Vibrant
This is the King Helmet shell, a bulky and beautiful shell you can watch underwater on sea grass areas and by reefs.

Vulnerable
The lambi conch, part of west indies patrimony and also a traditional dish in creole cuisine, is now threatened to extinction because of overfishing despite the strict regulations to maintain its population in the west indies. Poachers are still too active in the area, it’s not rare to find big « cemeteries » of broken conches around the island, like on Green cay for example.

Vibrant
This tropic bird, returning to its nest on the cliff on Tintamarre. Tropic birds are majestic, their long tail feather gives more grace to their moves. Its call is a loud piercing whistle, they nests by couple away from the colony. It seems to be a strong independent bird.

Vulnerable
This juvenile frigate bird was accidentally caught on the hook of a fishing line. It was just pinned by the hook not deep and could easily be rescued by covering it with a towel to lock its wings. Frigate birds have the largest wingspan relative to body weight so they can’t take off from the water surface.This young frigate was smart enough to wait before flying away because it knew it was too weak and scared by the event to take off without risking to fall in the water. It stayed calm and static for 15 minutes before taking off and rejoin its group. Frigate birds have a bad reputation of snatching prey from other birds or harassing them until they regurgitate their prey, this episode reminds how delicate they can be.

Vibrant
Our beaches are vibrant. The colors range from bright turquoise water to salmon pink at sunset. They are part of the life-blood of our island’s tourist industry.

Vulnerable
Our beaches are also vulnerable. Flotsam & jetsam continually wash ashore particularly on our eastern beaches as in this picture. Regular beach cleanups initiated by environmental bodies, as well as schools help keep some of our beaches clean, but there are others no one seems to reach.

Vibrant is the ocean that can give or take.
Vulnerable is anything living near it’s shore

Vibrant is the tiny branch that grabs another
Vulnerable is anything living next to each other.

Vibrant
Saint Maarten is the place, where we can point so many beautiful exotic flowers everywhere. I notice this beautiful flower in my backyard, it really attract me to capture vibrant Caribbean colors. Some flowers are so beautiful that pulls not only bees but human towards them.

Vulnerable
What a beautiful shot of our islands major economic growth place known as Philipsburg, capital of Dutch Saint Maarten. I really have to take my time to capture this shot by eliminating our Pond Island great dump on left side. We should be shame to show our Million plus tourist cruisers to showcase our beautiful historic town Philipsburg with great dump yard included. It is like we showing our guest open garbage bean. Guess picture without dump from Point Blanc to Divi Resort… Government should move this necessary dumping zone from Philipsburg to far area. Learn from our French part government, they do not have dump zone in Marigot!
Keep our island clean.

Vivant
Green turtle

Vulnérable
Les paradis oubliés de saint martin certains endroits devraient etre protege comme ce petit havre de paix qui a faillit brule situe a cote du booboo jam …

Vibrant
Our largest cultural and historic patronage … the Great Salt Pond !

Vunerable
The Great Salt Pond ! …. dirty water, plastic, styrofoam, construction garbage, death fish …

Vibrant, of course, carnival. Vibrant, you vibrate on the drums, you live the excitement, you see the colors, you feel one with all the people with all their different backgrounds….. Share.

Vulnerable, of course, our sea and ocean. Vulnerable, anyone knows. Huge things wash up, little ones do…. In the tiny seaweeds drifting in a tide pool, your mind drifts too. ….Take care.

Vibrant
Red hibiscus, the small things that make our St. Maarten beautiful.

Vulnerable
This little creature, the garden snail, tends to avoid the island’s heat is mostly seen in the evening after rainfall. The garden snail is vulnerable to dehydration.

Vibrant
I couldn’t help but wonder how many people this beautiful tamarind tree has shaded throughout its lengthy life.

Vulnerable
I missed it and I caught it in the glimpse of an eye. The beautiful eurema brigitta. Always facing the inevitability of its short lifespan. Butterflies are vulnerable to habitat fragmentation.

Vibrant
Nature is a bunch of joy.

Vulnerable
Black-headed gulls spread their wings upon disturbance.

Vibrant
So inspiring, so bright, so full of life.

Vulnerable
A plant so lovely a victim of blight.

Vibrant
The end of a beautiful day on St. Maarten, marking the beginning of a starlit night. A vibrant sunset from Baie de la Potence.

Vulnerable
So young, so vulnerable. An Antillean crested hummingbird chick.

Vibrant
In Colombier in June, cattle graze under the flamboyant trees. One can only admire the vibrant colors and peace that this scenery offers to the senses.

