Ensuring environmental communication, awareness, and education

Ensuring environmental communication, awareness, and education

Ensuring environmental communication, awareness, and education

Classe de CP de l’école Omer Arrondell sur le site de la baie de l’embouchure pour l’observation des crabes dans la mangrove
Classe de CP de l’école Omer Arrondell sur le site de la baie de l’embouchure pour l’observation des crabes dans la mangrove

Action PA5 : Carry out educational interventions in schools

Continuously successful among teachers and students, the educational department will unfortunately have to limit the number of its interventions, suffering from a lack of personnel to support Vincent Oliva in carrying out his mission. Over 7,700 people benefited from the interventions of the nature reserve from January to December 2023. The educational department of the RN conducted 385 interventions in 88 classes – across 19 educational institutions, 1 training center, 2 organizations, and 9 associations – both indoors and on the field: on the Froussards trail, the Embouchure bay, Creole rock, and the beaches of the Lowlands. The next goal will be to set up kayak outings in the mangrove of the Embouchure bay. The significant increase in time dedicated to educational activities compared to 2022 is the result of an anticipated increase in staff promised by the Collectivity of Saint- Martin – a commitment that remains to be fulfilled. To honor the promises made, Vincent Oliva has chosen to work additional hours. However, this exceptional commitment cannot be sustained in 2024 without concrete support from the Collectivity. This additional workload has also affected Vincent Oliva’s availability for his other essential missions within the reserve, particularly in terms of management, enforcement, and scientific research. To facilitate the reservation process, the department is considering developing an online platform, in order to make the coordination of interventions more efficient and to reduce the number of interventions per establishment so that all can benefit from an intervention by the nature reserve.

Action CC2 : Publish and distribute communication materials on the heritage of the RN

Thanks to financial support from the EDF Foundation, a 3D printer received through the TeMeUm program, and a good dose of creativity, the educational department has designed “Discovering the Biodiversity of Saint Martin”, a question and answer game on six different themes, all related to the ecosystems of Saint Martin. Consisting of a game board, a die, 61 cards with 364 questions, and hollow tokens in the shape of a thistle – the logo of the natural reserves of France – which players fill by correctly answering questions, this game is suitable for all ages, starting from 4th grade. By the end of June 2024, Vincent Oliva plans to teach this game during a morning session to a class from each of the six selected schools – Happy School, Hervé Williams, Marie-Amélie Leydet, Emile Choisy, Jean de la Fontaine, and Aline Hanson – with the ambition of organizing a tournament in 2025 between the best players from these institutions.

Action PA6 : Raise public awareness about the objectives of the RNN (Réserve Naturelle Nationale) and natural heritage

Action PA8 : Participate in local events

National Resilience Day was celebrated in Saint Martin on October 7, 2023, along the Marigot waterfront, at an animation village created on the initiative of the prefecture. The concept of resilience, often invoked in the field of psychology, describes the remarkable ability of an individual or a system to rebuild and regain its original balance following upheavals or crises. In nature, resilience characterizes the ability of an ecosystem to absorb disturbances, to regenerate, and to return to normal and balanced functioning after having suffered a disruptive event. Requested to animate a booth, the AGRNSM presented several of the actions it has carried out following major events – hurricanes, coral bleaching, pollution – to ensure the conservation of the island’s natural heritage. The objective being to fuel public awareness of the interdependence of nature and society on our small island, Julien Chalifour and Vincent Oliva discussed with the public the issues related to these major events, the role of observing the health of habitats and species, the actions of restoration and public awareness aimed at overcoming these incidents. For them, it was about highlighting the fact that a healthy environment guarantees the quality of our living environment and contributes to the safety of the population. Thus, a dense and healthy mangrove significantly attenuates the destructive energy of cyclonic swell and also protects the coastline and its homes.

Faune Sbsm pour partager et découvrir notre biodiversité © Julien Chalifour
Faune Sbsm pour partager et découvrir notre biodiversité © Julien Chalifour

Action PA6 : Raise public awareness about the objectives of the NR and natural heritage

Action PA7 : Continue and develop a participatory science program

On October 3, 2023, the Faune-Antilles.org portal celebrated one year of existence and 20,000 observations on West Indian fauna submitted by nearly 180 observers. This portal, which includes the site faune-sbsm.org (Fauna Saint Barthélemy-Saint Martin) financially supported by the Life BIODIV’OM project and led by the League for the Protection of Birds (LPO), aims to consolidate data on West Indian fauna. The goal is twofold: on one hand, to enrich the base of scientific knowledge related to local species and, on the other hand, to inform conservation strategies for increased protection of these vulnerable ecosystems. A promotional video of the local site of Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy was produced jointly by LPO France and the Saint Martin Nature Reserve Management Association. This communication tool aims to increase the visibility of faune-sbsm.org and to encourage broader participation from residents and visitors of these two islands. Available on YouTube as well as on the Facebook pages of Life BIODIV’OM and the Saint Martin reserve, this video is a call to action for all nature lovers and defenders of biodiversity.

Classe AME de 6éme du collège de la Roche gravée de MOHO sur le site de la route de Spring | 6th grade AME class from the Collège de la Roche engraved with MOHO on the Spring orad site
Classe AME de 6éme du collège de la Roche gravée de MOHO sur le site de la route de Spring | 6th grade AME class from the Collège de la Roche engraved with MOHO on the Spring orad site

Action PA5 : Conduct educational interventions in schools

Born in 2012 in the Marquesas archipelago from an idea by elementary school students, the “Educational Marine Area” (AME) initiative has flourished throughout French territory. In Saint Martin, the Nature Reserve embraced this concept in 2018, allowing three classes to take charge of their own marine area. This program, supported by the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB), promotes an ecological approach and encourages students to get involved in the management and preservation of the marine environment. Thus, students take responsibility for a part of their natural heritage by actively engaging in its protection and management. For example, a CM1 class from Clair Saint-Maximin school studies marine turtles and their nesting sites in the Embouchure bay. The CE1 students from Happy School focus on marine turtles and the threats posed by human activities on the Grand Case beach. The CM2 students from the same school direct their scientific research towards the biodiversity of the coral reefs surrounding Creole Rock. Additionally, a sixth-grade class from the Roche Gravée de Moho college is involved in replanting mangroves near the nursery, on Spring Road.

