Earth Restoration Project

Ecosystem: Marine
Species: Sea turtle monitoring, land crabs

Significance: The Quill National Park was pronounced the first official National Park of the Netherlands Antilles on May 4th, 1998. The area is now a protected Nature Reserve, which consists of the dormant volcano, The Quill, and the limestone formation to the south of it, called White Wall. The St. Eustatius Marine Park (SEMP) is defined as the waters surrounding St. Eustatius from the high water mark to the 30m (100ft) depth contour. It was designated the Statia Marine Park in 1996 through the Marine Environment Ordinance St. Eustatius, with the objective to preserve and manage St. Eustatius marine resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the people and future generations. During 1997, initial funding was received from World Wildlife Fund - Netherlands and the framework (moorings & visitor centre) was put in place. The Park became actively managed in 1998 

Start Date: 1/1/2001
End Date: 1/1/2010

Course of action: Eight volunteers are needed to work for the majority of the time on trail maintenance in the Quill National Park, completing the Botanical Garden Project Phase I and on Statia's Zeelandia beach, monitoring and tagging nesting sea turtles, especially leatherback sea turtles (please note, if you join the project from November to March 2006, you will not be turtle monitoring as the nesting season runs from March to November only - instead you will be focusing on trail work and botanical gardening).

Full Time Workers: 3
Volunteer Workers: 30

Valued Skills: You should be at least 20 years old (for younger applicants, we can also take into account your experience/skills, so don't let this deter you if you're interested to apply!), fit, healthy and capable of carrying out manual work in all conditions in a hot climate. No specific skills are needed, but those with previous experience of manual conservation work, trail work, gardening, sea turtle monitoring etc. would be particularly useful, as well as those who are self-motivated, as you will get more out of the project if you are. The project will especially appeal to those with an interest in conservation, tropical botany and marine biology. Anyone with additional skills, such as ornithology are especially welcome. In addition, for the trail work, some geometry, planning skills are needed, so those with mathematical and logical thinking would greatly benefit the project! 
Achievements: During 2003, a total of 35 volunteers assisted STENAPA and helped on a large number of activities. This programme developed greatly during 2003; and it is felt that it provides a major boost to the activities in all three sectors, Marine Park, National Parks and Botanical Garden. Progress in the Botanical Gardens and nightly monitoring patrols for the turtle conservation programme would not have been possible without the assistance from Working Abroad volunteers. 2003 marked the second year of the sea turtle conservation programme. Monitoring patrols for nesting turtles on Zeelandia Beach started in 2002, and continued in 2003 with greater numbers of patrols due to the onset of the Working Abroad Volunteer programme. It was with great excitement that the first leatherback turtle was observed nesting on 17th April, and a number of additional leatherbacks nested on Zeelandia during the year. Due to the change in staff, training was organised in May for two staff members with the Fish and Wildlife Service in St Croix, US Virgin Islands. Subsequently, monitoring patrols were re-organised with supervision by one of the two staff members. The activities of the Sea Turtle Conservation Programme were extended due to assistance from volunteers and it was discovered that Leatherback Turtles were nesting on Zeelandia Beach. During 2003, three species of sea turtle nested on Zeelandia Beach: between 3-10 Leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea), 2-3 Greens (Chelonia mydas) and 2-5 Hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata). The patrols aimed to tag every female that nested, which meant that information about nesting cycles and turtles could be collected. In total, about 41 hatchlings were rescued when they became disorientated or stuck under rocks. 

Goals: The main aim of the project is to assist St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation with the conservation and restoration of their two parks – the Marine Park and the Quill National Park.

Part of Exchange Program: No

Other Information: Volunteers will be based at the botanical garden on the windwardside Atlantic of the island, with a view of St. Kitts, at the base of the Quill volcano. The area is ideal for camping, so you will be camping in the pavilion area, surrounded by the plants, vegetables and facilities in the botanical garden. The garden is also part of the National Park's management. In addition, all facilities for cooking on stoves, basic toilets and showers are provided. When you are turtle tagging, you will be camping out on the Zeelandia beach. Please note, you will have to provide your own tent for camping.

 

CONTACT DETAILS:
Victoria McNeil
PO Box 454, Flat 1
Brighton
Brighton
England
0033 468 26 41 79