Major Milestone – EPIC Restoration of a Globally Important Caribbean Seabird Nesting Island
The successful removal of dozens of invasive goats from Battowia, one of the Caribbean’s most important seabird nesting islands, is a significant milestone achievement for the Grenadines Seabird Restoration Project implemented by EPIC and its partners.
Protecting Critical Wildlife in the Grenadines
A major conservation effort is underway in the Grenadines as EPIC and partners take action to restore fragile island ecosystems impacted by invasive species. Through a targeted and carefully managed goat removal operation, this work aims to protect native vegetation, stabilize habitats, and support the recovery of critical seabird nesting areas.
Honoring the Founders Who Built EPIC
After more than two decades of impact across the Caribbean, EPIC recognizes the founders who built the organization into what it is today. As Natalia Collier and Adam Brown step back from their day-to-day roles, their legacy lives on through the conservation work, partnerships, and communities they helped shape.
Helping Restaurants Reduce Waste
Across the U.S. Virgin Islands, restaurants are reducing waste through the VI Clean Coasts Eco-Certification program. EPIC has expanded outreach and communications, launched a new Eco-Certification webpage with an interactive map, and helped connect businesses to resources and funding to adopt sustainable, cost-effective practices that protect local communities and coastlines.
Students in Sint Maarten Learn Through Nature
Students across Sint Maarten are gaining hands-on environmental education through classroom lessons and field visits to Fort Amsterdam. Through EPIC’s BESTLife2030 project, students explored seabird ecology, planted native species, and observed the island’s important pelican colony, building a deeper understanding of local ecosystems and conservation in action.
Seabird Conversations in Bequia
Conversations with fishers, community leaders, and residents in Bequia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines are shedding light on changing traditions and emerging threats to seabirds across the Grenadines. Through community meetings and local observations, EPIC gathered insights on seabird harvesting, shifting vegetation, and environmental changes affecting nearby offshore cays, highlighting the importance of combining scientific research with local knowledge to protect seabird populations.
EPIC’s 2025 Digital Annual Impact Report Is Now Live!
EPIC’s 2025 Digital Annual Impact Report is now available. Explore key conservation milestones, community partnerships, and regional impact stories from across the Caribbean.
2025 EPIC IMPACT: A Year of Continued Support for EPIC International
With sincere gratitude, EPIC recognizes the individual donors, corporate supporters, and mission partners whose generosity supported EPIC International initiatives from mid-2024 through all of 2025. Their contributions make it possible to advance conservation, education, and community-driven environmental work across the Caribbean and beyond.
2025 EPIC IMPACT: A Year of Continued Support for EPIC Sint Maarten
Celebrating the individuals, businesses, foundations, and institutions whose continued contributions, sponsorships, and grants supported EPIC Sint Maarten projects from mid-2024 through 2025. Thank you for helping advance conservation, education, and community impact on Sint Maarten.
Stewarding the Future: A Fisherman’s Journey
Celebrating 25 Years! Fisherman Vaughn Thomas grew up reading the ocean through seabirds and weather. After joining EPIC’s Seabird Guardians program, he began to view the islands as a connected ecosystem where wildlife and livelihoods rely on one another. Today he is one of nearly sixty trained Guardians who help protect seabirds and support community conservation across the Grenadines.
Charting a Course for Seabird Conservation
Celebrating 25 Years! More than a decade ago, the schooner Lista Light anchored off Battowia as Katharine and Dave Lowerie completed a two-year seabird survey across the Lesser Antilles. Their work, supported by EPIC, produced the region’s first Seabird Breeding Atlas and set the foundation for ongoing research and conservation led by Natalia Collier and regional partners.
25 Years of EPIC: From Our First Grenadines Surveys to Today’s Restoration Work
As EPIC marks 25 years of conservation, we reflect on more than 16 years of work in the Grenadines, where our first surveys inspired the restoration and research efforts still shaping the islands today.
