cactus MAP SXM project, funded by a SPAW-RAC small grant, is a collaboration between the NGOs Nature Foundation Sint Maarten and the management body of the Réserve Naturelle of Saint-Martin. It seeks to advance native flora conservation on both sides of the island of Saint Martin.
Le cactus tête à l’anglais (Melocactus intortus) fait face à des pressions croissantes :
🦋 Papillon envahissant — Cactoblastis cactorum, originaire d`Amérique du Sud, pond ses larves sur les cactus indigènes. À l`éclosion, elles s`enfouissent dans les tissus de la plante, provoquant des blessures et parfois la mort.
🏗️ Perte d`habitat — Les mélocactuss poussent sur les pentes côtières : des terres prisées pour la construction. La plupart des populations sauvages restantes sont concentrées dans la Réserve Naturelle côté français, et dans des zones non protégées comme Fort Amsterdam et Guana Bay côté néerlandais.
🐐 Animaux en liberté — Ânes, chèvres et chevaux divaguants piétinent les jeunes plants, dégradent l`habitat environnant et peuvent parfois manger le cactus directement.
Ces pressions s`intensifient. Un suivi et une gestion active sont désormais essentiels à l`avenir de cette espèce sur l`île.
#SintMaarten #SaintMartin
