“Silent Reef Keepers: The Fight to Save the Caribbean Reef Shark”

Photo credit: Jim Abernathy - all rights reserved KRALENDIJK, BONAIRE, 28 September 2023 - The Kingdom of the Netherlands will ask for increased protection for the Caribbean reef shark during next month’s Conference of Parties for the Cartagena Convention (COPs) on Aruba. Caribbean reef sharks play a critical role in maintaining a healthy reef ecosystem … Continue reading “Silent Reef Keepers: The Fight to Save the Caribbean Reef Shark”

Nature Foundation statement on St. Maarten’s invasive species management project disinformation

The Nature Foundation Sint Maarten would like to clarify some disinformation currently being spread on Facebook by an internationally based organization regarding our role in the invasive species management project. This project works to control the population of non-native, invasive vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) on the island. The accusations, made largely by individuals who are … Continue reading Nature Foundation statement on St. Maarten’s invasive species management project disinformation

Progress underway for Nature Foundation bird viewing platform on Great Salt Pond

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten, 7 August 2023 – The installation of a birding platform on Great Salt Pond is scheduled for late August, part of the Nature Foundation’s new Birding and Ecotourism project. A small section of white mangroves will be trimmed and removed on August 7 to make room for the public access viewing platform, … Continue reading Progress underway for Nature Foundation bird viewing platform on Great Salt Pond

Bird guide training, part of Nature Foundation ecotourism project, certifies 11 participants on island

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten, 6 July 2023 – Sint Maarten’s first bird guide training course was successfully held in April, thanks to a collaboration between the Nature Foundation, BirdsCaribbean, and Resources for Community Resilience (R4CR). The five-day course took place in class and on the field, as eleven participants were certified as bird guides through the … Continue reading Bird guide training, part of Nature Foundation ecotourism project, certifies 11 participants on island

Nature Foundation investigates solutions into light pollution affecting sea turtles

Sea turtle hatchlings rely on their instincts to make it to the ocean – but on Sint Maarten and human-inhabited beaches across the world, lately, those instincts are leading them to their deaths. After breaking free from their eggs, hatchlings look for downward slanting paths, which naturally lead towards the water. More importantly, they seek … Continue reading Nature Foundation investigates solutions into light pollution affecting sea turtles

Nature Foundation St. Maarten Records Fourth Fatal Sea Turtle Boat Strike for 2021

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 … Continue reading Nature Foundation St. Maarten Records Fourth Fatal Sea Turtle Boat Strike for 2021

Nature Foundation St. Maarten Notices an Active Sea Turtle Nesting Season This Year

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. … Continue reading Nature Foundation St. Maarten Notices an Active Sea Turtle Nesting Season This Year

Monkey Management Project Completed as Part of the R4CR Grant, Management Option Implementation Urged

The Monkey Management Project designed and implemented by the Nature Foundation St. Maarten and funded by the R4CR Grant Scheme has been completed. This six-month project focused on researching the abundance and status of the invasive vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) and to establish sustainable and humane solutions to manage the invasive monkey population to protect … Continue reading Monkey Management Project Completed as Part of the R4CR Grant, Management Option Implementation Urged

Nature Foundation and R4CR Provide Update on Monkey Management Project to Allow Residents to Voice Opinions on Management Solutions for the Invasive Vervet Monkeys

Nature Foundation’s Monkey Management Project funded via the Resources for Community Resilience has recently undergone changes to the outline of the project. This change is due to time and resource constraints as well as an interest from the World Bank to continue the initial research. Due to this change, the project’s final initiatives have adapted … Continue reading Nature Foundation and R4CR Provide Update on Monkey Management Project to Allow Residents to Voice Opinions on Management Solutions for the Invasive Vervet Monkeys

Nature Foundation Reminds Residents and Visitors to Take Care During Sea Turtle Nesting Season

The Nature Foundation Sint Maarten encourages residents and visitors to protect adult sea turtles and their eggs by limiting lighting and disturbances along the shore, and reporting sea turtle activity to the Foundation. With the start of the annual sea turtle nesting season, three endangered sea turtle species are expected to lay their nests on … Continue reading Nature Foundation Reminds Residents and Visitors to Take Care During Sea Turtle Nesting Season