Le succès est au rendez-vous pour le pôle pédagogique | Big Success For The Pedagogical Department
Le succès est au rendez-vous pour le pôle pédagogique | Big Success For The Pedagogical Department

Action PA5

  • Achieve pedagogical interventions in the scholastic environment (priority 1)

Victim of its own success, the pedagogical department has established agreements with new academic institutions, but was obliged to refuse some of the demands that flooded in.

The in-school programs are very appreciated by teachers as well as by students, and the school board loves them. Among the 38 themes on the roster, turtles, marine mammals, mangroves, pollution, coral reefs, birds, and exotic invasive species are the most successful. How ecosystems function is a major topic, especially as part of field expeditions at the Baie de l’Embouchure, and the Sentier des Froussards, as well as sites outside of the Réserve, such as Long Bay, for the observation of turtle tracks.

Conseil de la mer élargi le 31 mars 2023 | The expanded sea council on 31st March 2023
Conseil de la mer élargi le 31 mars 2023 | The expanded sea council on 31st March 2023

Action PA5

  • Achieve pedagogical interventions in the scholastic environment (priority 1)

Five classes from three schools are involved in the protection and management of the natural heritage of Educational Marine Zones: CM1 and CM2 classes from the Ecole Clair Saint-Maximin in French Quarter; CE1 and CM2 classes from the Happy School in Grand-Case; and a sixth-grade class from the Roche Gravée de Moho Middle School, French Quarter.

The middle-school class participated in the replanting of mangroves from the nursery run by the Réserve Naturelle along the Spring path, on the edge of the Etang aux Poissons. The same school also created a Terrestrial Educational Zone with a second sixth-grade class, on the site of the famous indigenous petroglyph Moho rock drawing. This class benefitted from a presentation about the history of this Pre-Colombian site by archeologist Christophe Hénocq. Another one of the many activities at Happy School is the creation of a fresco on a wall by the beach in Grand Case, where there is a QR code painted to allow access to an audio message to raise awareness about sea turtles and the dangers linked to human activities. The message was recorded by the students, in French and in English.

Ecole Clair Saint-Maximin worked on a diagnostic of the egg-laying site on the beach at the Baie de l’Embouchure. Plans are for the next Educational Marine Zones to be created in association with the Mont des Accords Middle School. The Réserve Naturelle serves as an advisor for all these activities, in the classroom and in the field.

First launched in Saint-Martin by the Réserve Naturelle in June 2018, with a CM1 class at the Ecole Clair Saint- Maximin in French Quarter, the concept of Educational Marine Zones continues to gain popularity. This label, provided by the French Office of Biodiversity (OFB), recognizes ecological projects that invite students to think about the management and protection of the natural marine heritage. These “junior rangers” are elementary school students up to sixth grade, who are concerned about this aspect of their heritage and take an active interest in properly protecting and managing it. In the same light, the classes at the Ecole Clair Saint- Maximin hosted the expanded sea council organized by the Réserve Naturelle on March 31, 2023, with all the island’s officials: Collectivité, Prefecture, DEAL, Direction of the Sea, Littoral Conservancy, School Board, and the teachers and principals involved, in order to touch on the various problems encountered with their Educational Marine Zones and request the necessary authorization from various services to react in the field.
Plantation de palétuviers | Mangrove plantation
Plantation de palétuviers | Mangrove plantation

Action PA6

  • Raise public awareness for the goals of the Reserve and our natural heritage

The Réserve Naturelle organized “Grouper Morning” at the Baie de l’Embouchure, on Saturday, 25th March 2023. The public was invited to a pop-up village with stands built for the occasion. Various activities were on the program: a presentation by Aude Berger about the Giant Grouper and the Nassau Grouper; a bird-watching walk led by Julien Chalifour; planting of mangroves at the Etang des Salines d’Orient with the help of volunteers and intern Maël Andrieux; virtual dives with Vincent Oliva and Maël Andrieux using 360° virtual reality headsets; and to conclude, a big treasure hunt to encourage protection of nature. A terrific morning, which also saw the participation of two students getting their professional baccalaureate in sales at the Académie des Métiers.

Control at Creole Rock | Contrôle au Rocher Créole
Control at Creole Rock | Contrôle au Rocher Créole

Action PA1

  • Train commercial operators carrying out their activity on the reserve

52 commercial businesses, 29 French and 23 foreign— primarily daily boat rental companies and dive clubs—have authorization to work within the Réserve Naturelle. On January 10 & 11, a number of these businesses geared to tourism accepted an invitation to meet with agents of the Réserve. The meeting went well, the businesses shared their expectations and their challenges, and the agents answered their questions and explained the rules and best practices within the protected areas.

The French companies pay a fee of two euros per person/per day, and their foreign counterparts pay five euros. In 2022 these fees, used primarily for the installation and maintenance of buoys and moorings at such sites as Tintamarre, Pinel, and Rocher Créole, brought in 155,865 euros for the Réserve Naturelle.

Anyone who wants to partner with the Réserve should make a request in October. Their request will be sent to the Direction de la Mer, in order to verify that all conditions related to their activity have been met, Once this validation has been obtained, the AGRNSM decides on the application. The authorization is temporary and can be suspended or revoked if any rules are broken by the company in question. The partner businesses are the first to share the message about environmental protection by promoting the local natural heritage.
Obsidentify
Obsidentify app

Action PA6

  • Raise public awareness about the goals of the Reserve and our natural heritage

Using the Obsidentify app, it is now possible to automatically identify wild species of local flora and fauna, thanks to a new dedicated module. Created by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Association (DCNA) for all of the Dutch Caribbean islands—Sint Maarten, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao—the app is free and available in several languages.

