Protecting the Natural Areas of St. Maarten
Maintain the natural resources for the decades to come
The Nature Foundation St Maarten is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to patrol beaches for signs of sea turtle nesting. These precious sea creatures usually come ashore to lay their eggs during the nesting season that runs from April through November each year. Sea turtle population numbers have declined due to human impact.
The Princess Juliana International Airport, Customs Department and the Nature Foundation recently collaborated in the seizure and disposal of some two hundred kilos of conch shells imported by an inbound passenger. It is illegal to transport conch meat and shells and certain pieces of coral into and out of of Sint Maarten without the proper … Continue reading Nature Foundation Disposes of Illegally Imported Conch Shells after Seizure by Customs
The Nature Foundation St. Maarten is in need of help from local businesses, tour operators, hotels and trade organizations in order to expose their donation page. Currently, the organization could use extra support and awareness from the tourists, tour operators and businesses on the island. The Foundation encounters challenges to receive structural funding in order … Continue reading Nature Foundation Calls on all Local Businesses for their Support
The Nature Foundation has been monitoring the impact of the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease on St Maarten coral reefs since it was first discovered in October 2018. Recently, a more elaborate research from the Nature Foundation established on average a 60% infection and mortality rate of the most susceptible stony corals in the Marine … Continue reading Nature Foundation Researches the Immense Impact of Coral Disease on St Maarten Reefs.
The Nature Foundation organized a beach clean-up session with visitors and volunteers in order to clean-up Belair beach. A group of about fifteen tourists, which came to St Maarten to enjoy the island, decided to give back to our environment and spent a morning cleaning up the beach. The group was very motivated and collected … Continue reading Nature Foundation St Maarten cleans up Belair Beach with Tourists and Volunteers
Adhering to no fishing rules of the Marine Park important to rebuilding local fish stocks. The St. Maarten Nature Foundation has increased its patrolling of the Man of War Shoal Marine Park in order to combat illegal fishing activities. Foundation staff will be patrolling during weekends and early morning hours in order to increase their … Continue reading Nature Foundation Initiates Early Morning, Weekend Patrols to Combat Illegal Fishing
Nature Foundation St Maarten is again urging parliament to ban single-use plastics, such as plastic bags, straws, cups and cutlery and styrofoam food containers.
Nature Foundation Cooperating with Coast Guard to Apprehend Poachers The Sint Maarten Nature Foundation has been recording a number of incidents of poaching within the Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area. The Foundation has been noticing evidence of poaching and have been sent pictorial proof of poaching incidents in the MPA. The area of … Continue reading Incidents of Poaching Recorded Within Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area
The Nature Foundation Sint Maarten, in collaboration with RAVON (Reptile, Amphibian and Fish Conservation Netherlands), is currently researching the local status of the bearded anole (Anolis pogus) lizard, also known as the Anguilla Bank bush anole. The bearded anole is an important endemic species to Sint Maarten, which means that the species is native and … Continue reading Nature Foundation Sint Maarten Researches Status of Vulnerable and Endemic Bearded Anole Lizard
The Sint Maarten Nature Foundation has once again expressed concern regarding the way beaches, beach access and beach recreation are being managed in the country. The Foundation has had to respond several times to issues affecting beaches on the island ranging from beach construction, heavy equipment and other vehicles driving and parking on the beaches, … Continue reading Again Nature Foundation Expressing Concern on the Sustainable Use of Beaches