Author: Leslie Hickerson

Nature Foundation St. Maarten has presented crucial information at local schools as well as conducted beach clean-ups with small groups of students on four different beaches, Kimsha beach, Mullet Bay, Belair and Great Bay beach. These activities are part of the In-No-Plastic Project, a European Union-funded global initiative that raises awareness about plastic waste and innovative clean-up methods. The presentations teach students how to reduce their plastic usage and the effects plastic has on the island’s ecosystem. The Nature Foundation has hosted five clean-ups in the last three weeks collecting a total of 897.5lbs (407kg)! The clean-ups offer students the opportunity to see first-hand the amount of trash that is littering our coastline, how it negatively affects the environment, as well as an organized way for them to learn how to safely collect and remove the litter.

“Conducting clean-ups with young students is a very rewarding task. The younger education starts, the more information regarding litter and why it has a negative effect on our environment will be observed by the students. This allows them to think about the litter more passionately and how it can be removed from our environment, stated the project coordinator, Alice Manley. “The students participating in the clean-ups often have a lot of competitiveness to see which group can collect the most trash. This is a great reaction that we look forward to as the students end up collecting more litter and tend to walk away with a big feeling of accomplishment.”  

The goal of In-No-Plastic is to prevent, remove, and repurpose marine plastic litter. A variety of strategies for reducing plastic use on the island will be presented by In-No-Plastic staff and the Nature Foundation through various social media platforms and presentations to schools, organizations, and businesses. As time passes, our staff will continue to monitor the amount of plastic found in our coastal areas.

“The Nature Foundation is eager to organize outdoor activities such as clean-ups with local schools. Providing student’s, the opportunity to assist with cleaning their island and keeping our native species safe and healthy is a large component of the work we do. Our goal is to preserve and enhance St. Maarten’s environment for generations to come,” stated Zakiya Peterson, Project Assistant of the Nature Foundation.  “We look forward to the next generation as they get older and continue with their passion of protecting the environment.”

Presentations for the In-No-Plastic Project include topics such as the environmental tasks of the Nature Foundation, In-No-Plastic tasks, then differences between single-use and multi-use plastic, Sint Maarten’s plastic ban, and further information about the plastics’ environmental impact. Students participate in hands-on activities, and presentations can focus on practical applications, such as organizing clean-ups.

The clean-ups organized by the Nature Foundation include the use of reusable bags and gloves and trash disposal if the clean-ups are conducted at a beach without public garbage. Involved with the clean-ups, the Nature Foundation discusses with students the effects plastic has on the environment, and what they can do to minimize their plastic footprint. Over the last three weeks, the Nature Foundation in participation with local schools conducted five clean-ups with students ranging in ages from six years old to 19 years old. The Nature Foundation is proud of the efforts provided by local and visiting students and looks forward to increasing this number throughout the year.

Schools, groups, and businesses are welcome to reach out to the Nature Foundation to request a presentation or assistance from the Nature Foundation for any educational activity. These activities could take place in a class, or at another location by the group’s organization. If you would like to request a presentation from the Nature Foundation, please, contact info@naturefoundationsxm.org.

A consortium of 17 partners and 10 different countries in Europe and the Caribbean make up the project. The Nature Foundation will work alongside the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), a partner participating in the In-No-Plastic project. In-No-Plastic started October 2020 and is a three-year project funded with a 7.4 million Euro grant from the EU H2020 research project, funded under the call “Pilot action from the removal of Marine plastics and litter”, Topic ID: CE-FNR-09-2020 (Grant Agreement 10100612).

To learn more about this project, you can check out https://naturefoundationsxm.org/education/in-no-plastic-project/. You can also follow the Nature Foundation on social media to keep up to date with our work and learn when future clean-ups will occur. If you are interested in joining the Nature Foundation’s volunteer list to receive emails about volunteer opportunities, reach out to us at https://naturefoundationsxm.org/about-us/contact-us.

The first Sea turtle nesting sign was placed at Mullet Bay beach by the Nature Foundation together with the Minister of VROMI. From left to right; Delhon Hewitt Marine Park Ranger of the Nature Foundation, Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern Manager of the Nature Foundation, Egbert Doran Minister of VROMI and Ildiko Gilders Policy Advisor Nature Environment of VROMI. 

The Nature Foundation St. Maarten with the support of the Ministry of VROMI will be placing sixteen sea turtle nesting information signs on the main nesting beaches: Mullet Bay, Simpson Bay, Guana Bay, Gibbs Bay and Dawn Beach, over the course of the next few weeks. Last Thursday, the first sign was placed on Mullet Bay Beach with the assistance and support from the Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI), Egbert Doran.

“I encourage awareness to the sea turtle nesting, placing these signs will help do so. The nests are very delicate, and there are a variety of precautions that should be taken while visiting beaches that are visited by nesting turtles. I further encourage a commitment to environmental responsibility.” Minister Egbert Doran of VROMI said.