Solicited to promote this new app, as other associations have been, the management association for the Réserve Naturelle organized a hike on February 13, 2023 at the Baie de l’Embouchure, Galion beach, and the Etang des Salines d’Orient, in order to demonstrate the app to the public.

The idea is to take a photo of a plant or an animal, and allow the algorithm to make an identification as close as possible as to the species (which will then be validated by an expert) and eventually create a personal digital catalogue that remains in your online memory, including the date and location of the identifications. This information is available to share, including with scientists.

Obsidentify is an iterative app, which will be enriched over time, as the multiplication of observations is necessary to increase the database.

Action PA6

  • Raise public awareness about the goals of the Reserve and our natural heritage

Everyone now has the possibility to share their observations of the fauna in Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy on the platform faune-SBSM.org and the NaturaList app, where one finds the nature lovers of these islands. The site includes a page with news about the fauna of the French West Indies, as well as a gateway to the scientific world, and a database that will be enriched with the addition of everyone’s data. In the field, one simply needs to start the app to enter and transmit their data immediately. If there is no internet connection, the information can be synchronized for later posting. Observe and photograph birds, terrestrial and marine mammals, reptiles, amphibians, dragon flies, butterflies… and share. All the data is validated by a committee of experts whose primary goal is to best protect local species by raising awareness about them.
The Fauna-SBSM platform is coordinated by the French Society For The Protection of Birds (LPO) and financed by the BIODIV’OM LIFE project. It is managed in partnership with, among others, the Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin. The data collected in Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy is sent via the Faune-Antilles portal, which combines the entries from Martinique and Guadeloupe.

In February 2023, ornithologist Vincent Lemoine completed his inventory and monitoring project, which was presented in detail in the preceding issue of this journal. Tasked by the LPO as part of the BIODIV’OM LIFE project in Saint Martin, whose goals include the designation of a ZICO (Zone of interest for the conservation of birds), Lemoine’s goal was to map the species present on the island and create an inventory. His next report, which will list local species and indicate those species that need protection, will help define the zones of interest for the conservation of birds. All of Lemoine’s observations made on the island were entered on Faune Antilles.

Les sculptures animales en cours de finalisation | The animal sculptures under construction
Les sculptures animales en cours de finalisation | The animal sculptures under construction

Action MS20

  • Seeking new means of financing

Thanks to the EDF Foundation and the 11,000€ donation it made in 2022, the Réserve was able to expand its collection of life-size sculptural animals. A gray heron, a black-necked stilt, a great egret, and a brown pelican have joined the marine mammals, turtles, fish, and other birds in this interesting scientific menagerie.

These funds will also allow the Réserve to make new underwater films to be seen with the 360° virtual reality headsets.

A More Than Positive Report For The Education Department

In light of its final report for 2022, the Education Department can be proud of its continued growth in academic activities and public awareness. Sixteen schools, three training centers, three businesses, and eight associations, or a total 7,243 children and adults, benefitted from their awareness activities on site or in the field last year. Victim of its own success, the department had to refuse several new candidates who wanted to sign partnership agreements, including Eliane Clark Nursery School and Hervé Williams Elementary School, as well as classes from Aline Hanson Elementary School, the middle schools in French Quarter, Mont des Accords and Soualiga middle schools, and Robert Weinum high School. All of which already have working agreements with the Réserve Naturelle, which in turn provides free activities for their students. In the hopes of having one additional staffer, and in the event that the Collectivité wants to develop its competence in terms of the environment, the Réserve Naturelle has submitted an official request for the funds to recruit someone they will train for the job.

The Réserve Naturelle, A Pedagogical Outlook

When invited to share its pedagogical mission with several of its partners, the Réserve Naturelle always replies positively.

Discovery Of Open-Air Activities

On November 2, 3, and 4, 2022, during the Toussaint vacation, 187 enfants from the ages of 7 to 12, from the neighborhoods of Sandy Ground, Concordia, and French Quarter, had the change to discover the island of Pinel and take part in various sports activities. The Réserve did not fail in its task of environmental awareness when responding to the request from the Nautical Club of Saint Martin, the association that organized these three days for the Discovery Of Open-Air Activities. Aude Berger, Ashley Daniel et Brenton Larmonie l organized pedagogical visits in small groups in order to make the children aware of the necessity to protect both marine and terrestrial eco-systems on this small island that welcomes a lot of tourists.

Sea Discovery Day

On November 16, 2022, 54 kids from under-privileged neighborhoods participated in Sea Discovery Day, which has been organized for several years by Métimer, the association for nautical professionals. This event allows the kids to discover sailing and the little island of Tintamarre, where Ashley Daniel and Brenton Larmonie, both on the staff of the Réserve Naturelle, taught them about the fragility of the eco-systems during a hike along the coast and on the interior of this magnificent protected site.

Nautical Professionals Trade Show

December 8 & 9, 2022 marked the date for the Nautical Professionals Trade Show at which middle school and high school students from 10th to 12th grade stopped by the stand run by the Réserve Naturelle. Aude Berger, Ashley Daniel, and Christopher Joe answered all of their questions and presented various environmental professionals to the youngsters, many of whom have been already been made aware of the importance of protecting nature through the Education Department.

