News

Nature Foundation Survey Finds Community Waiting on Government to Enact Plastic Bag Ban

Posted on by Melanie

The Nature Foundation St Maarten Reduce and Reuse intern Chantal Mondelice conducted a research-based questionnaire among businesses and citizens in Philipsburg about their single-use plastic usage and thoughts on the issue. Most citizens and businesses stressed the importance of having laws put in place to prevent situations such as unnecessary littering from happening. The solution … Continue reading Nature Foundation Survey Finds Community Waiting on Government to Enact Plastic Bag Ban

Sint Maarten Nature Foundation Cleans Up Balloons Littering Sea over the Weekend

Posted on by Melanie

PHILIPSBURG — The Sint Maarten Nature Foundation over the weekend removed numerous balloons from littering the ocean. Both on Saturday and Sunday out on patrol the Foundation collected balloons drifting in the sea. Previously the Foundation had urged various organizations, including the SCDF who organized two balloon related activities over the weekend, to find sustainable alternatives to using balloons during … Continue reading Sint Maarten Nature Foundation Cleans Up Balloons Littering Sea over the Weekend

Nature Foundation Plants First Coral Fragments from Coral Nursery in Marine Park as Part of ‘Fragments of Recovery” Post Hurricane Coral Reef Restoration Program

Posted on by Melanie

The Sint Maarten Nature Foundation has started the process of outplanting the first fragments of coral on reefs within the Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area as part of its ‘Fragments of Recovery, Coral Reef Restoration Program. The project was launched with the assistance of the Coral Restoration Foundation, NOAA, the Coral Reef Restoration Consortium and … Continue reading Nature Foundation Plants First Coral Fragments from Coral Nursery in Marine Park as Part of ‘Fragments of Recovery” Post Hurricane Coral Reef Restoration Program

Nature Foundation Announces the start of Sea Turtle Nesting Season!

Posted on by Melanie

The Nature Foundations would like to inform all stakeholders and beach users about the upcoming start of the 2019 sea turtle nesting season on St Maarten. These precious sea creatures come ashore during the nesting season which runs from April through November each year. The Nature Foundation actively manages and monitors the sea turtle nesting … Continue reading Nature Foundation Announces the start of Sea Turtle Nesting Season!

Nature Foundation Calls on Volunteers for Sea Turtle Nesting Patrols

Posted on by Melanie

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.

Warning for all scuba divers and dive schools!

Posted on by Melanie

After the Nature Foundation St Maarten recently established the presence of ‘Tissue Loss Disease’ on several local coral reefs in October 2018, a more elaborate research study by the Nature Foundation established on average a 60% infection and mortality rate of the most susceptible stony corals in the Marine Park ‘Man of War Shoal’.

Nature Foundation Disposes of Illegally Imported Conch Shells after Seizure by Customs

Posted on by Melanie

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

Nature Foundation Calls on all Local Businesses for their Support

Posted on by Melanie

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

Nature Foundation Researches the Immense Impact of Coral Disease on St Maarten Reefs.

Posted on by Melanie

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.

Nature Foundation Requests Update From Parliament on Steps to Ban Single-Use Plastics

Posted on by Melanie

The Sint Maarten Nature Foundation has requested in writing an update from Parliament on steps currently being taken to ban single-use plastic products such as plastic bags, straws and cutlery and Styrofoam food containers in an effort to reduce marine litter and pollution on St Maarten. Single use plastic pollution is one of the biggest … Continue reading Nature Foundation Requests Update From Parliament on Steps to Ban Single-Use Plastics