International Coastal Cleanup, Sint Maarten
More than 80 volunteers joined International Coastal Cleanup Day at Little Bay Beach, removing 2,397 pounds of trash while logging every item to guide year-round action. The result is a community win and a warning, underscoring the need to cut single-use plastics and strengthen waste management on Sint Maarten.
Surprise Discovery of a Black-capped Petrel on Dominica
When a juvenile Black-capped Petrel appeared at a cable car station in Dominica, it wasn’t just a surprise—it was a breakthrough. With fewer than 2,000 breeding pairs remaining, this unexpected sighting offers new hope for one of the Caribbean’s most endangered seabirds and supports over a decade of EPIC-led efforts to locate nesting sites beyond Hispaniola.
Restoring Simpson Bay Lagoon and Fort Amsterdam Habitat, Sint Maarten
From mangrove planting in Simpson Bay Lagoon to building safe nesting platforms for threatened seabirds, EPIC and partners are revitalizing key ecosystems in Sint Maarten. With support from volunteers and sponsors, recent efforts also enhanced Fort Amsterdam, the last nesting site for the island’s national bird. These community-led projects are safeguarding coastal biodiversity and protecting vital habitats for future generations.
Successful Drone Training Session hosted by EPIC Grenadines
A hands-on drone training hosted by EPIC Grenadines is helping local conservationists protect remote island ecosystems. Led by GIS specialist Cornelius Lyttle and in collaboration with multiple national agencies, the training enhanced regional capacity for environmental monitoring. Drones are now being used to track seabird nesting, detect invasive species, and capture stunning aerial footage for outreach and science. This initiative is part of a larger restoration effort supported by Deepwater Horizon NRDA funds and key partners like USFWS and SCIENCE.
Conservation of Native Bats on Sint Maarten
EPIC is leading a critical bat conservation project on Sint Maarten to protect the island’s only native mammals and their rapidly disappearing habitats. In response to human disturbance and guano harvesting that forced bats from a major roosting cave, the team is using camera traps and advocacy to push for legal protections and safeguard these essential pollinators and pest controllers.
Transformative Three-Year Eco-Schools Project in USVI Wraps-Up
Celebrating the successful completion of the Eco-Schools “Water and Waste Smart Schools” project, which aimed to build capacity within U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) schools and the community for safe, clean, and affordable drinking water. Over three years the program empowered more than 5,500 students and 150 teachers to become water stewards through…
Your Support Powers EPIC Work – For Wildlife, People, and the Planet!
As EPIC’s fiscal year draws to a close on May 31, we’re celebrating the progress made in protecting Caribbean wildlife and communities. From Haiti to coastal islands, your support fuels critical conservation efforts. Help us finish strong with a gift today.
Seabird Habitat Restoration Project Launched in St. Vincent & the Grenadines
EPIC has launched a seabird habitat restoration project in St. Vincent & the Grenadines, focusing on critical nesting sites on Battowia and the Pillories islands. These islands support important seabird populations threatened by habitat loss and invasive species. Through habitat restoration, species monitoring, and community engagement, this initiative aims to protect seabird colonies and strengthen conservation efforts in the Grenadines.
2024 EPIC IMPACT: Community Engagement Leads to Long-term Conservation Gains in Haiti
2024 EPIC IMPACTS- Considering the numerous environmental issues and impacts in the Caribbean, it might seem like nearly a decade of work focused on an endangered seabird, the Black-capped Petrel, could have limited scope. But Adam Brown, Black-capped Petrel Program Manager at EPIC, has seen it transform an entire community. Brown’s team efforts to protect the Black-capped Petrel—one of the rarest seabirds that nests high in Haiti’s mountains—sparked
a movement…
2024 EPIC IMPACT: Caribbean Seabird Census
Avian biologist and EPIC co-founder Natalia Collier continues to advocate for a pan-Caribbean seabird census as a member of the BirdsCaribbean Seabird Working Group. This partnership program has succeeded in coordinating researchers and citizen scientists across the region to contribute data on seabird breeding colonies, which play a critical role in the health of marine ecosystems. This is crucial for understanding the health of Caribbean seabird populations, which have declined dramatically in recent decades.