The sea turtle nesting signs contain important information about nesting on St. Maarten and which actions can cause harm towards the survival of eggs and hatchlings. The signs contain information about the protected status of sea turtles on St Maarten and warn for any violations, which are also supported by the Prosecutor Office and Ministry of Justice. 

“We are very worried about the decrease of our sea turtle population and the amount of threats sea turtles face. Therefore, we are very pleased with the possibility of placing these signs along the important sea turtle nesting beaches of Sint Maarten. Education is key and we hope that the signs will contribute to a decrease in beach driving, harassment of sea turtle nests, bonfires and decline of artificial lightning on beaches. Together we can protect these significant species and ensure their survival to still have nesting sea turtles on our beaches in the future” explained Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern, Manager of the Nature Foundation St. Maarten.

On Sint Maarten four endangered sea turtle species can be found foraging, three of these species also nest. Green, hawksbill and Leatherback Sea turtles typically nest on the beaches during the months April through December each year. Humans are the primary source of many of the threats these animals face which result in only 1 in 1000 hatchlings surviving to adulthood. Despite their endangered status, sea turtles are still being killed for their meat and shells around the world. Habitat destruction has been an increasing problem as the coastlines are being overdeveloped since the 1990’s. This results in limited space available for natural beaches, which are necessary for sea turtles to nest. Poaching of eggs, fishery bycatch and trash pollution of the oceans are all also threats sea turtles are facing and causing their populations to become endangered.

Besides all these major threats, boat strikes are also a significant cause of a decreasing sea turtle population around St. Maarten. In 2021 four sea turtles died due to boat strikes and another five turtles died in 2020. Sea turtles’ surface to breathe as they have lungs and breathe air. During this time, the turtles are exposed to boats and especially their propellers, when boats are traveling at high speeds turtles are easily struck. The Foundation urges all boaters to lower their speed in coastal and lagoon areas and to actively look out for sea turtles when driving a boat, at all times! 

All sea turtle’s species are locally and internationally protected by the SPAW Protocol, CITES Convention, Bonn Convention and the Nature Conservation Ordinance St. Maarten Articles 16 and 17. This means it is illegal to kill, wound, capture or pick up sea turtles. It is also illegal to disturb their environment resulting directly or indirectly in a physical threat or damage or to commit other acts which result in disturbance of the animal. It is forbidden to disturb, damage or destroy sea turtle nests, lairs or breeding places. Also, it is forbidden, by the same law, to pick up or to destroy the eggs of any species of sea turtle. In short, it is illegal to disturb or damage the turtles, their eggs or their habitat in any way.

The Nature Foundation asks everyone to be mindful of the threats sea turtles face and try to mitigate them, especially on nesting beaches. Never drive on our beaches with any type of vehicle, keep distance from nesting and hatching turtles, minimize your use of single-use plastics and remove all trash, slow down your boat when traveling in the lagoon or coastal areas, request permits for bonfires, and limit beach lighting during nesting season, which is from April until December. If an injured sea turtle or any sea turtle nesting activity on the beach is encountered, please alert the Nature Foundation immediately.

During the removal of the shipwrecks from Hurricane Irma in 2017 that remain in the Simpson Bay Lagoon, the Nature Foundation assisted the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) and its contractors. The Foundation staff has conducted environmental monitoring, assistance and advice, to ensure that the disposal of these wrecks has the least potential impact on the natural environment and potential endangered species. Coral reefs, seagrass ecosystems and mangroves are vital to the health of both marine and terrestrial life on St. Maarten. While it was essential that the wrecks of Hurricane Irma were removed quickly, it was also important that the proper measures were taken to ensure no additional environmental damage occurred. Safe removal of the wrecks will benefit the environment in the long-term and outweighed the potential risks for the current species attached to wrecks.

The Nature Foundation’s surveys also discovered several sensitive corals growing on the wrecks and included recommendations on whether the recorded species could be transplanted. The corals found on the wreck, in particular the Golf ball, Kobby brain, Orange cup, and Hidden cup corals were candidates to be transplanted to a new location. These corals play a significant role in the health of St. Maarten’s marine ecosystem and the building of reefs, preservation of these corals should always be attempted.

“Due to the length of time the wrecks have been submerged in the lagoon and their position, various surveys were done to report and analyse whether any native seagrass beds, corals, surrounding mangroves, or other species of interest may be at risk during salvaging work. Advice was given to the contractors and transplanting of corals and marine life was conducted by the Foundation. In total 78 corals were transplanted from wrecks towards a restoration site in Simpson Bay, the out planted corals were monitored for a half year. Some species showed successful survival rates, such as the orange cup coral. Other species were not successful in surviving at their new location, such as golfball corals and brain corals. In addition, 15 marine life species were successfully removed from a wreck and relocated to a safe location in Mullet Pond,” stated Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern Manager of The Nature Foundation St. Maarten.

