Nature Foundation and IHE Delft Institute for Water Education visit local schools to educate students about the importance of Coral Reefs and introduce Student Competition

Last week staff of the Nature Foundation St. Maarten and members of IHE Delft Institute for Water Education visited several local high schools to give presentations about the importance of coral reefs and the threats and issues facing St. Maarten’s reef system. During the school visits the team introduced their Coral Competition and encouraged students … Continue reading Nature Foundation and IHE Delft Institute for Water Education visit local schools to educate students about the importance of Coral Reefs and introduce Student Competition

Nature Foundation and IHE Delft Institute for Water Education Launch Student Competition to Protect St Maarten’s Coral Reefs, Funded by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.

This week a competition for secondary school students in order to protect the coral reefs in St Maarten has been launched by the Nature Foundation St. Maarten, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education and Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. The project aims to create a sense of ownership by the island population by … Continue reading Nature Foundation and IHE Delft Institute for Water Education Launch Student Competition to Protect St Maarten’s Coral Reefs, Funded by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.

Nature Foundation St. Maarten and Ocean Science Team Research Performance of the Innovative Artificial Reef Structures “IntelliReefs”, to Improve Denuded Coral Reefs.

Last week, the Ocean Science Team of Reef Life Foundation was on the island to assess and research the 14 month performance of the ‘IntelliReefs’ artificial reef substrates which were developed to enhance coral and fish growth; deployed as a premier in St Maarten waters in the end of 2018. The team which collaborates with … Continue reading Nature Foundation St. Maarten and Ocean Science Team Research Performance of the Innovative Artificial Reef Structures “IntelliReefs”, to Improve Denuded Coral Reefs.

Warning for all scuba divers and dive schools!

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’.

Leonald Connor Primary School Students Clean Up Mullet Bay Beach and Learn about Coral Reefs with the Nature Foundation

Last Friday the Nature Foundation St Maarten organized a beach clean-up session for students from the Leonald Connor Primary School which took place at Mullet Bay beach. About 25 students collected over 250 pounds of trash in just half an hour. The students learned about the impact of single-use plastics on our environment, marine life … Continue reading Leonald Connor Primary School Students Clean Up Mullet Bay Beach and Learn about Coral Reefs with the Nature Foundation

Nature Foundation Detects Worrisome Coral Disease Epidemic on St Maarten Coral Reefs

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.

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

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

Nature Foundation Scientifically Analyzes the Impacts of Hurricane Irma on St Maarten Coral Reefs Using Global Coral Reef Monitoring Guidelines

General Coral Cover is Reduced, Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area Shows Greater Resilience than Reefs Outside of the Protected Area. Support more research like this Reef monitoring data has been scientifically analyzed to assess the impacts of hurricane Irma and Maria on Sint Maarten Coral Reefs following the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network … Continue reading Nature Foundation Scientifically Analyzes the Impacts of Hurricane Irma on St Maarten Coral Reefs Using Global Coral Reef Monitoring Guidelines

Unknown Incident Causes Significant Damage To Nature Foundation ‘Fragments of Recovery” Coral Reef Restoration Program

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

Nature Foundation Reiterates its Call on Parliament to Ban Single-Use Plastics

The Sint Maarten Nature Foundation is again calling on Parliament 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 environmental catastrophes of this generation. These types of … Continue reading Nature Foundation Reiterates its Call on Parliament to Ban Single-Use Plastics