Vulnerable
A old Creole house being taken over by vegetation. St Martin heritage is disappearing, neglected, seemingly forgotten.

Vibrant
Beautiful patterns on this French Angelfish, frequently encountered under our waters.

Vulnerable
A Caribbean reef shark with a hook in its mouth. THe Ocean needs these predators to clean the reefs of the weaker and sick fish.They need to be left alone. It is estimated that 100 millions sharks are killed each year around the world by humans out of ignorance and cupidity as their fins are highly praised and priced mainly in Asia. Without this species to regulate life in the ocean, the natural order will be disrupted and consequences can be devastating.

Vibrant
This hawksbill turtle made it ! It survived the long and tiring crawl from its nest to the Ocean. Now it is enjoying the freedom to swim and search for its food (mainly sponges, grass and jelly fish).

Vulnerable
As it grows mainly in less than 20 feet of water Elkhorn coral is at risk from global warming, diseases, passage of ships and being trampled over by divers/swimmers. It takes a second to destroy it but several years to grow back. Its population has decreased by 90 % in the last 20 years and is now on the endangered species list. (first for a coral).

Vibrant
The wild side of St Martin, by Petites cayes, one of the last virgin areas of the island where Atlantic meets Caribbean, where the wild sea meets the wild vegetation and wildlife of a deserted beach and intact forrest.

Vulnerable
Over furnished beaches like philipsburg or Orient beach (here philipsburg) to answer a massive frequenting of consumers essential to Island #1 economy : tourism.

Vibrant
Little St martiner fishing on the dock of Grand Case Bay, trying to catch small fish hiding under the dock. this scene offers a traditional vision of recreation activities that should remain in island children education. no need for computers or iphone for children to entertain, the sea should be the first playground for every islander.

Vulnerable
Children playing on what remains of grand case beach under the leaks of dirty used waters from the houses above showing the sewer problems in downtown Grand case that pollute the salt pond and the bay. it is not rare that some children or adults get infected by the larva migrans (french « ver a chien » ) brought by dogs and common in the sand near urban areas that gives it a suitable habitat. you can also see how the beach moves year after year, getting closer to habitations and starting to dig the foundations of the buildings, raising a problem about the waves echo. the waves hitting the concrete echoes back to the water and creates an unnatural force that can create different current or move that can accelerate erosion. Of course Swell direction is the main factor on the different shapes given to the bay throughout the year, but urbanism too close to shore is an undeniable issue.

Vibrant
Vocal sugarbirds on my fence : A few grains of sugar and a piece of papaya make a feast for the sugarbirds.

Vulnerable
From January till June, humpback whales can be seen in our waters where they come to breed and give birth. They need to be left alone. Today, the largest conservation issues for these giants are entanglement in fishing gear, ship strikes, and noise pollution. Whales from most populations also have varying levels of industrial contaminants in their tissues. We need to keep our Oceans clean.

Vibrant
Our beaches are among the most beautiful in the world. Golden sands, turquoise waters and blue skies combine to delight the senses.

Vulnerable
From March to October, turtles come and lay their eggs on St Martin beaches. It is very important to keep track and protect the nests from animals and human predators. Volunteers patrol the beaches several times a week and relay their findings and photos of turtle tracks to the Natural reserve.

Vibrant
Meet the colorful bearded anole, only found on st Martin, here on Almond grove in a shady garden. i love to observe lizards, they are all different and always curious, they like to play hide and seek. they are an emblematic figure of our caribbean islands.

Vulnerable
This Juvenile Anguilla Bank Anole, or Tree lizard, you can find all over the island. This one was found far from a tree, licking the iron of a gate in an urban area, like it has nothing to eat and just satisfy with a giant iron lollipop.

Vivant
Cette vue de l’ilet Pinel, situé dans la Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin, illustre le contraste entre une plage bondée et une plage déserte. Les différences sont également bien visibles entre les façades nord-est de l’ile exposées aux courants et à la houle et la côte plus calme orientée vers la baie de Cul-de-Sac.

Vulnérable
Comme la plupart des poissons récifaux herbivores, les poissons perroquets jouent un rôle crucial dans le maintien des colonies coralliennes. En limitant et régulant la prolifération algale, ces populations d’herbivores facilitent l’installation des larves de coraux. Cette femelle perroquet feu tricolore (Sparisoma viride) semble distraite par cette gorgone bien que son régime alimentaire soit essentiellement composé de turf, ou gazon algal. Les poissons herbivores, et plus particulièrement les poissons perroquets, sont très prisés et pêchés dans les iles des Petites-Antilles et la diminution de leurs effectifs conduira à une prolifération des algues au détriment des coraux.

