This downloadable media player is our way of saying thank you for visiting our site... we have set up a sample playlist with videos that are sustainable tourism and animal welfare related... enjoy and good luck!
St. Eustatius, fondly known as “Statia,” is a beautiful small volcanic island covering 8 square miles in the northeastern Caribbean. It is 150 miles east of Puerto Rico and 90 miles east of St. Croix. About 2,000 people live on the island which is a municipality of the Netherlands Antilles. The official language is Dutch, and most residents also speak English.
With almost two miles of deserted volcanic sand, Statia’s Zeelandia Beach has long been a favored nesting site of four endangered species of sea turtles – the leatherback, green, hawksbill and loggerhead.
Recently, local companies have mining been mining sand on Zeelandia. Joy riding in motorized vehicles has further eroded the beach. All this has been at great expense to the sea turtles that nest on Zeelandia Beach and the hatchlings.
In an effort to prevent further sand erosion by human activity and to afford some protection to the nesting sea turtles, The St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA) succeeded in a quest for Zeelandia beach to be protected. In August 2001, the St. Eustatius government granted Zeelandia Beach protected status. As a further step, in 2002, STENAPA began a sea turtle protection and monitoring program at Zeelandia in affiliation with the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST).
In just two short years of dedicated work, the STENAPA sea turtle program has already made significant strides by involving local residents, tourists, off-islanders, and volunteers.
From 1965 onward a number of governmental projects such as the airport in 1971, were implemented to improve infrastructure. The runway came to lie straight across The Kultuurvlakte. The Sint Eustatius Historical Foundation made an effort to restore historical buildings and improve the townscape. The island became more attractive to tourists and American pensioners. The number of hotels increased and a separate district with luxury houses was developed. In 1983 Stinapa in cooperation with Sint Eustatius Historical Foundation constructed some 12 nature trails for tourists.
The oil transshipment company Statia Terminals N.V. is a new economical pillar that became operational in 1982. This company is located in the western part of The Mountains. On the coast a large deep-water pier and a floating mooring point were constructed. The population of the island increased again through tourism and industrial activity. In 1995 roughly 1900 people were living in Statia (CBS, 1996).
Summarizing, it can be said that most of the area of St. Eustatius was formerly used for agriculture, cattle breeding and charcoal-production. At present there is hardly any agriculture. The Kultuurvlakte and the lower slopes of The Quill are still used for grazing, especially for cattle. There are still groups of free-foraging goats ranging about, even on top of The Quill. Stoffers (1960) mentions charcoal burning on the lower slopes of The Quill. The majority of the people live in Oranjestad, built on The Kultuurvlakte on the western coast. New districts were developed between Oranjestad and the airport. Luxury houses were built on the northern slope of The Quill. The oil-transshipment company occupies more and more of the western part of The Mountains. Oil-transshipment takes place at Tumble Down Dick Bay.
D-travel.com is not involved with negotiations between travellers and property owners or travel service providers, and
cannot be held accountable for any damages that may arise from the contents placed on this website.
Your feedback is welcome at: info@d-travel.com
