Nature Foundation Again Expresses Concern on the Unsustainable Use of Sint Maarten’s Beaches. Residents Being Restricted from Using Certain Beach Sections

Posted on by Melanie

The Sint Maarten Nature Foundation has again expressed concern regarding the way beaches, beach access and beach recreation have been 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, structures … Continue reading Nature Foundation Again Expresses Concern on the Unsustainable Use of Sint Maarten’s Beaches. Residents Being Restricted from Using Certain Beach Sections

Caribbean-wide “Plant a Million Coral” Initiative Launched on Sint Maarten

Posted on by Melanie

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

Shark Finning video from Curacao surfaces on Internet

Posted on by Melanie

Cole Bay, 22 October 2018, A video showing a group of men heavily mutilating and finning a live shark was posted on Facebook. The recoding was allegedly made in the waters of Curacao and shows a group of 5 men, who have apparently caught a shark on a fishing line, repeatedly stabbing it in the … Continue reading Shark Finning video from Curacao surfaces on Internet

Nature Foundation Applauds Businesses Switching to Reusable and Biodegradable Alternatives to Single-use Plastics

Posted on by Christian
toppers' crew

Recently the well-known bar and restaurant Topper’s switched to using only reusable and biodegradable products instead of environmentally damaging single-use plastics. Nature Foundation’s Project Officer Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern presented the Reduce and Reuse St Maarten project to Staff members of Topper’s, explaining them about the harmful effects of single-use plastics  on our environment, ourselves … Continue reading Nature Foundation Applauds Businesses Switching to Reusable and Biodegradable Alternatives to Single-use Plastics

Nature Foundation Relocates Endangered Sea Turtle Nest From Great Bay Beach to Simpson Bay Due to Human Pressure

Posted on by Christian

The St. Maarten Nature Foundation was alerted to a Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) nesting on Great Bay Beach early on Friday morning. Upon arrival at the location it was found that the turtle nested in an unsuitable location in the sand on Great Bay beach and it was decided to relocate the nest in … Continue reading Nature Foundation Relocates Endangered Sea Turtle Nest From Great Bay Beach to Simpson Bay Due to Human Pressure

Nature Foundation’s ‘Adopt a Shark St Maarten’ Program Continues Due to Great Success!

Posted on by Christian

The St Maarten Nature Foundation launched the Adopt a Shark program during St Maarten Shark Week in June 2018, but due to the continued demand of adopting a shark the Foundation decided to extend the program up to the end of this year. “It is important that we work together to ensure the survival of … Continue reading Nature Foundation’s ‘Adopt a Shark St Maarten’ Program Continues Due to Great Success!

Sint Maarten Nature Foundation Urges St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation to Find Alternatives to Balloon Jump-ups and Parades for Carnival 50

Posted on by Christian

The Sint Maarten Nature Foundation is urging the SCDF to find sustainable alternatives to using balloons during two events for next year’s celebration of fifty years of carnival. The Nature Foundation has sent a letter to the SCDF on Monday, October 1st asking the organization to consider sustainable alternatives, also during events at the Carnival … Continue reading Sint Maarten Nature Foundation Urges St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation to Find Alternatives to Balloon Jump-ups and Parades for Carnival 50

Nature Foundation Applauds Legal Decision to Not Allow Parking on Great Bay Beach  Despite Ongoing Trend of Increase in Parking on Kim Sha Beach

Posted on by Christian

The Sint Maarten Nature Foundation is applauding the court decision last week in which the court found that parking on Great Bay Beach close to the Walter Plantz Square as illegal. Despite the ruling the Foundation is continuing to observe residents and tourist alike both parking and driving on beaches on the island, in particular … Continue reading Nature Foundation Applauds Legal Decision to Not Allow Parking on Great Bay Beach  Despite Ongoing Trend of Increase in Parking on Kim Sha Beach

Record amount of Trash collected during Nature Foundation’s and Corona’s International Coastal Cleanup Day!

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The Nature Foundation St Maarten partnered with Corona to clean up Mullet Bay Beach for International Coastal Clean-up day. About 100 volunteers showed up last Saturday evening to collect a record amount of 1280 pounds of trash! The Trash Tracker method developed by Ocean Cleanup Organization 4ocean has been used to weigh all the collected trash. Corona … Continue reading Record amount of Trash collected during Nature Foundation’s and Corona’s International Coastal Cleanup Day!

Researchers Record Significant Damage to St. Maarten’s Terrestrial Flora and Fauna Due to the Impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria

Posted on by Christian

Hurricanes Irma and Maria have done considerable damage to buildings and infrastructure, but also St. Maarten’s nature has suffered a dramatic blow, researchers Wendy Jesse and Rotem Zilber recently discovered.