Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine January 2018 | Page 555

Sea Horse Loggerhead SeaTurtle Nurse Shark
American Kestrel Green Iguana Caribbean Reef Shark
The visual appeal of St. Maarten’s
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
managed by the the St. Maarten Nature Foundation
The St. Maarten Nature Foundation and its
partners have been working to restore the
island’s natural environment after hurricanes
Irma and Maria.
70-95% of some coral species on the island’s
reefs sustained severe damage from the
hurricanes. The reefs are being monitored by
the Foundation according to the Global Coral
Reef Monitoring Protocol (GCRMN). Some reef
recovery has already been recorded.
One of St. Maarten’s most important wetlands,
Mullett Pond, which was listed as a wetland of
international importance under the Ramsar
Treaty, was cleaned and restored.
Tadzio Bervoets, Nature Foundation Manager
said, “. . . Although we cleaned and restored the
area significantly, we still have our work cut out
for us in bringing the area close to the level it was
before”
Beaches have been cleaned but the Nature
Foundation advises wearing protective
footwear or water shoes when visiting any of
the beaches or going in the water.
You can help protect St. Maarten’s natural
environment by donating to the Nature
Foundation.
Click here for more information.
© The St. Maarten Nature Foundation