Coral transplanting has been utilized as a restoration approach for several decades around the world, transferring coral pieces to regions where they are more likely to thrive. The particles are then immediately carried through ocean water to their final destination. Corals will be adhered to the prepared seafloor using an underwater epoxy. Corals grow over the epoxy and organically connect at their base over time.

“Before successfully transplanting a coral fragment, our dive crew delicately removes it from the wreck. Corals are highly delicate creatures, and our staff takes great care throughout the transplantation process to achieve increased survival rates,” stated Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern.  

The findings of coral transplanting demonstrate that the survival rates of the Golf Ball, Starlet, and Brain coral were quite low, these out-planned corals either perished or vanished. The kind of epoxy used to transplant the coral is critical to coral survival; certain species have difficulty connecting to the epoxy or substrate. The Apoxie Sculpt was found to have better attachment and was hence largely utilized after the initial out planting. The structure of the coral, on the other hand, impacts the success of attachment to the epoxy and substrate. Rough or unevenly formed corals may increase attachment to substrate and epoxy, as was most likely the situation with the Orange cup corals. The Orange cup corals attached considerably better, and only a few corals were destroyed.

The National Recovery Program Bureau has reported that in total 139 wrecks were removed from Mullet Pond and the Simpson Bay Lagoon, approximately 3,200 metric tons of scrap metal, and 400 metric tons of non-ferrous scrap metal have been safely discarded. This is an amazing accomplishment for St. Maarten which will protect our precious ecosystems moving forward.

The Nature Foundation would like to thank the NRPB for the successful completion of the Shipwreck Removal project and for taking excellent care to limit impacts on the environment, corals, seagrass and mangroves!

The Nature Foundation St. Maarten has continuously seen a disturbing amount of plastic pollution on the island, especially by Zagersgut road located alongside the Fresh Pond, which is also an Important Bird Area for St. Maarten. Various plastic and other litter items were blown into a small inlet in the Fresh Pond disturbing native bird species, fish species and polluting the water causing a serious health concern.

“Arriving and seeing that much plastic in one place was devastating. The pieces were likely blown or thrown into the Fresh Pond individually and then blown into the small inlet where they collected together. Juvenile Slider Turtles were climbing on top of the plastic and swimming underneath it, indicating that all the water was covered and suffocated by plastics,” stated Alice Manley, In-No-Plastic Project Coordinator. “Plastic pollution seen like this can cause negative environmental effects such as harming our native bird species on St. Maarten.”

Birdlife International designated Fresh Pond as an Important Bird Area for St. Maarten (IBA AN002). Due to its low salinity, Fresh Pond supports bird species that are less common in other parts of St. Maarten and the Lesser Antilles. The fresh pond is an especially important roosting, foraging, and breeding ground for many species of wetland birds including Herons, Egrets, Brown Pelicans, Stilts, and Coots. Depending on water depth, the ponds and lagoon shelter populations of fish, molluscs, and small invertebrates that provide a great source of food for the birds. The animals living there are very easily affected by plastic pollution, which will usually cost them their lives.

In addition, humans, are greatly affected by plastic as well. Toxic chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) leach out of plastics and are found in the blood and tissue of nearly all humans. Exposure to the toxins will increase the risk of certain cancers, can cause hormonal issues, and even increase the risk of infertility and birth defects. Ingesting plastic can also negatively impact the immune system over time. The fish in the fresh pond will have traces of micro-and nano- plastics in them by either accidentally eating a piece of plastic, or mistaking it for their food source. The plastic can then stay in the fish’s stomach, resulting in humans’ indirect ingestion of micro-and nano- plastics. To limit the amount of plastic that is consumed by animals and humans, there will need to be a decrease in the plastic in our environment.

“Plastics can have a detrimental effect on marine and terrestrial life and affect our health, The Nature Foundation St. Maarten is looking forward to the Plastic Ban to be implemented in the near future,” stated Manager Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern. “The Nature Foundation aims to protect and preserve our environment, and therefore would like to emphasize the negative impacts of having a large collection of plastic such as this one. We strongly encourage everyone to always dispose of their trash and plastics in proper ways which includes closed bins”

In-No-Plastic concentrates on innovative methods to prevent, remove, and reuse of marine plastic litter. Nature Foundation and In-No-Plastic staff will introduce several social strategies to reduce plastic usage on the island by providing information on various social platforms and presenting it to local students and residents. Staff will also monitor the amount of plastic found in our coastal areas over time. In addition, we will monitor and test ocean and lagoon water for microplastics every six months. The results from this water testing would show whether the amount of microplastics in the water reduces at the same rate as the macro plastics, which are removed during community clean-ups.