2024 EPIC IMPACT: Corena Biodiversity Project
Gathering scientific data to support sustainable management of Sint Maarten’s diverse habitats was accomplished this year through the completion of field surveys and training for the terrestrial baseline biodiversity assessment, which was part of the Coastal Resilience and Needs Assessments (CORENA) project.
2024 EPIC IMPACT: Water and Waste Smart Schools
More than 4,000 students from 7 public schools in the U.S. Virgin Islands participated in the interactive science curriculum called Water Heroes and received free reusable water bottles through a grant-funded partnership between EPIC and the Virgin Islands Conservation Society’s Eco-Schools program.
2024 EPIC IMPACT: Turning the Tide on Plastic Waste In St. Maarten
“Plastic pollution is everyone’s problem,” says Fleur Hermanides, President of the EPIC Sint Maarten Foundation and architect of the Perpetual Plastics Program. The Perpetual Plastics Project marks a groundbreaking effort to tackle the island’s waste crisis.
2024 IMPACT: Exciting News for Caribbean Seabird Conservation!
2024 EPIC IMPACT – A landmark development in EPIC’s seabird conservation is the funding secured through the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Settlement. The catastrophic 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico impacted migratory seabirds that traverse the Caribbean, potentially leaving long-lasting ecological scars. Under the settlement, EPIC will receive ~$700,000 over five years to restore critical seabird habitats in the Grenadines.
2024 EPIC IMPACT: Banner Year for EPIC Sint Maarten Support
With our gratitude, the EPIC team wants to recognize the following people and institutions for supporting amazing and impactful projects by the EPIC Sint Maarten Foundation this year. THANK YOU!!
Black-capped Petrel Added to the U.S. Endangered Species List!
The Black-capped Petrel has been officially listed as an endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a major step forward in conservation efforts. This status under the Endangered Species Act brings heightened protection, focused conservation initiatives, and increased collaboration to ensure the survival of this remarkable bird. EPIC is proud to be part of this journey, working with local communities to protect habitats and promote sustainable practices. Join us in celebrating this milestone and supporting efforts to protect the Black-capped Petrel!
Driving Future Conservation Through Internships
EPIC is dedicated to supporting the next generation of conservation leaders through internships. These opportunities provide hands-on experience in projects like wildlife monitoring, marine debris management, and tackling climate change impacts. Our interns bring fresh perspectives and energy, playing a crucial role in our mission to protect the Caribbean environment. By investing in young talent, EPIC ensures a future of skilled professionals ready to tackle environmental challenges.
Welcome Our Summer 2024 Interns
This summer, EPIC is excited to welcome two exceptional interns. Their dedication and innovative approaches to environmental conservation in the Caribbean are already making a significant impact on our projects. We look forward to seeing their continued contributions throughout the season.
EPIC Closes it’s 24th Year in May – HELP US END THE YEAR STRONG!
As EPIC concludes our 24th year of delivering world-changing conservation programs and projects, it’s inspiring to see the tangible, positive benefits of the work that we do. This fiscal year we…
EPIC Co-Hosts First-Ever Caribbean Climate Justice Camp
The first-ever Caribbean Climate Justice Camp for 120 community leaders from more than 25 Caribbean nations was hosted by EPIC, EPIC Sint Maarten, Roots, and many collaborators on March 28-31 on Sint Maarten. The successful event built knowledge and networks, included the sharing of stories and skills, and the co-creation of strategies to address conservation challenges faced by the region.
Field Work And Training Completed For The Sint Maarten Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment
As part of the Coastal Resilience and Needs Assessments project (CORENA), over 300 species were observed during a 12 day biodiversity assessment in St. Maarten with the objective to provide information to guide sustainable habitat management and responsible future development.
Epic Welcomes New Program Manager Delroy de Lain
Please welcome Mr. Delroy de Lain who has joined the foundation Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) Sint Maarten under contract as Program Manager, where he will coordinate a variety of research, education, and conservation projects.
New Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment For Project CORENA In Sint Maarten
A new project aims to assess key land areas for biodiversity on St. Maarten. The foundation Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) has been selected to conduct the terrestrial baseline biodiversity assessment, as part of the CORENA project. The CORENA project (Coastal Resilience and Needs Assessments) was initiated by the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial […]
First-Ever GPS Tracking of Red-footed Booby Seabirds, Grenadines
While protecting seabird nesting islands is of utmost importance, and a goal of EPIC programs in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, we also need to understand where the birds find food and protect those areas.
A Community of Support for Slurpy Pumpout Boat
Once again, EPIC will be offering a mobile sewage pumpout service for boats in Sint Maarten.
EPIC and Partners Receive $700K for Pollution Prevention in the Virgin Islands
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has chosen the U.S. Virgin Islands (VI) to receive nearly $700,000 in funding under EPA’s Environmental Justice in Communities program to assist restaurants, bars, food trucks and other food service companies to cut waste.
Anderson Jean Awarded Prestigious Bright Award
EPIC colleague and valuable team member Anderson Jean was awarded the prestigious Stanford University Bright Award in a ceremony on the Stanford campus, California in June 2023.
Top 10 Coolest Caribbean Creatures and Where You Can See Them
Enjoy the first in our new e-guide series about the Caribbean region, EPIC’s “Top 10 Coolest Caribbean Creatures!” E-guides are a fun way to learn, appreciate, and share information about the region’s most interesting natural and cultural heritage. We hope it will inspire YOU to support and respect the unique Caribbean.
Dogs – Helping and Harming Petrels on Dominica
A recent expedition to Dominica, as part of EPIC’s ongoing efforts to find new Black-capped Petrel nesting locations, was aided by a sniffer dog named Africa and her handler. Sniffer dogs can be trained to find all sorts of things, including burrow-nesting birds like petrels. Yet, two hundred years ago in Dominica, pet dogs used by colonists led to the disappearance of petrels who were hunted for food. Will dogs that once hurt the petrel population on Dominica be the helpers that discover their elusive nesting grounds so that they can be protected in the future?
Sint Maarten Pelican Team Makes a Difference
The Caribbean Brown Pelican is the national bird of St. Maarten. There have been alarming reports of sick and dying birds, along with declining numbers in recent years. Concerned about the health of this important seabird, EPIC is researching the status of the island’s Pelicans and promoting their protection.
Expedition Begins! Seeking Black-capped Petrel Nests on Dominica
An exciting expedition to Dominica, using a sniffer dog for the first time, to try to discover nesting Black-capped Petrels, which so far have only been found to nest on Hispaniola.
First U.S. Virgin Islands Project Announced
Safe, clean, and affordable drinking water is not readily accessible to school children, or the wider community, in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) due to a complex set of factors. Children must bring single-use plastic water bottles to school daily to stay hydrated in the warm climate, which is costly and further exposes them to […]
Congratulations Anderson Jean, Stanford Law School’s 2022 Bright Award Winner!
Co-Founder of the leading Haitian conservation organization Action pour la Sauvegarde de l’Ecologie en Haiti (ACSEH) and Environmental Protection in the Caribbean’s (EPIC) Haiti Project Manager for the Black-capped Petrel Conservation Program, Anderson Jean, has been chosen as the 2022 Bright Award Winner. The Bright Award is given annually to an “individual who has made significant contributions in the environmental preservation and sustainability area.”
Challenges of Field Work
Caribbean seabird field work is rarely without its challenges: rough seas, foul weather, impenetrable thickets of thorny bushes, and brutal heat. Now we can add festivals to our list! We do this vital work because we care about seabirds and want to ensure they are here for generations to come.
Allowing Petrels to Fly Free
At sunset, off the island of Hispaniola, an adult Black-capped Petrel circles over the Caribbean Sea, waiting for darkness. It’s under the cover of darkness that this species flies inland and heads to its nesting grounds on the high forested peaks of the island. Some nights the petrels will accidently strike hazards, falling to the ground stunned, often never being able to continue their journey to the nesting grounds.