New Projects For Educational Marine Zones

In 2022, Happy School, recently named an Educational Marine Zone, continued its project for the protection of sea turtles, via a public awareness campaign about the threats created by human activity. At the same time, the school started a study of coral reefs, which gave some of the students an opportunity to take their first underwater dive. These two projects, as well as their ongoing work for the protection of sea turtles—notably with the creation of signage with a QR code for access to a link citing the dangers threatening the sea turtles—will be presented by the students to their teachers and invited guests during the annual Sea Council in order to get their official Educational Marine Zone label. A third class is working on a study of exotic invasive species launched in 2021. Equipped with a GPS, a brochure, an informational sheet for each species, and a camera, each group of five students was assigned to research the different species in a zone close to the beach in Galion. This project will be presented during the Sea Council planned for March 31, 2023.

The Roche Gravée de Moho Middle School in French Quarter

also now an Educational Marine Zone for the 2022/2023 school year. Their project is to revitalize the mangrove at Galion, by replanting saplings they will grow in their classroom, and others that were grown in the nursery within the Réserve Naturelle.

Students from Clair Saint-Maximin Elementary School,

part of the Educational Marine Zone at Galion for the past six years, are working on a diagnostic of the beach, or an evaluation of the sites where sea turtles lay their eggs, in order to determine if this beach is suitable for egg-laying by the turtles. The goal is to make local residents and professionals aware of the importance of protecting these reproductive sites.

The Education Department Continues To Grow

Between January and June 2022, the Réserve signed three new agreements: two with elementary schools Marie-Emilie Leydet and Jean de la Fontaine; and the third with the association Cobraced. When school started in fall of 2022, 17 schools and nine associations had ongoing agreements with the Réserve Naturelle. These agreements align these partners with the Réserve, which in turn presents free presentations, in the classroom and in the field, both for students and socially troubled youngsters. These presentations are then, on the other hand, billed to the training centers which made the request, except in the case of disadvantaged populations.

In the first six months of 2022, the education department provided 200 academic presentations.

During the last advisory committee meeting, Vincent Oliva expressed his concern about the high level of requests for these programs, as he is the only person to present them. The DEAL suggested that he submit a request for a supplemental post, which could be split between the educational and scientific departments.

Double Funding From Te Me Um

The 20,000 euros of funding allocated to the Réserve Naturelle by Te Me Um in 2021 for a project on “the reappropriation of Saint Martin’s natural heritage by its children,” allowed the Réserve to augment its teaching materials: activity notebooks for the students, baseball caps, T-shirts, and most importantly anatomic sculptures of several species on sharks, which are frequently used in classrooms. Te Me Um, a program designed to support the operations of the biodiversity sector in the French overseas islands, is backed by the French Office For Biodiversity (OFB). At the same time, a micro-project concerning the study of invasive exotic species has benefitted from a second grant from Te Me Um, for the sum of 4,300 euros. This will allow the Education Department to purchase a GPS, a new camera, digital tablets, and to print certain invasive exotic species in 3D.

Skyepharma, a company that financed a first activity notebook for the CE1 to CM2 students in 2020, has renewed its funding and will underwrite the printing of 300 new notebooks.

“Discovery Workshops” at The Réserve

Once again this year, the Réserve Naturelle hosted several interns, notably tenth and eleventh grade students for “discovery workshops”, in which they spent a week learning about Réserve and what it would mean to work there. The result is positive; the students found the experience enriching as did the Réserve, which can see the benefits of these regular academic interventions. These workshops also provided an occasion for the students to learn that it is possible to work professionally in the environmental field.

The Réserve Naturelle Honored By The Guadeloupe School Board

The Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin won the “EDD Academic Prize” awarded by the school board in Guadeloupe for its academic activities and outreach in terms of being an exemplary educational marine zone for the Northern Islands. Like a diploma to recognize the collaboration between the schools and the Réserve Naturelle over the past four years.

EDF Guadeloupe Supports The Réserve

In 2022, the Réserve Naturelle signed a new agreement with EDF Guadeloupe for the organization of the “Fête de la Nature”, which features explorations of marine eco-systems and milieux. This agreement is matched by a donation of 3,000 euros, destined for the purchase of pedagogical materials, such as a 3D printer, which will facilitate the fabrication of small animal figurines—sea turtle, dolphin, conch—that the students will be able to paint and keep.

May 18, 2022, Fête de la Nature at Galion, with a presentation of the Réserve’s eco-systems for 14 participants.
May 21, 2022, a morning hike on the Sentier des Froussards for a presentation on the wild flora and the invasive exotic species which are now present there.
May 21, 2022, to mark the 30th anniversary of LIFE BIODIV’OM, an afternoon presentation about the grouper protection project and underwater diving with virtual reality masks for 21 participants.

Agreement With The EDF Foundation

The EDF Foundation, whose objective is to support projects with a local impact, signed an agreement with the Réserve Naturelle, after the Réserve had submitted a dossier on the discovery of the coral reefs of Saint Martin. This donation, for the sum of 11,000 euros, will allow the Réserve to purchase new virtual reality masks, a camera with a 360° lens to create new videos, and new anatomic sculptures of sharks and other fish this time.

The AGOA stand at the Fête of the Whale
Le stand de la réserve naturelle à la Fête de la baleine The Réserve Naturelle stand at the Fête of the Whale

The Réserve Naturelle At the “Fête Of The Whale”
The Réserve Naturelle accepted the invitation from the association Métimer (nautical professionals) to participate in the “Fête Of The Whale”, on Sunday, April 3, 2022. A total of 198 visitors stopped by the Réserve’s stand and especially liked the dives using a virtual reality mask into the underwater world of Saint Martin. The AGOA sanctuary for the protection of marine mammals was there, of course, and allowed people to listen to the songs of humpback whales The association, “My School, My Whale”, invited younger kids into their tent for various games featuring marine mammals. As for the Observatory for Marine Mammals of the Guadeloupean Archipelago (OMMAG), they made their documentation available to the visitors and responded to their questions. A conference, also for the younger kids, was led by Amandine Vaslet, representative of “My School, My Whale”, in Saint Martin, at the La Chapelle Theatre spectacles. Michel Vély, president of the association Megaptera, hosted adults the same evening in the same theatre for a lecture where the humpback whale played the starring role.

