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.
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.
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.
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 http://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.
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! 🐣
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