News

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

Photo credit: Jim Abernathy - all rights reserved 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 and building resilience within the oceans. … 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

Pictured: A blueprint of the birding platform to be installed 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 … Continue reading Progress underway for Nature Foundation bird viewing platform on Great Salt Pond

Proposal to make Little Key a protected nature park moves forward in government with Nature Foundation support

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten, 26 July 2023 – On July 12, the Ministry of VROMI announced its pre-approval of Little Key island as a protected nature park, after a decade of ongoing efforts between the government, the Nature Foundation, and Environmental Protection for the Caribbean (EPIC). The establishment of Little Key Nature Park represents a small but … Continue reading Proposal to make Little Key a protected nature park moves forward in government with Nature Foundation support

Clarification regarding Nature Foundation’s involvement in the approval of an underwater museum

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten, 13 July 2023 – The Nature Foundation would like to clarify our involvement in the underwater museum leasing agreement, in light of the Daily Herald’s July 12 article, “Agreement signed with undisclosed company for underwater museum.” We are cited in the article as a stakeholder who vetted, studied, and approved the Sint … Continue reading Clarification regarding Nature Foundation’s involvement in the approval of an underwater museum

Bird guide training 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 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

Jan Beaujon retires as chairman of the board of Nature Foundation

After 25 years of faithful service to the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten, Jan Beaujon has retired from the organization’s Board of Directors. Mr. Beaujon joined the board shortly after the founding of the foundation in 1997. Following the sudden passing of Mr. Joe Vliegen in 2000, who was one of the founding fathers of the … Continue reading Jan Beaujon retires as chairman of the board of Nature Foundation

Join the Free Big Live Nature Quiz and Win a Sailing Trip

The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) and its members invite all residents on Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten to participate in the Big Live Nature Quiz on Saturday 13th of May, 6-7 pm. Sint Maarten's event is happening at Dinghy Dock Sailors Bar! Learn more about the beautiful Dutch Caribbean nature … Continue reading Join the Free Big Live Nature Quiz and Win a Sailing Trip

Nature Foundation Trains Residents to Become Professional Birding Tour Guides

In the last week of March, the Nature Foundation SXM will teach interested residents to become certified birding tour guides for FREE as part of the Birding and Eco-tourism Project, which is being supported by the Resources for Community Resilience SXM (R4CR). By providing an opportunity for additional source of income, this project will not … Continue reading Nature Foundation Trains Residents to Become Professional Birding Tour Guides