Two Exhibits At Grand-Case Airport
The Réserve Naturelle organized two exhibits at the Grand-Case airport in 2002. In January and February, in the check-in area, passengers were able to encounter marine mammals through a display of anatomic sculptures and kakemonos. And in the arrival hall, a presentation by Life BIODIV’OM informed travelers about the protection of two grouper species. In September and October, an exhibit in the departure hall was dedicated to coral reefs and their habitats, while there was a display about sea turtles in the arrival hall. At the end of September, both of these two exhibits will be on display again at the airport, as part of an event organized in conjunction with the Tourist Office and the Collectivité.

Tourism Within The Réserve

The Réserve Naturelle continues its exploration on the development of eco-tourism activities, a study launched in 2021. The challenge is to give visitors access to learn about the natural sites in Saint Martin and showcase the destination differently, by highlighting the specificities of the island’s natural resources. As a result, since 2021, the Réserve has been leading narrated tours of the marine milieu for the clients of La Samanna hotel, which gives their ccustomers access to a rental boat, to go out with two agents from the Réserve. The highpoint of this project is the observation of sea turtles at the sites where they are frequently found. The only restriction: the sea must be calm in order to best observe these animals in conditions that are respectful of the environment. Another activity is the exploration of the salt ponds, the mangrove, and their ornithological richness, on the site of the Salines d’Orient, in cooperation with Seagrape Tours. In order to enrich the content of the message communicated during these visits, the agents of the Réserve spent a weekend with the guides from this commercial tour company, in a classroom and in the field. Their goal was to present the Réserve Naturelle, with the wetlands as a highpoint of the visit, and a look at the restoration work done in the mangrove by the management. The visitors are asked to contribute to this restoration by transplanting mangrove seedlings that come from the Réserve’s nursery. This exploration of the mangrove in Saint Martin, and its management tools, is addressed as much toward the residents of the island as to its visitors. The latter also contribute to the conservation of the mangrove by paying a fee for commercial activities within the perimeter of the Réserve Naturelle.

An American In Saint Martin

At the request of the Tourist Office, the Réserve Naturelle hosted an American journalist who wanted to discover Saint Martin beyond the beaches and off the beaten track, in order to better write about the undeveloped side of Saint-Martin, its salt ponds, its mangroves, and its rich bird life. At the Réserve office, she enjoyed a presentation led by the staff on the management and conservation of biodiversity. Then to get a real-life look at these topics, she went with the staff to visit the Baie de l’Embouchure, where she was able to see how easy it is to observe birds from the shore, and also understand the efforts put forth by the Réserve to restore the natural zones damaged by hurricane Irma, especially the creation of the mangrove plant nursery. She returned to the United States satisfied with her visit and surprised that these natural assets are rarely promoted in the press.

Visite pédagogique avec la réserve naturelle à Pinel | Academic field trip to Pinel with the Réserve NaturelleAcademic field trip to Pinel with the Réserve Naturelle
Visite pédagogique avec la réserve naturelle à Pinel | Academic field trip to Pinel with the Réserve NaturelleAcademic field trip to Pinel with the Réserve Naturelle

The Réserve Met 300 Kids At Pinel

On October 27, 28, and 29, 2021, the Réserve played its role in promoting environmental awareness by stepping up to the plate for the Nautical Club of Saint Martin. This association organized three days for the “discovery of fresh-air activities,” which took place on the small island of Pinel, for kids aged seven to 14, from disadvantaged families. Part of the national strategy for the fight against poverty, this event allowed 300 kids from Sandy Ground, Concordia, and French Quarter to explore Pinel and try out various sports and activities. The Réserve Naturelle organized pedagogical visits for small groups of 10 students, non-stop, to teach them about marine and terrestrial eco-systems, which are particularly fragile on this little wedge of land surrounded by water.

Details of the pedagogical activities

 

Une tortue marine au centre de l’intérêt de ces jeunes élèves A sea turtle of interest to these young students
Une tortue marine au centre de l’intérêt de ces jeunes élèves A sea turtle of interest to these young students

For the 2021-2022 school year, the pedagogical service of the Réserve Naturelle has selected subjects in keeping with the scientific service for its in-school activities, for which the two services regularly collaborate. The main subject is that of exotic invasive species, both vegetal and animal, and their impact on biodiversity and ecosystems, and in a larger sense the evolution of life on the planet. Information about these exotic invasive species that have been introduced to Saint Martin includes: where they came from, who introduced them to the island, and their history since the Amerindians. Other subjects range from marine mammals and sea turtles to sharks and ecosystems. The visits are adapted to the level of each class, from kindergarten through high school. Each class has four or five visits from the Réserve Naturelle and the students are asked to create and present a related project at the end of the school year.

Plongée virtuelle à l’école A virtual dive at school
Plongée virtuelle à l’école A virtual dive at school

On November 16, 2021, the Réserve Naturelle had a stand at the Fête de la Science (Science Fair), at the Clair Saint-Maximin elementary school in French Quarter, where two classes have run an educative marine zone since 2018. The anatomical sculptures of marine animals captured the attention of these students, but it was the virtual reality headsets for underwater diving that really hit it out of the park. Planned for the morning, the event lasted throughout the day, so that the students—as well as their teachers–could experience this voyage under the sea, virtual, but oh so real.

Raphaël Dorville
Raphaël Dorville

Raphaël Dorville, a ninth grader at the French Quarter high school who had been a student in the first class for the educative marine zones in 2016—a CM1 class at the Clair Saint-Maximin school— spontaneously asked to do a discovery internship at the Réserve Naturelle, January 24-28, 2022. A demand that was very well received by the Réserve as well as by Jessica Sabas, her former teacher. The internship helps students discover the working world, share the daily tasks done by professionals, and benefit from a tangible experience.

