Read the full interview from the IUCN here.
MENAA is funded by BESTLIFE2030 (Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Territories of European Overseas), a granting mechanism focusing on preserving and restoring biodiversity in the EU’s outermost regions (ORs) and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), which host rich biodiversity but also face significant climate change threats.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
We recently welcomed Mimat as an intern at the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten. Welcome, Mimat!
🌳 Mimat is a third year bachelor`s student at the Université des Antilles in Guadeloupe, studying Applied Foreign Languages. Originally from Saint-Martin, she found the opportunity to pursue an internship back home on the island that combines her interest in environmental issues and educational awareness.
🌎 Fluent in French and English, Mimat supports communication efforts at the Foundation through translation assistance, and is heavily involved in ongoing fieldwork for environmental monitoring of cacti and birds. Mimat has a deep enthusiasm for learning new languages and is constantly eager to discover new things that expand her knowledge and perspectives of the world.
📒 Mimat is curious and open-minded, embracing every opportunity to grow, whether through cultural exchanges, new experiences, or acquiring new skills. She enjoys hiking and engaging in adventurous activities. Being surrounded by the island’s biodiversity, Mimat finds herself reconnected with parts of herself and is rediscovering her profound bound with nature.
A few images from our fieldwork on the coastline between Cole Bay Beach and Cay Bay (Indigo Bay) last month. This area has a variety of native and invasive species present, and is an important habitat for the memorable Turk’s cap cactus, Melocactus intortus. 💚📸
St. Maarten thrives on coral — don’t take our foundation`s home! 🏠
🌊 We will never get tired of repeating this: coral reefs are not just beautiful dive sites — they are living barriers that protect our shores from erosion and storm surge, they support fisheries that feed families, and they sustain tourism businesses, from boat charters to beachfront hotels. They are one of the main reasons visitors spend their holidays here.
🪸 Coral is infrastructure built by nature. Over decades, tiny coral polyps create vast reef systems that shield our coastlines and nurture marine biodiversity. When even a small piece is removed, the impact ripples outward — weakening reef structures, reducing habitat for marine life, and slowly eroding the natural protection our island depends on.
🧳 What fits in a suitcase may represent years of growth and a vital part of our ecosystem. And once it’s gone, it cannot simply be replaced.
Responsible tourism ensures that the beauty you experience today will still be here tomorrow.
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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.
Interested in becoming a sea turtle nesting volunteer? 🐢
🪺 Every year between April and November, sea turtles line our beaches to create their nests and lay their eggs. The Nature Foundation continues to monitor the data of nesting to understand what is occurring in our local sea turtle populations, but we count on your help to get this data.
📣 We will be hosting an information presentation for those interested in conducting morning beach patrols on Wednesday, March 4th at 5:30 PM. This presentation will prepare you for what is needed for the beach surveys and is a great way to get involved with protecting our local nature.
🩴 No background of working in science is needed, just a willingness to help and walk the beaches in the morning in search of nests. We hope to see you there!
To register to attend the presentation or if you have any additional questions, please email us at info@naturefoundationsxm.org
Save the date! 🤿 🐣We are getting ready for the 12th Annual Underwater Easter Egg Hunt raising funds for the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten.
The Nature Foundation, in a continued effort to educate and stress the important role the youth play in the future of nature conservation on this island, established a number of different Youth Education Programs bringing interactive nature and marine presentations to our youth. With more funding the Nature Foundation will be able to maintain and expand these programs encouraging our next generation to take care of the environment no matter where in the world they are in the future.
How does the hunt work? Over 1000 painted “eggs” are “laid” in the water. Participants, with the use of mask and snorkel or swim goggles, search for the eggs and dive down underwater to retrieve them. When the time is up everyone gathers on the beach to exchange their eggs for prizes.
Come and have fun while supporting the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten.
@naturefoundationsxm
#thescubashopsxm #sxmactivities #thingstodoinsintmaarten #sxmkids #sxmeaster
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