Protecting the Natural Areas of St. Maarten
The Nature Foundation St Maarten has recently established the presence of ‘Tissue Loss Disease’ on several local coral reefs. The disease is a relatively new issue that has been plaguing coral reefs in the Atlantic Basin for the last few months.
November 6th, 2018 Cole Bay, Sint Maarten - Intelligent reefs powered by nature have been installed at three sites in St. Maarten in a continuing effort to restore marine bio-diversity habitats devastated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Scientists, filmmakers, photographers, creatives, and leaders from the eco-tourism industry assisted the Sint Maarten Nature Foundation with its mission to … Continue reading Caribbean-wide “Plant a Million Coral” Initiative Launched on Sint Maarten
During its annual Coral Reef Monitoring activities the Sint Maarten Nature Foundation has recorded incidents of coral bleaching both inside and outside of the Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area. The Foundation started it's monitoring dives on Tuesday and discovered numerous coral colonies showing signs of coral bleaching. Coral bleaching occurs when coral polyps expel algae that live … Continue reading Sint Maarten Nature Foundation Records Coral Bleaching During Annual Coral Reef Surveys
Sunscreens with the UV-filter oxybenzone are bad for the country’s coral, therefore the Nature Foundation is asking all residents, tour operators, businesses and especially water sport users to use and promote reef safe sunscreens. A number of studies have shown that sunscreen and certain individual components of sunscreen can have negative effects on corals and … Continue reading The Nature Foundation St Maarten Encourages Residents, Tourists and Tour Operators to Use and Promote Coral Safe Sunscreens.
Cole Bay- An unknown incident, more than likely caused by a large vessel, caused significant damage to the Nature Foundation Coral Reef Restoration Program. During inspection dives the two primary coral nursery structures sustained major damage and some coral fragments were affected. Foundation staff replaced the nursery to a safer location and replaced coral fragments at … Continue reading Unknown Incident Causes Significant Damage To Nature Foundation ‘Fragments of Recovery” Coral Reef Restoration Program
Last week the Nature Foundation visited the second form of Milton Peters College to teach the students about the importance of our coral reefs and about the Foundation’s Coral Restoration Project. Worldwide coral reefs are declining due to global warming, pollution, overfishing and habitat destruction, St Maarten’s coral reefs are also facing several threats and … Continue reading Nature Foundation Teaches Milton Peters College Students About Coral Reefs, Mangroves and Littering
The Sint Maarten Nature Foundation has started to populate its first coral nursery structures as part of its ‘Fragments of Recovery, Coral Reef Restoration Program. The project was recently launched after most of the previous coral nurseries were damaged or destroyed by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. “The first Staghorn corals (Acropora cervicornis) have been transplanted … Continue reading Nature Foundation Stocks Coral Nursery as Part of ‘Fragments of Recovery” Coral Reef Restoration Program
The Sint Maarten Nature Foundation has started to populate its first coral nursery structures again after most of the previous coral nurseries were damaged or destroyed by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The Foundation has slowly started to implement its ‘Fragments of Recovery” coral restoration projects with installing the first two coral reef nurseries in an … Continue reading Nature Foundation Relaunches ‘Fragments of Recovery” Coral Reef Restoration Program
Managing director of the Sint Maarten Nature Foundation Tadzio Bervoets recently attended the regional UNESCO Man and Biosphere meeting held in St. Ann, Jamaica. The meeting, hosted by the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO, was held in order to move attending islands and their representatives to have areas listed under the Man and Biosphere (MAB) … Continue reading Nature Foundation Attends UNESCO Meeting in Jamaica. Push to Get Man of War Shoal Marine Park Listed as a Man and Biosphere Reserve.
The Sint Maarten Nature Foundation has started to scientifically monitor the state of the country’s coral reefs after the passing of hurricanes Irma and Maria in September. With financial support made available by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance the Foundation has started to research the state of the Country’s coral using the GCRMN method; “Reef … Continue reading Sint Maarten Nature Foundation Scientifically Assess Coral Reef Impacts Post Hurricanes Irma and Maria Using GCRMN Standards