Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment And Infrastructure Ministerie van Volkshuisvesting, Ruimtelijke Ordening, Milieu en Infrastructuur Nature Policy Plan 2021 – 2025 Established/Approved: Date: By: i Nature Policy Plan Sint Maarten 2021 – 2025 “We the people of Sint Maarten: RESOLVED to provide for the continuing preservation of nature and the environment”. Constitution of Sint Maarten ii Nature Policy Plan Sint Maarten 2021 – 2025 Nature Policy Plan Sint Maarten 2021 – 2025 Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry of VROMI) Address: Government of Sint Maarten Ministry of VROMI Soualiga Road #1 Pond Island, Great Bay Sint Maarten Contact: [email protected] [email protected] iii Nature Policy Plan Sint Maarten 2021 – 2025 Lignum Vitae (Guaiacum officinale) iv Photo by: Mark Yokoyama Nature Policy Plan Sint Maarten 2021 – 2025 Acknowledgments In writing the Nature Policy Plan Sint Maarten 2021 – 2025, the Ministry of VROMI consulted several government ministries, and external stakeholders including private sector entities and NGO’s. Some were engaged in the preparation of the policy from the onset; others were part of a review of the policy and stakeholder meetings. The Ministry of VROMI acknowledges and appreciates the time and effort of the stakeholders who contributed to the formulation of this Nature Policy Plan, which provides insights into the current state of affairs of nature on Sint Maarten and the proposed way forward on nature conservation and management. Special appreciation for their contributions go to: Claire Hooft Graafland, former Senior Policy Advisor for Nature and Environment of VROMI; Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA); Duncan MacRae, Coastal Zone Management (UK); The Brainstorm committee: F.Blomjous, D.Boerboom, D.Bosman, S.Brouwer-Van der Goes, E.Toet-Dekker, Lediedee DSC, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands; The Feedback committee: o Tadzio Bervoets, former manager of Nature Foundation St Maarten, o Fleur Hermanides, from the Department of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (Ministry VSA), o Rueben Thompson, Environmentalist, Board member EPIC (Environmental Protection in the Caribbean), Dr. AO (Dolfi) Debrot, Wageningen Research, Tropical Marine Ecologist; Melanie Meijer Zu Schlochtern, Manager of Nature Foundation St Maarten. Photograph credits (unless otherwise stated): Nature Foundation St Maarten Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) Duncan MacRae Mark Yokoyama, Les Fruits de Mer, Saint Martin For more information and a digital copy of this policy plan, please visit our website at: www.sintmaartengov.org. v Contents Summary ............................................................................................................................................. viii 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background .......................................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Premises and Strategy ......................................................................................................... 3 2. Local Context ...................................................................................................................................... 4 2.1 General Characteristics ........................................................................................................ 4 2.2 Nature on Sint Maarten ....................................................................................................... 6 2.3 Threats ............................................................................................................................... 11 2.4 Nature as an Economic Resource ...................................................................................... 15 2.5 Current Protected Areas .................................................................................................... 16 3. Policy Objectives and Guiding Principles ......................................................................................... 21 3.1 Policy Objectives ................................................................................................................ 22 3.2 Guiding Principles .............................................................................................................. 23 4. Priority Themes ............................................................................................................................... 24 4.1 Biodiversity Conservation, Restoration and Management ............................................... 24 4.2 Research and Monitoring................................................................................................... 29 4.3 Sustainable Tourism ........................................................................................................... 32 4.4 Communication, Education and Public Awareness ........................................................... 34 4.5 Legislation, Standardization and Enforcement .................................................................. 36 4.6 Nature Integrated into Development Strategies ............................................................... 38 4.7 Cooperation ....................................................................................................................... 40 4.8 Financial Instruments ......................................................................................................... 43 4.9 Climate Change .................................................................................................................. 46 5. Implementation Framework ............................................................................................................ 49 5.1 Legal Framework ................................................................................................................ 49 5.2 Stakeholders ...................................................................................................................... 52 5.3 Budget and Schedule of Activities ..................................................................................... 56 5.4 Monitoring and Evaluation ................................................................................................ 56 6. Concluding Remarks ......................................................................................................................... 57 References ........................................................................................................................................... 58 vi Nature Policy Plan Sint Maarten 2021 – 2025 Appendix 1: List of Sint Maarten Protected Species............................................................................ 60 Appendix 2: List of Invasive Species Recorded on Sint Maarten ......................................................... 67 Appendix 3: Areas of Conservation Importance .................................................................................. 72 Appendix 4: International Treaties and Conventions .......................................................................... 73 Appendix 5: National Legislation with Implications to Nature and Environment ............................... 76 vii Nature Policy Plan Sint Maarten 2021 – 2025 Summary Located in the Caribbean region, a biodiversity hotspot, Sint Maarten is home to species unique to the island and many species and habitats that are globally threatened. It is estimated that Sint Maarten is home to some 400 individual species of conservation importance that are listed for protection under international, regional and local initiatives. With a magnificent natural environment, it is not surprising that millions of tourists visit Sint Maarten each year, and thus the majority of the population being employed in the tourism industry and this being the main economic pillar of the island. However, interventions are needed to restore and maintain a clean, healthy and resilient natural environment to continue supporting a prosperous tourism industry, a robust economy, and ultimately maintaining a high quality of well-being for the citizens of Sint Maarten. Development practices in recent years have removed critical areas of habitat for the flora and fauna of Sint Maarten, resulting in a significant reduction of biodiversity, leaving degraded and stressed habitats that are more vulnerable to natural disaster. The protection of natural areas is an important mechanism to mitigate threats to nature, prevent the decline of biodiversity, increase resilience to change and provides significant contributions to global conservation efforts. At present, Sint Maarten is home to one marine park and one wetland of recognized international importance: the Man of War Shoal Marine Park and the Mullet Pond section of the Simpson Bay Lagoon. Notwithstanding these advancements regarding the protection of biodiversity, there are still significant challenges concerning terrestrial biodiversity conservation, public awareness, zoning and planning, and the enforcement of legislation as it pertains to nature (and environment). The terrestrial, marine and intertidal ecosystems of Sint Maarten are experiencing many threats including unbridled economic development (development or conversion of land use), pollution (terrestrial runoff of nutrients, sediments, fuels,