Vibrant
This view of Pinel islet, located in the Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin, shows the contrast between a crowded and a desert beach. Differences are also obvious between the north-east coast influenced by marine currents and swell and the calm coast directed towards the bay of Cul-de-Sac.

Vulnerable
Like most of herbivorous coral reef fishes, parrotfishes play an important role in maintaining coral colonies. By limiting and regulating algal growth, these herbivorous populations help the installation of coral larvae. This female Stoplight parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) seems captivated by this soft coral although its diet is mainly composed by algal turf. Herbivorous fishes, particularly parrotfishes, are appreciated and fished in the Lesser Antilles and the reduction of their abundance will favour algal development to the detriment of corals.

(Entry by contest administrator for display only.)

Vibrant
Cette fleur a peine eclose exposee aux alizes se nourissant du soleil.

Young beautiful flower on the shore feeding with alizes and the sun.

Vulnerable
Quoi de plus vulnerable que des coquillages attaches a un rocher, attendant que la houle leur donne a manger, en premiere ligne face a la polution, et a la merci des oiseaux et des humains ?

What’s more vulnerable than being a shell stuck on your rock waiting for feeding waves, directly impacted by pollution, and a curiosity for birds and humans ?

Vibrant
This reef 50ft deep on the north shore of Tintamarre. fields of corals bringing life, oxygen and food to underwater population. Balance of a fragile ecosystem.

Vulnerable
This reef on the front side of Tintamarre, shallow and vulnerable to swells, over-frequentation of hundreds of tourists a month, hitting coral with their fins, standing up on it, and innocently spreading toxic suntanned lotion which contributes on killing the fragile and already sick coral which loses its vivacity more and more very year.

Our Egret!

They fly, walk and swim all around our great salt pound, as they look around they see all the garbage the human being tro into the pound it is such a big mess

Stay clear beautiful Egret before you get caught in all the old tires, wires bottles and other nasty mess.

The human being don’t think, they just drink their soda or beer then they tro the bottle or can into the pound they don’t care!

They should be ashamed that the beautiful Egret is treat-end when they walk and swim around the edge of our ounce so beautiful great salt pound.

The Egret you look at us human being and think, what a waste if only they can remember in their haste to tro their waste in a garbage bin somewhere close to their own place. Do they do that at home tro their garbage on their dining room floor?

Well stop it you human beings it is time to bring back the great salt pound in it rightful state.

And let we Egret enjoy the true nature of our great salt pound which is also our uniek resting place!

Vivant
L’Euphorbe articulée (‘bois-lait’ ou en créole ‘bwa-lèt’) est un arbuste de la famille des Euphorbiacées qui pousse dans les forêts côtières sèches de Saint-Martin. Elle fut décrite sous le nom d’Euphorbia articulata par le botaniste français Aublet dès 1775. C’est une plante endémique des îles de la Caraïbe (Petites Antilles, Bahamas et Porto-Rico). La fleur femelle et son fruit en formation sont visibles tout au long de l’année au bord de l’Anse Marcel.

Vulnérable
La délicate fleur blanche d’Argusia gnaphalodes (le ‘sea lavender’ des anglo-saxons), est une Boraginacée naturelle des Antilles et de la Floride, qui ne pousse que dans les zones dunaires et côtières de Saint-Martin, comme la Baie des Petites Cayes. Elle est triplement menacée par l’urbanisation, la cueillette à des fins médicinales et pour la culture dans les jardins. Très rare et protégée en Floride, elle est encore relativement abondante dans les Petites Antilles.

Vibrant
Articulated Euphorbia (‘bois-lait’ in Lesser Antilles, ‘Bushy spurge’ in Bahamas) is a shrub of the Euphorbiaceae Family growing in the dry coastal savannas of Saint-Martin. It has been described under the scientific name of Euphorbia articulata by the French botanist Aublet in 1775. It is an endemic plant of the Caribbean (Lesser Antilles, Bahamas, Porto-Rico). The female flower and fruit can be seen all the year on the edges of Anse Marcel.

Vulnerable
The white flower of Argusia gnaphalodes or ‘Sea Lavender’ of the Boraginaceae Family, belongs to a plant native from the Caribbean and the Florida where it is known as an endangered species. In Saint-Martin it is restricted in sandy coastal areas as the Baie des Petites Cayes. This plant is threatened by urbanization, sampling for medicinal purpose and gardening. Protected in Florida, the Sea Lavender is still common in Lesser Antilles.