A consortium of 17 partners and 10 different countries in Europe and the Caribbean make up the In-No-Plastic project. The Nature Foundation will work alongside the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), a partner participating in the In-No-Plastic project. In-No-Plastic started October 2020 and is a three-year project funded with a 7.4 Million Euro grant from the EU H2020 research project, funded under the call “Pilot action for the removal of marine plastics and litter”, Topic ID: CE-FNR-09-2020 (Grant Agreement 101000612).

To learn more about this project, you can check out our website naturefoundationsxm.org/education/in-no-plastic-project. You can also follow the Nature Foundation on social media to keep up to date with our work and learn more about plastic pollution. If you are interested in joining the Nature Foundation’s volunteer list to receive emails about volunteer opportunities, reach out to us at info@naturefoundationsxm.org. 

Once more, a sea turtle was fatally struck by a boat engine in the Simpson Bay lagoon, the Nature Foundation counted four sea turtle fatalities for 2021. The Foundation received a call regarding an injured sea turtle found in the Simpson Bay Lagoon by a Marina. The green sea turtle had no chance of survival due to the large propeller injuries. It had a deep cut in the head and also in the plastron (underside) of the turtle. Most likely the turtle got struck by a boat and was turned around by the force of the strike and hit again, fatally injuring the turtle. In this situation, the only humane option was to put the turtle down to prevent a slow, extremely painful death.

“It is heartbreaking to see another boat striking accident involving a sea turtle. Because of the profound injuries we had no other option than to put it down. If only the carapace (shell) would have been damaged, it could have possibly been mended and had a chance of survival. Due to the deep cuts in the head and underside we, unfortunately, had no chance to save it,” explained Tessa Volbeda, sea turtle intern of the Nature Foundation who was at the scene to retrieve the sea turtle.

Boat strike accidents, like this one in the lagoon, have contributed to the decrease of the sea turtle population. This year already 4 sea turtles have died due to boat strikes and another 5 turtles died in 2020. It is difficult to point out the guilty boat, as an injured sea turtle will dive down due to the strike. However, any boat which is traveling faster than indicated in the no wake zone, is an offender and contributor to the death of an endangered and protected species. Sea turtles surface to breathe as they have lungs and breathe air. During this time, the turtles are exposed to boats and especially their propellers, when boats are traveling at high speeds turtles are easily struck.

“At the Nature Foundation, we are very worried about the decrease of our sea turtle population on Sint Maarten and the amount of fatal boat strikes. We are asking all boaters to reduce their speed and we are asking the assistance of the coastguard to have all boats adhere to the speed limit, especially in the lagoon. We are taking different actions to increase the awareness of the critical state the sea turtles are in, for example using signs on the bridge. However, boats are apparently still speeding in the lagoon and coastal areas creating a hazardous situation for sea turtles that come up for air. We also urge everyone to actively look out for sea turtles when driving a boat at all times” stated Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern, manager of the Nature Foundation St. Maarten.

All sea turtle’s species are protected by the SPAW Protocol and the Nature Conservation Ordinance St. Maarten Articles 16 and 17. This means it is illegal to kill, wound, capture or pick up sea turtles. It is also illegal to disturb their environment resulting directly or indirectly in a physical threat or damage or to commit other acts which result in disturbance of the animal. It is forbidden to disturb, damage or destroy sea turtle nests, lairs or breeding places. Also, it is forbidden, by the same law, to pick up or to destroy the eggs of any species of sea turtle. In short, it is illegal to disturb or damage the turtles, their eggs or their habitat in any way.

Humans are the primary source of many of the threats these animals face which result in only 1 in 1000 hatchlings surviving to adulthood. Despite their endangered status, green sea turtles are still being killed for their meat and shells. Habitat destruction has been an increasing problem as the coastlines are being overdeveloped since the 1990’s. This results in limited space available for natural beaches, which are necessary for sea turtles to nest. Poaching of eggs, fishery bycatch and trash pollution of the oceans are all also threats sea turtles must face.

The Nature Foundation asks everyone to be mindful of the threats sea turtles face and try to mitigate them. Minimize your use of single-use plastics, slow down your boats when traveling in the lagoon or coastal areas, always have a lookout onboard, and limit beach lighting during nesting season, which is from April until December. If an injured sea turtle or any sea turtle activity on the beach is encountered, please alert the Nature Foundation immediately. 

The Nature Foundation St. Maarten has begun presenting at local schools on St. Maarten about plastic and how to keep our environment safe and healthy. The presentations are within the In-No-Plastic Project, a European Union-funded global initiative. The presentations teach local students how to limit their plastic use and the effects plastic has on the island’s ecosystem.

