Volunteers, organizations, and community members came together for two impactful cleanup events in St. Maarten, working to protect local wildlife and restore marine habitats.
The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta Lagoon Clean-Up, hosted by the EPIC Sint Maarten Foundation and the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten, was a major effort to clear plastic waste and debris from the Simpson Bay Lagoon, a critical marine habitat. Volunteers launched kayaks from Kim Sha Beach, where they received an informative session on mangrove conservation and the dangers of plastic pollution, wastewater runoff, and coastal development. Safety was a priority, with Tri-Sport SXM providing kayaks and leading a safety briefing before participants set out to collect waste.
The event successfully removed 253 pounds (115 kg) of waste, including Styrofoam, single-use plastics, and other debris, significantly improving the health of Simpson Bay Lagoon. Volunteers paddled through strong winds and currents to reach the cleanup site near Snoopy Island, where they worked to gather trash using reusable gloves and burlap sacks. Once collected, the waste was transported via a Sint Maarten Yacht Club safety boat and properly disposed of at Island Global Yachting (IGY) facilities. This effort highlights the ongoing waste management challenges in St. Maarten and the critical need for responsible disposal practices and environmental conservation efforts. Thank you to ZeeBest Bakery, Sint Maarten Yacht Club, Tri-Sport SXM, IGY, the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, and all dedicated volunteers for making this initiative a success!
A week later, more than 50 volunteers, including community members, Teen Times youth, and environmental enthusiasts, gathered at Fort Amsterdam for the SXM DOET x EPIC Cleanup & Learn Event. This initiative focused on preserving Fort Amsterdam, one of St. Maarten’s most historic and ecologically important sites. Volunteers removed accumulated waste and invasive plant species, working to preserve native habitats and promote biodiversity. In addition to the cleanup, participants took part in hands-on conservation training, learning how to organize environmental initiatives and contribute to long-term sustainability efforts. This work was made possible by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) BESTLIFE2030 Grant Program, which works to protect the biodiversity of Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories through small-scale initiatives.
Stay tuned for upcoming cleanups, and if you’d like to get involved, follow us on social media or visit www.epicislands.org for more details!