As part of the eleventh call for the funding of initiatives to promote biodiversity in Overseas France, launched in April 2021 by the OFB (French Biodiversity Office) and its partner Te Me Um, two projects presented by the Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin were selected.

  • The first, in the “micro-projects” category, will allow students from four fifth grade classes and a sixth grade class to be taught about the management of exotic invasive species. The program comprises five visits by the Réserve in each class, before going on a field trip to observe the exotic and invasive vegetal and animal species, such as the coral vine, the common iguana, the rat, and the giant African snail. The budget of 4,276 euros will be used to purchase cameras, tablets, and GPS devices.
  • The second project, under the “partner” banner, is based on the reappropriation of the natural heritage of Saint Martin by its younger generations, and particularly the two educational marine zone classes at the Clair Saint-Maximin school. These students will learn how to make a diagnosis of the beaches in their marine zone and determine if it is favorable— or not—for egg laying by sea turtles. The grant of 20,000 euros allows for the financing of various tools: workbooks, anatomical sculptures of marine animals, VR masks, videos and virtual dives, t-shirts, and caps.

200 New Workbooks

The workbooks created by the Réserve Naturelle in 2020 were a big hit with young students, and 200 additional copies will be reprinted thanks to 500 euros donated by Skyepharma. The 20 pages in these notebooks outline the elements of the Réserve Naturelle and are intended for fourth and fifth grade classes, in order to educate the kids about the environment and give them an awareness of the management and conservation of the biodiversity of Saint Martin.

Les participants à Sandy Ground The participants at Sandy Ground
Les participants à Sandy Ground The participants at Sandy Ground

Neighborhood Environmental Awareness

At the request of Compagnons Bâtisseurs, the Réserve’s environmental education and awareness service organized two sessions aimed at building awareness amongst the population of Saint Martin, explaining the role and the importance of the Réserve Naturelle and the protection of the island’s ecosystems. Running for two hours, the first session took place in Sandy Ground and the subject matter detailed the ecosystems of Saint Martin and sea turtles. The second such event was for the residents of French Quarter, who also learned about the ecosystems as well as about the important role that the mangroves play in the delicate balance of the marine milieu and the protection of the island. This session was followed by a field trip to Galion, during which Vincent Oliva provided more complete explanations on the subjects that had been discussed. In both neighborhoods, ten of the participants were also able to explore the underwater world of the Réserve Naturelle, by using virtual reality masks.

Who are the Compagnons Bâtisseurs?
For the past 60 years, the Compagnons Bâtisseurs have helped those the most in need with the renovation or construction of their home. Their association, financed by public-private partnerships, set up shop in Saint Martin the day after hurricane Irma hit. To date, close to 200 families in Saint Martin have benefitted from their services, and now enjoy better living conditions more adapted to their needs.
Saint-Martin le paradis retrouvé des tortues - France 3
Saint-Martin le paradis retrouvé des tortues - France 3

The Réserve Teaches La Samanna Clients About Our Natural Heritage

At the request of the luxury hotel, La Samanna, the Réserve Naturelle will go on excursions with clients who want to learn more about the natural heritage of the island. The first excursion took place on December 21, 2021, with a boat tour around the small island of Tintamarre. Julien Chalifour and Vincent Oliva taught the visitors about various activities for the protection of the local biodiversity, especially sea turtles, birds, and sea plant beds in Baie Blanche.

Action CC8 Communicate about the missions and activities of the RNN in the media (Priority 1)

France 3 TV Focuses On The Réserve Naturelle

On November 2, 2021, the 19/20 program on France 3 consecrated 3.42 minutes to the Réserve Naturelle of Saint-Martin, in a reportage titled “Saint-Martin, Paradise Found For Sea Turtles.” After showing pretty images of turtles grazing on sea plants, the primary missions of the Réserve were covered, including shots of Franck Roncuzzi on Galion beach, where he was instructing a class about the importance of our natural heritage. Ashley Daniel and Christophe Joe, at work in the nursery, explained the role of the mangrove, where they have already replanted 5,000 small saplings. Then, Aude Berger explained in detail the scientific monitoring of sea turtles. A look at the Réserve’s regulations closed the segment, from the ban on fishing to the obligation of boats to use moorings and the payment of fees for professionals duly registered with the Réserve Naturelle: measures intended to revitalize the synergy between conservation of our biodiversity and use of the protected natural sites.

Sculpture anatomique d’un dauphin… Anatomical sculpture of a dolphin…
Sculpture anatomique d’un dauphin… Anatomical sculpture of a dolphin…

New pedagogical tools

Contour Global, the company that runs one of the two Galisbay electric plants, met with the Réserve Naturelle on the subject of pedagogical tools to promote environmental protection, for which they are providing financing of 14,000€. An agreement was signed with the Réserve, which will make these activity notebooks and binoculars available to students to help raise their environmental awareness. At the same time, anatomical sculptures of a dolphin, a turtle, and a tropicbird are being completed. They will allow the students to discover the essential internal organs of these three animals, as can be seen in the photos below. The goal is to invite the students to visit the offices of the Réserve Naturelle at Hope Estate, which will be transformed into an academic arena to welcome them. They will also enjoy a simulated dive to a protected coral reef in Saint Martin, thanks to three pairs of virtual reality glasses.