“We are very excited to be back in the classrooms and talking to local students about how we protect St. Maarten’s environment. These presentations are impactful and interactive. Through this program we hope to push students to think critically about their actions,” stated Alice Manley, project coordinator. “The students have been showing great interest in environmental protection, with some older students asking how they can volunteer or be more active in conservation!”

In-No-Plastic concentrates on innovative methods towards the prevention, removal, and reuse of marine plastic litter. Nature Foundation and In-No-Plastic staff will introduce various social strategies to reduce the plastic usage on the island by providing information on various social platforms and presenting to the local school groups. Staff will also monitor the amount of plastic found in our coastal areas over time. In addition, this project offers a large contribution to the Nature Foundation’s conservation educational materials as well as outreach efforts and activities.

Within the school presentations, topics such as the Nature Foundation tasks, In-No-Plastic project tasks, differences between single-use and multi-use plastic, the St. Maarten plastic ban, and further information about plastic and their effects on the environment are discussed. Students are also given the opportunity to take part in hands-on activities and groups can add practical applications to the presentations such as a field trip to participate in a clean-up!

“Presenting to St. Maarten’s students is incredibly important and so we are very glad to be able to be back in the classrooms with the students again. The youth of St. Maarten is our future, and the Nature Foundation will continue to protect and preserve our environment for generations to come. We believe that sharing this vital information with students, residents and tourists, will expand their knowledge of the work we do and why we do it,” stated Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern, Nature Foundation manager. “This will help to create members of our community who are advocates for the protection of our island and its natural resources.”

Schools, groups, and businesses are welcome to reach out to the Nature Foundation to request a presentation or assistance from the Nature Foundation for any educational activity. These activities could take place in a classroom, or at another location by the group’s organization. If you would like to request a presentation from the Nature Foundation, please contact info@naturefoundationsxm.org.

A consortium of 17 partners and 10 different countries in Europe and the Caribbean make up the project. The Nature Foundation will work alongside the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), a partner participating in the In-No-Plastic project. In-No-Plastic started October 2020 and is a three-year project funded with a 7.4 Million Euro grant from the EU H2020 research project, funded under the call “Pilot action for the removal of marine plastics and litter”, Topic ID: CE-FNR-09-2020 (Grant Agreement 101000612).

To learn more about this project, you can check out https://naturefoundationsxm.org/education/in-no-plastic-project/. You can also follow the Nature Foundation on social media to keep up to date with our work and learn when future clean-ups will occur. If you are interested in joining the Nature Foundation’s volunteer list to receive emails about volunteer opportunities, reach out to us at https://naturefoundationsxm.org/about-us/contact-us.

Nature Foundation Project Coordinator Travels to Europe to Meet Partners Within the In-No-Plastic Project Funded by the European Commission

The Nature Foundation St. Maarten recently has strengthened their collaboration with international partners for the “In-No-Plastic” Project and had the opportunity to travel to Europe to learn from several different partners. The partners reside in Italy, Croatia, Netherlands, and England, where the Foundation was able to discuss and learn new methods, systems, successes and challenges the partners faced while implanting the “In-No-Plastic” project in their areas. These methods, and systems will be implemented in the Nature Foundation coastal clean-ups and other In-No-Plastic project operations.

Starting in Venice, Italy, the Nature Foundation participated in a large-scale clean-up with Venice Lagoon Plastic Free, a fellow partner on the “In-No-Plastic” Project. This event took place over 2 days in honor of World Clean-Up Day 2021. There was more than 800kgs of marine litter collected in the clean-up organized by Venice Lagoon Plastic Free. During the event Nature Foundation project coordinator Alice Manley was introduced to the data collection process of the project which will be adapted and implemented in future events on St. Maarten.

Following the work in Venice, Manley travelled to Krk, Croatia to work with In-No-Plastic partners Ponikve, a waste collection and organization company. During the time in Krk, the Nature Foundation met with the partners to discuss their methods and the application of the project in the area. During several events in Croatia Manley was able to receive hands on introduction and training in data input, analysis, education, and outreach efforts that have been found successful by the staff of Ponikve.

“Being given the opportunity to represent the Nature Foundation and St. Maarten and travel to Europe has been a huge beneficial aspect towards our work within this project. I have been able to meet and work alongside our partner organizations in this project and learn how they have established this project in their countries. The information we have collected will benefit the Nature Foundation and how we conduct clean-ups and other aspects of this project to reduce marine litter on the island,” stated project coordinator Alice Manley.

Shortly after the events in Krk, Manley continued to the Netherlands. There, the Nature Foundation met with three different project partners. This included BlueXPRT, the Project Mangers of “In-No-Plastic” and one of the leading partners of the collaboration. BlueXPRT founder, Ludwin Daal, grew up in St. Maarten and in support of the island strongly suggested St. Maarten and the Nature Foundation join as a contributing partner to the “In-No-Plastic” Project. This support has led to significant funding and opportunity for improvement regarding the plastic problem on St. Maarten. 

