Our Work in Saba
The Saba Bank Management Unit (SBMU) and Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF) are two important local partners for WWF-NL. Alongside DCNA, WWF-NL gives support to these organizations to overcome the nature challenges that they are facing. For example, the tiger shark expedition organized by DCNA was funded by WWF-NL and the Nationale Postcode Loterij. The goal of this expedition was to analyze movement patterns by using satellite tags to tag them and track their location. More information on sharks is needed to better protect sharks within the Dutch Caribbean waters as well as beyond.
Tiger Shark Expedition at the Saba Bank. © Sami Kattan
Our current Projects
Other Finished Projects
- Lionfish trapping project
- Assist with strategic planning of SCF and SBMU
- Financing a ranger who carried out several projects for SCF
- Financing of the first pilot of a 5-year Coral Recovery project
- Supporting the government with the creation of a goat management plan
- Support SCF in setting up enforcement and monitoring
- Sustainable fisheries (supply chain analysis, social mapping, financing set-up of local fisheries coop)
One of the finished projects is the Sustainable Financing Study. Between 2019 and 2021, Wolfs Company supported the Saba Conservation Foundation, STENAPA , and the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten in developing plans to improve their long-term financial sustainability. This work began with a mentoring and advisory program funded by WWF-NL and the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA). Since 2020, DCNA has continued to provide follow-up support to help put these financing strategies into action.
Black Iguana © Chizzilala / WWF-NL
The study showed that the current funding available to the parks is not enough to fully cover the activities needed to protect the islands’ valuable ecosystems. Although the parks receive money through grants, government subsidies, donations, DCNA contributions, and entrance or activity fees, this still falls short. To help close this gap, several new financing options were explored for each island. These solutions could involve public institutions or private organizations working together to create a more secure and resilient future for nature conservation in the Dutch Caribbean.
Read the entire studies for more information.
Sustainable Financing Study Saba Conservation Foundation