Sensibilisation sur le terrain avec Vincent Oliva Awareness in the field with Vincent Oliva Oliva
Sensibilisation sur le terrain avec Vincent Oliva Awareness in the field with Vincent Oliva Oliva

Reinforcing environmental education

In 2019, 26 classes were regularly taken on field trips to help raise their environmental awareness, a subject also taught in the schools. With this in mind, seven agreements were signed, with the French Quarter and Soualiga middle schools, the Robert Weinum high school, the professional high school, Happy School, Marie-Antoinette Richards school, Clair Saint-Maximim school, where two classes received the label “Educational Marine Area,” as assigned by the French Office for Biodiversity. A sixth grade class at the Soualiga middle school also benefits from this label. The idea for these students, with the advice of the Réserve, is to define priorities for the protection of the biodiversity at the site for which they are responsible and to apply a scholastic approach to real-world examples, for example the replanting of the mangroves. In addition, new agreements are in the works with the Émile Choisy, Siméone Trott, Élie Gibbs, and Lamartine schools. At the same time, the Réserve meets regularly with the students studying for their BAPAAT (Brevet d’aptitude professionnelle d’assistant animateur technicien). From January 7 through March 16, 2020, the date when the schools closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Réserve Naturelle led 74 academic interventions, including 12 in the field terrain, and visits to 10 schools for 37 classes, for a total students 740 students.In 2019, 26 classes were regularly taken on field trips to help raise their environmental awareness, a subject also taught in the schools. With this in mind, seven agreements were signed, with the French Quarter and Soualiga middle schools, the Robert Weinum high school, the professional high school, Happy School, Marie-Antoinette Richards school, Clair Saint-Maximim school, where two classes received the label “Educational Marine Area,” as assigned by the French Office for Biodiversity. A sixth grade class at the Soualiga middle school also benefits from this label. The idea for these students, with the advice of the Réserve, is to define priorities for the protection of the biodiversity at the site for which they are responsible and to apply a scholastic approach to real-world examples, for example the replanting of the mangroves. In addition, new agreements are in the works with the Émile Choisy, Siméone Trott, Élie Gibbs, and Lamartine schools. At the same time, the Réserve meets regularly with the students studying for their BAPAAT (Brevet d’aptitude professionnelle d’assistant animateur technicien). From January 7 through March 16, 2020, the date when the schools closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Réserve Naturelle led 74 academic interventions, including 12 in the field terrain, and visits to 10 schools for 37 classes, for a total students 740 students.

The Réserve selected nine themes for these presentations:

  • Presentation of the Réserve, its role, and the jobs needed on a daily basis
  • Various eco-systems
  • Mangroves
  • Flora and fauna
  • Sea turtles
  • Protection of groupers
  • The mangrove nursery
  • Planting of mangrove seedlings
  • La pollution et ses conséquences
Five classes are actively participating in the regeneration of the mangroves destroyed by hurricane Irma, by planting seedlings from the mangrove nursery set up by the Réserve, very close to the Etang des Salines d’Orient. This actual application in the field of theoretic information they receive in class includes follow- up so that the students can monitor the growth of their seedlings.

Plantation d’un palétuvier par un jeune écolier - A young student planting of a mangrove

Sea Discovery Day
Sea Discovery Day

The Réserve at Sea Discovery Day…

As it is every year, the Réserve Naturelle took part in Sea Discovery Day, organized by Métimer, the association of nautical professionals, on November 27, 2019. A total of 230 kids among the most disadvantaged on the island, were able to discover the joys of navigation aboard boats provided by sponsors of the association. After landing on the small island of Tintamare, these kids were able to enjoy swimming and aquatic games, as well as a long walk with the team from the Réserve, to teach them about the fragility of the ecosystems.

… And at the Heineken Regatta

Once again this year, the Réserve Naturelle worked with the organizers of the Heineken Regatta to help build awareness about the protection of marine mammals during this event that is held the first weekend in March. The Réserve intervened the day before the start of the regatta to share the same message at the race briefing. In connection with the Agoa sanctuary, before each race, the Réserve Naturelle made sure that no marine mammal would cross the path of one of the large sailboats taking part in this renowned regatta.

Plongée virtuelle

Virtual diving in the Réserve Naturelle

Accompanied by the NGO, Blue Finance, the Réserve Naturelle has launched a virtual reality project designed to allow the public to discover the underwater milieu that is protected. Equipped with virtual-reality helmets, participants find themselves submerged and surrounded by coral, sea grass beds, and can discover underwater flora and fauna as if they were actually diving. The event is itinerant and was hosted in its initial phase by the Hommage Hotel at Nettle Bay, then at SXM Music Festival, before being put on hold in early March with the confinement of the population. The goal of Blue Finance is to put its expertise and its experience to work in the financing of sustainable management for protected marine areas (MPA). It hopes to improve the management of at least 20 MPA’s by 2030, as well-managed, well-financed MPA’s are considered one of the most effective tools to reduce local threats to marine diversity.

Sensibilisation sur le terrain
Sensibilisation sur le terrain

Environmental awareness activities and education are among the priorities of the management plan for the Réserve Naturelle, which has been intensifying its pedagogical involvement in island schools since they recruited Vincent Oliva, the pedagogical program director for the Réserve in charge of environmental education. Cretaed by the Réserve, the pedagogical program «Let’s Project Nature Together” fits perfectly within the objectives of the educational efforts for sustainable development as defined by the Minister of Education, and instituted at schools in the Northern Islands. Vincent Oliva and Aude Berger met with Stéphanie Brouwers, education delegate for sustainable development for the school board, to let her know they are willing to visit the schools, especially Aude Berger on the subject of the LIFE project for the preservation of the Nassau grouper and the giant grouper. The school board has approved the project «Let’s Protect Nature Together,” as presented to school directors on October 15, in the presence of the Réserve Naturelle, which presented its own ideas for the project. Teachers have a choice as to which themes they want to develop in their classrooms, from biodiversity, to fauna, flora, marine ecosystems, natural heritage, and the preservation of the two grouper species. Field interventions are planned, on land and at sea. Concrete activities, for example related with the mangrove nursery, will be implemented. Agreements have already been signed with the Ecole Clair Saint-Maximin (with a CM1 and CM2 class who run their own educative marine site at Galion), the French Quarter middle school, Soualiga middle school, Robert Weinum high school, and the Northern Islands professional high school. Two private schools, Lamartine and Happy School, have also signed agreements, and additional signatures are expected. “Our goal is to intervene in every school on the island,” says Vincent. Teachers.

