Newsletter 18 - 2013

After having been away for three years, during which time I was managing other marine protected areas, and implemented the AGOA sanctuary for marine mammals in the French Antilles, it is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I return to the Saint-Martin Nature Reserve and its team. And with pride I note the presence of many sea turtles in our waters, better coral cover, a greater abundance of fish, and a greater recovery of mangroves on the banks of certain salt ponds. Proof that it takes a little more than ten years for the positive effects of the introduction of a nature reserve, both terrestrial and marine, to be felt.

Those of you who have been following us since 2001 and have been receiving this newsletter since the first edition, in 2008, can attest to all the environmental actions that the Reserve has initiated over the last 13 years. It’s not an easy task and I thank Romain and the reserve officers (Chris, Franck, Steeve, Julien and Béatrice from the Conservatoire du Littoral) who were able to keep things on track and implement new management perspectives. While some signs are quite positive, others have sounded the alarm for greater intervention on our behalf for more effective management of wetlands and their banks, sea turtles nesting sites, the birds...

Today, our team is growing and our work is organized between several divisions in order to be more efficient in the improvement of our knowledge, the management of our sites, the improvement of the quality of life for the population of Saint-Martin, and our ability to convince the greatest number of people of the legitimacy of our existence and the validity of our actions.

To all our eco-friendly readers, please share this newsletter with your contacts and continue acting on a daily basis to protect the environment of Saint-Martin.