The final partner the Nature Foundation met with was Thames21, based out of London, England. This organization is a leading environmental charity in the country, focused on efforts to keep the Thames River clean. Along with participating in hugely successful clean-up events and activities with the group, the foundation discussed overall project implementation. Members of the Thames21 team provided advice on challenges and successes seen by their organization as well as lines of communication and assistance in the actualization of the “In-No-Plastic” project on St. Maarten.

“The benefit of meeting with our European Partners in the “In-No-Plastic” Project is invaluable,” said the Nature Foundation. “The opportunity to speak with these successful organizations and agencies about their experiences so early on in our project will enable us to implement the program quickly and successfully, while avoiding challenges that our partners have already encountered. We are very excited to bring this project to fruition on St. Maarten and reduce the plastic waste that litters our environment.”

A consortium of 17 partners and 10 different countries in Europe and the Caribbean make up

the project. The Nature Foundation will be work alongside the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance

(DCNA), a partner participating in the In-No-Plastics project. InNoPlastic started October 2020 and is a three-year project funded with a 7.4 Million Euro grant from the EU H2020 research project, funded under the call “Pilot action for the removal of marine plastics and litter”, Topic ID: CE-FNR-09-2020 (Grant Agreement 101000612).

To learn more about this project, you can check out https://naturefoundationsxm.org/education/in-no-plastic-project/. You can also follow the Nature Foundation on social media to keep up to date with our work and learn when future clean-ups will occur. If you are interested in joining the Nature Foundation’s volunteer list to receive emails about volunteer opportunities, reach out to us at https://naturefoundationsxm.org/about-us/contact-us/.

https://naturefoundationsxm.org/about-us/contact-us/.

The Nature Foundation has noticed an increase of sea turtle nesting activity, sea turtle nesting season normally lasts from April until December each year. Especially Dawn Beach has been a place of interest, already two nests successfully hatched and hatchlings made it to the ocean, and another three nests were laid successfully by hawksbill turtles. Unfortunately, weather conditions and human disturbances caused some challenges for the sea turtles and nests to survive. Several hatchlings were disturbed due to artificial lightening around the beach, causing them to end up in the pool and other obstacles, some did not survive, others were saved by the Foundation and Hotel staff. One nest got destroyed due to the swells from hurricanes in the regions, causing the eggs to flush away.

An increase in sea turtle patrols by the Foundation and the assistance of several hotels including the Westin Hotel, has led to early detection of sea turtle nesting and increased their protection and research possibilities. The Nature Foundation is fortunate to receive the assists form Tessa Volbeda, an intern from University van Hall Larenstein in the Netherlands studying Marine Biology, which will research St. Maarten’s Sea turtle nesting activities in the coming months.

“It has been an honour to be working with the Nature Foundation on this sea turtle project. I have always had a fascination for sea turtles, and I am extremely excited to be experiencing such an active nesting season. I hope to contribute as much to the conservation of these animals as possible, because they play such an important role in the ecosystem” explained Tessa Volbeda.

From March until at least December, the green, hawksbill, and leatherback sea turtle species will lay their eggs on our beaches. However, sea turtles may be nesting earlier in the season to avoid higher-than-average temperatures due to climate change. Individual sea turtles have been known to lay their eggs at different times outside the regular season. All three populations have declined from human activities and are endangered, critically endangered, and vulnerable, respectively. On average only 1% of hatched sea turtles make it to adulthood, therefore it is crucial to not further hamper their survival and people should stay clear from any sea turtle nesting activity, to ensure the highest chance of survival to these eggs. It is vital that at least a 30 meters distance from sea turtles on the beach is kept, also please refrain from using flashlights and lightening, unless it is a red light.

Unfortunately, the hatchling mortality rate is high, and it is not unusual for them to become dehydrated and pass away before reaching the ocean. “Hawksbills, one of three sea turtle species that nest on St. Maarten’s beaches, are critically endangered and protected locally and internationally. This means it is illegal to kill, wound, capture or pick them up. It is also illegal to disturb their environment resulting directly or indirectly in a physical threat or damage, or to commit other acts which result in disturbance of the animal. It is forbidden to disturb, damage or destroy sea turtle nests, lairs, breeding places or eggs.” Stated the Nature Foundation St. Maarten.  

Thanks to collaboration of the Nature Foundation with the security team at the Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa more data could be collected from the nesting sea turtles. The Foundation was able to confirm three laid nests and two hatching events. The nests have been marked to ensure that it can remain undisturbed for the incubation time until it hatches. Eggs may be quite shallow and close to the surface of the beach. It is essential to prohibit any umbrellas being placed in nest areas which may pierce the eggs, prevent walking over the nest, and to ensure that there is absolutely no chance of the nest being driven over by any type of vehicle.

