St Eustatius / Conservation

By Nigel Tisdall

St Eustatius is a scenic island with a rich underwater life and relatively little development. Such assets are crucial to sustaining its future as an ecotourist destination, and both the islanders and the Dutch government appreciate the importance of conservation. It is one of six islands in the not-for-profit Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance which works to safeguard key areas that have been designated as terrestrial and marine parks. Founded in 1996, the St Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA) manages and protects 12.7 square miles (33 sq km) of the island as defined by the Quill/Boven National Park, the Miriam C. Schmidt Botanical Garden, and the St Eustatius National Marine Park, which protects the entire coastline to a depth of 100ft (30m). In addition, the St Eustatius Historical Foundation has helped protect and restore many historical buildings, churches and cemeteries with the help of the Prince Bernhard Cultural Foundation. Such conservation measures have brought rewards. In the Marine Park the diversity of fish species has improved ten-fold since 2004, while visitors to Oranjestad benefit from information panels placed beside key historical sites.

If you would like to get more involved with conservation on St Eustatius, we recommend:

STENAPA, Oranjestad Lower Town, t 318 2884.

The office of St Eustatius National Parks Foundation has information on exploring the island and sells maps, guides and souvenirs. Closed weekends.

St Eustatius Historical Foundation, Lower Town, Oranjestad, t 318 2856.

A fundraising shop by the harbour selling gifts and souvenirs including jewellery, postcards, artworks, secondhand books and St Eustatius car number-plates. Closed afternoons and Sunday.