Vibrant
In St Martin, we are lucky to have so many beautiful beaches all different and all stunning in their own way with their miriad of colors, clear blue waters and soft white sand.

Vulnerable
Our beaches (and oceans) are in danger. People do not care about their environment, they do not realize that this plastic they dump will stay for hundreds of years in our ecosystem. Animals get killed by ingesting the solid waste. We only have one Planet.

Vibrant
This is an integral part of the Fruit De Mer Association, to teach our children for the future of our islands environement. By demonstrating respect and pride for the ecology of St. Martin we preserving its future.

Vulnerable
What is the most fragile yet vital resource on our island of St.Martin? Life surfaces in this photo showing us how easily our dependance on our natural water resources blend into the background of our daily lives.

Vibrant
I am an outsider to my special part of St. Martin, Grand Case, only coming here for 30 years. It feels like my other home and, in my heart, it is. The rhythm of this remarkable place is animated by its texture – and especially its colours. These are found in Grand Case’s buildings, clothing, food, and people. It makes this place vibrant and unique. But it is borrowed. Yes, its texture and light is borrowed from nature. Part of the year, the sun both rises and sets on this special place. This brief moment tells part of that story of light and texture: south end of the beach at sunrise.

Vulnerable
Tomorrow and beyond is the delicate reality the draws from the decisions and commitments of the present. Looking down from the Grand Case dock at this child’s eyes, the future awaits. We are all, in our depth of commitment to St. Martin, a part of this small person’s future.

Vivant
Entre les Grandes et les Petites Cayes, St. Martin; endroit superbe et sauvage (mais au delà de la décharge, qui semble bien gérée, il faut dire).

Vulnérable
Le pauvre fort Amsterdam de Philipsburg, qui aurait bien besoin de quelques rénovations/réparations respectueuses pour maintenir ce qui en reste… (tout comme le -pauvre aussi- fort St. Louis de Marigot).

Vibrant
I can never be bored watching the sunsets, everyone one of them is different and spectacular, our sky takes on magnificent colors … from gold to bright orange to pink.

Vulnerable
I do not understand why our government does take better care of our patrimoine such as the remains of this sugar factory in Spring. This photo was taken a few years ago as now the ruins are slowly being covered by nature. Some people are even surprised it is still there. It is just sad to see that no one seems to care.

Vibrant
The melocactus flourishes along cliffs and in the hills. Some people stray away or overlook cacti because of their “menacing” needles or because of their strange appearance. However, I believe there is beauty in all of nature. Their vibrant colors say “I am here”.

Vulnerable
As the economy continues to flourish, the population grows and buildings rise. But at what cost? We are losing the balance between progress and respecting the St. Maarten’s beauty around us. The hills can only watch as imminent danger stretches towards them.

Vibrant
There are hidden gems on the island that have withstood the test of time and man. The cliffs stand tall and vibrant. Each layer of the cliff tells a story of a past long gone. It looks like a good story because I see the cliff smiling back at me.

Vulnerable
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” The fight to protect the mangrove forests is nothing new. Often times, mangroves are not given a second chance and with it goes the homes of various fish, birds, and other marine organisms. Their homes are vulnerable to the decisions of mankind. What we can do is do our part to make it right again.

Vibrant
The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), sometimes known as the sea hawk, fish eagle, river hawk or fish hawk, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than 60 cm (24 in) in length and 180 cm (71 in) across the wings. It is brown on the upperparts and predominantly greyish on the head and underparts.

I think this picture taken in St.Maarten, and exactly at the Pelican, can vibrate persone. Ho photographed many beautiful and rare Osprey. It is found on all continents except Antarctica, South America although it occurs only as a non-breeding migrant.

Vulnerable
The Mahi Mahi jumping, investing almost a booby ..

The mahi -mahi or common dolphinfish ( Coryphaena hippurus ) is a surface-dwelling ray-finned fish found in off-shore temperate, tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. In other languages ​​the fish is known as dorade coryphène, dolphinfish, llampuga, lampuka, lampuki, rakingo, calitos, or maverikos .

A booby is a seabird in the genus Sula, part of the Sulidae family. Boobies are closely related to the gannets (Morus), which were formerly included in Sula. Boobies hunt fish by diving from a height into the sea and pursuing Their prey underwater. Facial air sacs under Their skin cushion the impact with the water. Boobies are colonial breeders on islands and coasts. They normally lay one or more chalky-blue eggs on the ground or sometimes in a tree nest.

