Seagrass (Thalassia testudinum). Image: James St. John.
Biodiversity

The value of nature: seagrass beds save beaches and money

The Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research reports on recent research, carried out in the Caribbean, that shows how seagrass saves beaches and money by preventing erosion and reducing the need for artificial beach nourishment: Seagrass beds are so effective in protecting tropical beaches from erosion, that they can reduce …

Biodiversity

New conservation approaches can help to alleviate impacts of climate warming for sea turtles

Research from St. Eustatius suggests that new, and relatively simple, conservation methods can help reduce some of the negative effects of climate change on sea turtle populations:  In the article published by Scientific Reports, a range of experiments were conducted between 2012 and 2017 in St Eustatius Marine Park in …

Lesser Antillean Iguana (Iguana delicatissima). Image: © Hans Hillewaert
Biodiversity

Iguana hotline launched in St. Eustatius

St. Eustatius National Parks (STENAPA) announces the launch of their new Iguana Hotline to support the conservation of the Statian population of the critically endangered Lesser Antillean Iguana (Iguana delicatissima):  Sint Eustatius’ local iguana gets another helping hand with the creation of an Iguana Hotline, +599-318-1420. STENAPA asks everyone to …

St. Eustatius landscape. Image: Pieter Edelman
Biodiversity

Vacancy: Environmental Project Manager, St Eustatius

St. Eustatius National Parks (STENAPA) and environmental consultancy company Mac & Field are looking for a suitably qualified person to manage an urban reforestation project: Do you have several years of experience within the field of environmental project management? Do you have strong social skills, not afraid to get your …

Damaged solar panels on October 10, 2017, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Image: Jocelyn Augustino/FEMA via RMI
Climate Change

Recommendations for designing and building hurricane-resilient solar photovoltaic systems

The Rocky Mountain Institute recently published Solar Under Storm, a report which addresses the question of why some solar photovoltaic (PV) survive hurricanes virtually unscathed, while others suffer extensive damage: The 2017 hurricane season was one of the most active in history. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria brought widespread destruction …

Solar Park, St. Eustatius. Image: via St. Maarten Daily Herald
Energy

Green energy advances on Bonaire, Saba, and Statia

From the St Maarten Daily Herald, a report on sustainable energy initiatives on the Dutch Caribbean islands of Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius: St. Eustatius and Saba are doing well in the area of generating energy in a sustainable manner. In St. Eustatius 46 per cent of the electricity is …

Caribbean reef sharks. Image: Alfonso González
Biodiversity

St. Eustatius celebrates sharks

This week is Shark Week in St. Eustatius: “Sharks are magnificent creatures, yet their image has received a bad press,” says Jessica Berkel. And she should know. Berkel is Marine Park Manager with St. Eustatius National Parks (Stenapa) Foundation. On Saturday she launched Shark Week 2018 with a presentation about …