For additional information, please contact Vincent Oliva via email: reservenat.vincent@yahoo.com

Les scouts ont également participé à la mise en place des tables © Christophe Joe The scouts also participated in the installation of the tables © Christophe Joe
Les scouts ont également participé à la mise en place des tables © Christophe Joe The scouts also participated in the installation of the tables © Christophe Joe

In July and August, the rangers of the Réserve Naturelle, with the help of three scouts, completed the post-Irma cleanup of the islets of Tintamare, Caye Verte, and Pinel, the Froussards path, and the salt ponds. These scouts, from the Saint-Georges du Mans parish, were in Saint Martin on July 8-26, as part of a companion scouts program on a humanitarian trip from metropolitan France. Aged 18 to 19 years old, Louis Bourdin, Camille de Labbey, and Simon Avon filled 126 large garbage bags with trash and participated in the removal of heavy debris. On July 25, they had 14 young helpers who were in a trash management training program.

10 picnic tables for Tintamare and Pinel La Réserve Naturelle continues its restoring or replacing of equipment damaged by hurricane Irma. On Tintamare, 8 tables are now available for picnics, with an additional two at Pinel, for a total of 10.
Découverte de Pinel - Exploring Pinel
Découverte de Pinel - Exploring Pinel

A group of 20 kids from Milton Peters College, a middle school on the Dutch side, accompanied by their guests from The Netherlands, were able to explore the terrestrial and marine flora and fauna on the small island of Pinel, with the help of the Réserve Naturelle. On foot, or outfitted with a mask, snorkel, and fins, they were made aware of the problems caused by Sargasso seaweed, the decline of the water quality along the coastline, and invasive species, as well as free services provided by nature for the benefit of mankind such as the production of fish, protection against the elements, and water purification. These activities seem even more important to the students in the context of climate change that directly impacts our islands.

Bienvenue à Pinel - Welcome to Pinel

EDF a participé à la Fête de la Nature - EDF participated in the Fête de la Nature
EDF a participé à la Fête de la Nature - EDF participated in the Fête de la Nature

When the staff of the electric company, EDF Archipel Guadeloupe asked, the Réserve Naturelle organized an excursion in the Galion mangrove. This event, which took place on May 25 as part of the Fête de la Nature 2019, served to promote awareness of the diversity of the flora and fauna that exists in this often under-estimated milieu. This marshy coastal forest helps stabilize the land closest to the sea, purify runoff water, produce a large number of fish, crustaceans, and birds, and it represents the last rampart against bad weather conditions and the swell. The participants at the event were able to observe fish, crabs, and wading birds, as well as contribute to the task of collecting trash that is sadly left along the borders of this protected natural site. Hoping that the participants will now be ambassadors, and carry the message of awareness for a better understanding of the mangrove, an important asset that is part of the island’s natural heritage. The Réserve Naturelle is also pleased with the increased popularity of bird watching and the growing number of visitors attracted by the rich diversity of birdlife in Saint Martin.

Nicolas Maslach filmé par l’équipe de Thalassa Nicolas Maslach filmed by the Thalassa team
Nicolas Maslach filmé par l’équipe de Thalassa Nicolas Maslach filmed by the Thalassa team

Shown on France 3 TV on March 20,2019 and presented by Fanny Agostini, Thalassa’s “Facing The Anger Of The Sea” dedicated a large part of its program to Irma “an unprecedented monster,” and its consequences in Saint Martin. For example, the mangrove, 90% destroyed at Galion, played its capital role in the protection of the coast and the population. And diving at Tintamare reveals that the underwater milieu there suffered less than the terrestrial landscapes, and that life continues quietly there, in spite of Irma. The reporting concluded with the observation that it is vital for humankind to adapt to nature, rather than try to adapt nature to man’s needs, especially in terms of urban development. A challenge not only for Saint Martin, but for the entire world.

Léa Bernier, age 14, a 9th grade student at Collège Descartes, intends to pursue a career in environmental affairs. She made a first step in this direction on February 25-March 1, at the Réserve Naturelle, where she completed the sequence of observation in a professional milieu that is obligatory for all 9th graders. She primarily participated in the scientific study of the birds in the salt ponds and was taught how to count the different species.

A demarcation buoy from the Réserve Marine in Saint Barthélemy had been stationed offshore from the beach in Grandes Cayes since hurricane Irma. It had broken its chain and floated toward Saint Martin during the storm, but has now been transported to the eco-site by the Réserve Naturelle, whose agents had taken off the top of the buoy, which will be used as an artificial reef after it is cleaned.

A crew from Ushuaia TV visited Saint Martin in late January to shoot a segment on the consequences of hurricane Irma, which the producers referred to as “an unprecedented experience: climatic change”. Titled “Under The Chaos, The Beach,” the program was broadcast on Saturday June 23 and Thursday, June 28, and will remain accessible on the Ushuaia TV website. The Réserve Naturelle was called upon for the environmental section of the program. Julien Chalifour, Chris Joe, Ashley Daniel and Vincent Oliva took the video crew to Pinel, Tintamare, and Rocher Créole, aboard the boat belonging to the Réserve. They also took them under the waves, for an underwater shoot at the Remorqueur site on Tintamare.

Beautiful article by Alexis Valois and Alexis Rosenfeld in the July edition, number 449, of the magazine Ça m’intéresse. In Saint Martin after Irma, the couple went diving with the team of the Réserve Naturelle and has assessed the adaptability capacity of corals for their survival, faced with numerous external threats.

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