The Caribbean Seabird Webinar Continues with Natalia Collier
A step-by-step will be helpful for figuring out how best to monitor seabirds from land or sea in a variety of habitats. A team of experts will be on hand to answer your questions. Register at bit.ly/CaribSeabird-Webinar3.
Major Climate Change Impacts for Sint Maarten Predicted by Recent Study
A recent analysis of climate change impacts for Sint Maarten shows how major storms, which are increasingly common, will have a profound effect on the Small Island Developing State (SIDS) of Sint Maarten in the Dutch Antilles. Annual damage estimates to Sint Maarten from major storms are USD $3 million. And by the year 2100, a worst-case scenario could result in 47% of Philipsburg and 29% of Cole Bay being flooded.
Teaching Environmental Education in Haiti
It’s a bit dark in the classroom as there is no electricity for lights in the village of Boukan Chat, Haiti. The children have settled into the small school building at the center of town. Dressed in their school uniforms, sitting on wood benches, they wait for the teacher to start class. They hear a commotion from the back of the dark room and turn to see a six-foot tall Black-capped Petrel walk into the room flapping its wings.
First Petrel Nest Found on Haiti’s Highest Peak
In May, a small team of Haitian petrel biologists pulled out of the small dusty town of Jacmel, and headed their pick-up truck northeast. They eased it up the heavily rutted road to begin their expedition to see if endangered Black-capped Petrels nested on the mountain called Pic La Selle. Due to the remote nature of that area, few biologists had visited it for more than 60 years, when some of the first known Black-capped Petrels in Haiti were found there by David Wingate during expeditions in 1961 and 1963.
Researchers Confirm Presence of Endangered Diablotin Black-capped Petrel on Dominica, Raising Hopes of Finding Nesting Area
Researchers have confirmed a sighting of an Endangered Black-capped Petrel (Pterodroma hasitata), known locally as “the Diablotin bird,” in flight over Dominica earlier this year. If nesting is confirmed, Dominica would be the second known nesting island for Black-capped Petrel in the world.
Conservationists Pen Action Plan to Protect Extremely Elusive and Endangered Seabird
“Conserving the Diablotin” informed by a decade of exploration and research January 28, 2022—The Endangered Black-capped Petrel is a seabird so secretive that ten years ago, only one active nest had ever been located and monitored. Despite this tremendous gap in knowledge, the International Black-capped Petrel Conservation Group created an action plan in 2012 to […]
Community Helps Identify Restoration Sites
Deciding which sites are most important for restoration takes a community effort. The knowledge and experience of Working Group members are crucial for making informed decisions. In this case, the subject was non-native mammals that damage island biodiversity and…
Island Conservation Takes Off with Drone Training
Monitoring wildlife can be challenging in remote or difficult to reach places. The use of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), also known as a drone, is one method for ensuring that local enforcement agencies can monitor and protect wildlife, such as seabirds which nest on uninhabited islands in the Grenadines. Learn more…
Seabird Threats Caught on Film in the Grenadines
Invasive mammals, such as cats, rats and mongooses are known threats to seabirds throughout the Caribbean and beyond. Detecting them on remote, offshore, and difficult to access islands is challenging, yet it’s crucial information for conserving these imperiled birds. EPIC and Ocean Spirits Inc. joined efforts to survey seven islands in the Grenadines using trail […]
Spying to Protect Black-capped Petrels in Haiti
It is a cold and windy night along the La Visite Escarpment in south-central Haiti. The clouds form and then dissipate as they stream along the rocky faces of the nearby mountains. The wind gusts come and go and when it calms down a bit, you can hear the frogs calling and the mournful wail […]
Black-capped Petrel Resiliency, Leadership, and New Islands
EPIC continues to be a leading advocate for the conservation of the endangered Black-capped petrel in the Caribbean region. Our program for the species touches on all aspects of conservation for this seabird including searches for new nesting areas, monitoring of known nesting areas, working with communities to preserve petrel nesting habitat, incorporating petrel natural […]