This photo was taken in St. Maarten, Pelican Area, from my terrace.

Vibrant
Le Balbuzard pêcheur (Pandion haliaetus), parfois appelé le faucon de mer, poisson aigle, faucon de la rivière ou du poisson faucon, est un oiseau diurne piscivore de proie. Il est un grand rapace, atteignant mûres que 60 cm (24 po) de longueur et 180 cm (71 po) à travers les ailes. Il est brun sur les parties supérieures et prédominance de gris sur la tête et les parties inférieures.

Je pense que cette photo prise dans St Martin, et exactement au Pelican, puis vibrer persone. Ho photographié beaucoup de belles et rares Osprey. Il se trouve sur tous les continents sauf l’Antarctique, l’Amérique du Sud Bien qu’il se produit seulement comme un migrant non-reproduction.

Vulnérable
Le saut mahi mahi , investissant presque un fou ..

Le mahi -mahi ou coryphène [ 2 ] ( Coryphaena hippurus ) est un poisson à nageoires rayonnées habitation surface trouvée dans off-shore tempérées , tropicales et subtropicales eaux à travers le monde .
Dans d’autres langues que le poisson est connu comme la dorade coryphène , la dorade coryphène , llampuga , lampuka , lampuki , rakingo , calitos , ou maverikos .

Un fou est un oiseau de mer dans le genre Sula , une partie de la famille Sulidés . Les idiots sont étroitement liés aux fous de Bassan ( Morus ), qui étaient auparavant inclus dans Sula.Boobies chasse les poissons en plongeant d’une hauteur dans la mer et la poursuite de leur proie sous l’eau. Sacs d’air sous la peau du visage amortir l’impact avec l’eau . Les idiots sont reproduit en colonies sur les îles et côtes . Ils pondent habituellement un ou mûres œufs calcaires bleu sur le sol ou parfois dans un nid d’arbre ..

Cette photo a été prise à Saint-Martin , Pelican salon, de ma terrasse .

Vivant
La dame au chapeau bleu un jours de carnaval tout les habitants portent leurs plus beaux vêtements pendant le carnaval une façon de participer aussi à la fête.

Vulnérable
Espèce très rare de cactus appelé têtes d’anglais il se trouvent dans la réserve naturelle de SAINT MARTIN ils semblent posté là comme pour surveiller la mer .

Vibrant
A small mangrove tree grows in an abandoned swimming pool. Human activity often modifies or destroys natural environments, but nature can be surprisingly good at utilizing and reclaming our artificial environments.

Vulnerable
The wooden house across from the bus depot in Marigot, crowned with a beautiful flamboyant, was surely the subject of countless photos before it burned down. In the remains, I was surprised to see at least seven layers of linoleum flooring, a reminder that it had a human history before it was a landmark or a tragedy.

(Entry by contest administrator for display only.)

Vivant
Ses jolis petits oiseaux des îles vous raviront par leurs chants et leurs belles couleurs jaunes. Aidons les en leurs installant des mangeoires d’eau sucré ,quelques fruits et un récipient d’eau qui fera office de baignoire .N’oublions pas que nos petits amis les oiseaux ont aussi un rôle très important .

Vulnérable
Il fait chaud une petite noix de coco fraîchement cueillis étanchera votre soif, le savoir faire est impressionnant je reste émerveiller à chaque fois . C’est vraiment typique de la caraïbe j’espère que cela durera encore longtemps !!

Vivant
Un pêcheur de crabe muni d’une simple épuisette dans une eau turquoise.

Vulnérable
L’état déplorable autour des poubelles résultat de l’incivilité des habitants.

An important part of our heritage is in our architecture. It is our architecture that reflects our past how we deal with our history and how we value our history. It anchors us to our past and gives body to family stories, the buildings where our forefathers lived and worked. Without knowing where we come from, we cannot determine where we want to go. As in any other place in the world we choose to preserve some of our historic buildings but destroy to many others only regretting it after the fact. More care should be given to the few historical buildings we have left so we do not lose our connection to the past.

Vibrant
Black-necked stilts are one of the many bird species that inhabit the Great Salt Pond, often nesting on the remains of the stone walls of the old salt pans. The pond is one of several Important Bird Areas recognized on the island.

Vulnerable
An abundance of life remains in and around the Great Salt Pond despite the fact that the pond is beset by many of the problems facing wetlands throughout the region and the world, including habitat destruction, pollution and the presence of invasive species.

(Entry by contest administrator for display only.)