At the end of August two hatching events took place, one at Dawn Beach and one at Oyster Bay Beach. While many hatchlings seemed to have made it into the ocean a few did not find their way. Several were found around the property of the Westin Hotel, which could be due to the strong lighting in the area. Hatchling sea turtles normally follow the light of the moon reflecting on the water to reach the ocean safely and strong outdoor lights can confuse them. Some were luckily found wandering early enough to be saved, however, quite some did not survive.

If a nesting sea turtle, nesting tracks or hatchlings are encountered on the beach, always try to let sea turtles find their own way to the ocean and contact the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten immediately. It is safest to not disturb them if they are heading in the correct direction. Be alert and remove debris that is in the way. If the hatchling gets stuck or starts going in the wrong direction, carefully pick it up along with some sand and put it into a bucket until the Foundation staff arrives. If Foundation staff is not available, never place hatchlings directly in the ocean, always place them in the sand just at the edge of breaking water and count all hatchlings to report to the Foundation. Ensure that pets and animals are kept away from the area and don’t walk over the tracks, as much data can still be retrieved from sea turtle tracks and nesting signs.  

In exceptional situations a nest relocation takes place. Nature Foundation staff relocated a sea turtle nest that was in danger of being damaged due to high wave activity on Dawn Beach at the end of September. A Hawksbill nest was laid on Dawn beach, unfortunately, it was located quite close to the water. There was a high risk of the nest getting flooded due to large swells, which will cause the hatchlings to die. To prevent this from happening, the nest was dug up and 126 eggs were carefully collected. This is a very risky process as the eggs are very vulnerable in the first days after being laid. If eggs are not handled carefully, fragile membranes in the egg will break, which means the egg will not develop any further.

There are some main threats to the nesting populations on St. Maarten. Lights from homes and businesses look like moonlight and they reflect on the surface of the sea. Hatchlings become confused by the lights and go towards the human lights instead of the ocean. Development reduces the beach’s width, forcing sea turtles to nest closer to the sea where their eggs could be washed away. It also pollutes and increases human presence on coasts, making it an unattractive nesting prospect. Finally, sea turtles are vulnerable when they come ashore as their hide and meat can be sold and eaten. Their eggs are also susceptible to poaching for eating.

If any sea turtle activity is observed on our beaches, please contact the Nature Foundation to report the sighting at 5444267 or info@naturefoundationsxm.org.

In the last weeks the Nature Foundation St. Maarten has actively collaborated with the officers of St. Maarten Customs to exchange knowledge regarding the trade of endangered species, called CITES Convention (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Customs Officers learned more about which species are protected under the convention, especially species occurring on St. Maarten, and details of the required permits from a biological viewpoint. Knowledge was shared about occurring concerns and issues and how the Foundation can assist officers to recognize the different endangered species.

“Collaboration is crucial to ensure survival of endangered species and to adhere to our local and international legislations. St. Maarten customs officers are on the front line to intercept illegal wildlife trade; however, species recognition can be very challenging. We hope that our local species knowledge contributes to improve the CITES implementation on St. Maarten” stated Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern Manager at the Nature Foundation St. Maarten.  

Chief of Customs, Mr. Anthony Doran continued; “First of all, the Customs department would like to thank the Nature Foundation for taking the time out to exchange knowledge to the personnel of the Customs department over the past weeks. Our officers now have a better understanding regarding the trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna. Specially species occurring on St. Maarten. In close collaboration with the Nature foundation, Customs will continue to ensure that all species listed on the CITES upon import and export are controlled once the proper documentation can be presented.”

In order to trade species listed on CITES between different countries, appropriate CITES import and export permits are required and those documents need to be presented for clearance at the port of entry and exit. Examples of species listed on CITES are sea turtles, dolphins and whales, all parrots (cockatoos, parakeets and macaws), all corals, all cacti, all orchids, all primates, lignum vitae tree, some sharks (such as whale sharks and hammerheads), iguanas, seahorses, hummingbirds, tortoise (land turtle), all boa and python snakes, all alligators, crocodiles and caimans and some bats. If these species in any state, either dead, alive, parts (such as shells or feathers) of or samples of these species, are travelling from or to other countries, CITES permits need to be requested by the CITES Management Authority of the involved States. The Nature Foundation is the designated CITES Management Authority of Sint Maarten and issues CITES permits for the country, appointed by the VROMI Minister via a Ministerial Administrative Decision.

CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. St. Maarten is a party of the convention based on the national legislation and the nature ordinance, CITES is legally binding on the parties. In total more than 38,700 species, including roughly 5,950 species of animals and 32,800 species of plants, are protected by CITES against over-exploitation through international trade. The species covered by CITES are listed in three Appendices, according to the degree of protection they need. 

Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances. Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade.

Each Party to the CITES Convention must designate a Management Authority in charge of administering that licensing system and a Scientific Authority to advise them on the effects of trade on the status of the species. Within the Nature Foundation the Manager, currently Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern, is the appointed CITES Management Authority and the Secretary of the board, currently Rikke Bachmann-Speetjens the Scientific Authority.

CITES attempts to address exploitation via the international wildlife trade, which is hugely lucrative for both dead and live organisms. The United Nations estimates that the illegal trade is worth between $7 billion and $23 billion a year. While the wildlife trade is devastating for ecosystems and species, it also harms local economies, societal stability, and human health. The trade is diverse, ranging from live animals and plants to a vast array of wildlife products derived from them, including food products, exotic leather goods, wooden musical instruments, timber, tourist curios and medicines. (source CITES.org).

For any questions related to CITES or to receive information if a certain species are protected under the convention, please reach out to the Nature Foundation St. Maarten, more information can also be found at naturefoundationsxm.org/cites.

Photo caption: Chief of Customs, Mr. Anthony Doran, together with the Manager of the Nature Foundation, Ms. Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern and several Custom Officers. 

The Nature Foundation St. Maarten is joining as a contributor in a new project ‘In-No-Plastics’, a European Union-funded global initiative. In-No-Plastic focuses on innovative approaches towards the prevention, removal, and reuse of marine plastic litter (plastic debris that ends up in the ocean). On St. Maarten, the project will focus on litter clean-ups around the island, monitoring the effectiveness of clean up methods, using clean-up software apps, testing the water, enhancing the blue economy, and expanding outreach and educational activities. The In-No-Plastic project will run for two years on St Maarten.

“Plastics are a visible problem on and around St. Maarten; however, not all of the plastics are easily seen. Large pieces of plastic ending up in the environment may break down into smaller pieces, but they will never biodegrade — they will continue as invisible microplastics in the environment and especially in the ocean. With this project we will be able to increase the number of beach clean-ups and events to pick up more larger plastics (macro plastics) off the beaches and shorelines of St. Maarten. As we cannot see the microplastics, we are not aware of the extent of the micro plastic problem in our waters. The water testing will assist us to better understand the magnitude of the problem and effectiveness of decreasing marine plastic litter,” explained Alice Manley, Project coordinator for In-No-Plastics on St. Maarten.

In-No-Plastic is a three-year EU funded project within the Horizon 2020 framework programme, the goal is to develop and demonstrate nano-, micro-, and macro-plastic clean-up technologies in the aquatic ecosystems. This project approaches various social and technical strategies targeting the industrial hot spots through cooling water systems, harbours, lagoons, shores and the shallow sea water. Social strategies will be focused on St. Maarten, comprising of using an incentive-based initiative that relies on crowdsourcing. One such example is a smartphone app, produced by Empower, to help individuals record the amount of litter picked up, with incentives for the user.

“We are very fortunate to be part of this EU funded project ‘In-No-Plastics’. The project will be great for St. Maarten, as reduction of plastics in our surroundings and marine ecosystem is much needed. Plastics can have a detrimental effect on marine and terrestrial life, and the Nature Foundation is grateful to work towards reducing those effects,” stated Manager Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern.

Keeping in line with the duties of the In-No-Plastics project, the Foundation will continue to host and attend macro plastic clean-ups around the island. Additionally, the Foundation will monitor and test ocean and lagoon water for microplastics every six months. The results from this water testing will show if the amount of microplastics in the water reduces at the same rate as the macro plastics which are removed during clean-ups. Given the increased focus on clean-ups and single-use plastic education, the Foundation hopes to see a reduction in both large and small pieces of plastic. The Foundation will also work towards enhancing blue economy activities on St. Maarten to increase individual cleanup efforts.

This project is particularly timely given the movement towards the new single-use plastic ban on St. Maarten. The single use plastic ban focuses on replacing plastic shopping bags, plastic straws, and Styrofoam to-go containers with more sustainable options. The Nature Foundation is excited to expand the education and outreach efforts towards students, residents, and tourists about the effects of plastic on the environment, and how they can reduce their plastic footprint.

An association of 17 partners and 10 different countries in Europe and the Caribbean make up the In-No-Plastics project, which includes 2 research institutions, 2 Government bodies, 4 industry end users, 2 NGO, 7 SMEs of which 4 technology and 3 service providers. The Nature Foundation will work alongside the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), a participating partner with In-No-Plastics.

To learn more about this project, you can check out the website innoplastic.eu. You can also follow the Nature Foundation on social media to keep up-to-date with our work and learn when future clean-ups will occur. If you are interested in joining the Nature Foundation’s volunteer list to receive emails about volunteer opportunities, visit our contact page.

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