On Brown Pelicans and the Beauty of Belair in the Morning – Interview with Leslie Hickerson (Nature Foundation)
Many organizations are involved in the visitor experience of St. Maarten, sometimes in a visible manner for visitors, and other times more in the background. Islanders know the St. Maarten Nature Foundation is one of these vital groups. The Foundation is a leading conservation management organization in the Dutch Caribbean, working on everything from marine health surveys to nest predation studies and environmental policy support. Both its team and volunteers work continuously to balance tourism with nature by protecting St. Maarten species on land, in the air, and under water. It will soon launch its “Reef to Runway” project – an additional reason to highlight Director Leslie Hickerson in an interview.
Hickerson is driven by a deep love for the island’s natural beauty and a commitment to protecting it for future generations. “Every day, I work to balance conservation with community needs, because I believe people and nature thrive best when they thrive together. The best part of my work is seeing projects come to life and knowing that they will make a real, lasting difference for the island.”
Being amidst nature and animals is something that came from her upbringing: “Many people don’t know that I grew up on a farm in Missouri – about as far away from the ocean as you can be.” She fell in love with St. Maarten in 2007. “Not as most tourists do because of its pristine beaches, but when I went diving and discovered its amazing underwater life.”
What’s New in Nature
Alongside structural, day-to-day efforts, the Nature Foundation keeps reinventing itself with dedicated projects and new initiatives. What is the latest? “Our organization has received funding for a project ‘From Reef to Runway’ which has a few different aspects to it. One is an awareness campaign to reduce the number of shells and organic material confiscated from tourist luggage at the airport. This is an estimated 6,000 kg annually and can only be the tip of the iceberg of what is really exported. It needs no explanation that this type of ‘souvenir shopping’ is highly detrimental to underwater nature. It is our goal to reduce this ‘export’ as soon as possible in conjunction with our tourism partners.”
It is not just a project helping nature, but indirectly visitors and residents too: “It also speeds up lines and processes at the airport, if the hardworking people at the luggage check-in do not need to remove a whopping 115 kilos worth of shells every week.”
The Foundation also created a new and fun way to raise awareness about nature among visitors and residents alike, helping the Foundation in the process. “Over the years, we as a Foundation have gained a lot of knowledge about nature on the island. We now have ‘The Natural and Historical Heritage Tour with the Nature Foundation,’ in which we try to share fun bits of information with anyone interested.”
Natural St. Maarten Below (and Above) the Surface
So what is it a visitor should know about St. Maarten nature? “Many don’t realize how much St. Maarten is a biodiversity hotspot, from coral reefs to mangroves, all packed into a small island. These natural spaces are deeply intertwined with the island’s cultural heritage, shaping local traditions, livelihoods, and the stories that make St. Maarten unique.”
It is also important for visitors to realize it often pertains to fragile ecosystems, in five cases marked as “key biodiversity areas.” The fragility is something the Reef to Runway project intends to defend – as do many volunteers and team members on a daily basis. “I think local conservation heroes like our marine biologists often don’t get enough recognition for their work protecting the island’s reefs and wildlife. I’m inspired by the environmentalists of St. Maarten who have dedicated decades of tireless work to protecting our island’s ecosystems. What they do is beyond what I could ever fathom, and their commitment motivates me every day. There is so much work still to be done – we are always open to more volunteers as passionate about nature as we are.”
Volunteers, for example, help find and protect sea turtle nests – an experience in itself. “The first sea turtle nesting I saw was on Guana Bay and that was an incredible experience. I would rate it as my favorite experience on the island.” Another amazing moment was when her diving group had an unexpected visitor. “A dolphin spent more than half an hour with our group at the Gregory dive site!”
If a visitor wants to learn more about nature, she recommends spending some hours at Amuseum Naturalis of the Les Fruits de Mer Foundation. “This is more of a natural heritage museum, but they have an incredible number of books in many languages available and an amazing collection of information about our island.”
There are also far more responsible souvenirs on offer than taking shells home: “In Cole Bay is the new Perpetual Plastics location for EPIC. You can buy locally made items here created from plastics donated to them. They do incredible work with our community that you can learn from.”
Love for St. Maarten
From Hickerson’s own viewpoint, what is it that makes her put in the effort of this ongoing struggle to protect St. Maarten’s natural heritage? “I love the island’s diversity: cultural, social, and ecological. This mix makes St. Maarten strong, resilient, and more beautiful, giving the island its vibrant character and making it a place for everyone.”
She takes it a notch further: “The island’s diversity and resilience stand out as its key features to me. People from all over the world live, work, and thrive here, and the community spirit is strong despite challenges.”
She sees that joint spirit best reflected in some of the national holidays. “I love the November 11th Independence Day celebrations. It’s a day full of community pride, music, and cultural heritage, and it brings people together in a way that’s vibrant yet more sustainable for the island’s environment.”
She still enjoys nature in her own moments. “In the hills of Belair, you can watch Little Bay Pond in the morning. The amount of birdlife that comes to hunt in the area is incredible, and I love watching the interactions there.”
Close by Fort Amsterdam is another favorite: “The Brown Pelican nesting colony there is amazing to see.”
Enjoyable nature is available at home too: “I am a homebody, so anywhere I can read with my two dogs is fine with me.” She also explores lesser-known spots. “There is a very small section of Simpson Bay Beach near the bridge that hasn’t yet been developed. It can still be used by the community for family BBQs and snorkeling near a partially submerged wreck.”
So what does Leslie’s leisure time look like when not seeing sunrise in Belair, under water, or reading with the dogs at home? “I love the Palms Restaurant in Simpson Bay; they have a great menu and incredible staff.” SXM Tavern is another top spot. “I was very happy to see Pat back.” Favorite drink out there? “My drink is just a basic Jack and Coke.”
