We want to send out a special thank you this morning to Seagrape Tours, a local company doing nature tours on St. Martin. They set aside $2 from every guest to support local non-profits working with nature and conservation, including Les Fruits de Mer and Nature Foundation St. Maarten. They came by Amuseum Naturalis on Tuesday to drop off a donation of $150!

Obviously, this is great for our association, which depends primarily on donations and sponsorships to create wildlife education experiences like our festivals, museum and free publications. It also shows how three basic elements can strengthen and reinforce each other in the interest of preserving our natural heritage. Les Fruits de Mer is focused on education, with the aim of stimulating interest in and passion for nature. Nature Foundation St. Maarten works to protect the local environment and manage protected areas. Seagrape Tours is creating an economic incentive to preserve nature and use it in a sustainable way. We believe all three components are complementary and necessary parts of the conservation process and crucial to the future of the island.