Friends April Newsletter

In 2004 Kenyan political and environmental activist, Wangari Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her holistic approach to sustainable development that embraces human rights. In this newsletter in the month of Earth Day, here on St. John where the Park is so much in and of the community, we are reminded of her commitment to both planting trees and nurturing the rights of women as a model of sustainability. Protection of natural and cultural resources can only succeed if it engages and feeds the hearts and minds of people.

We invite everyone to join us for a panel discussion on what it means to be a conservationist in the Virgin Islands or anyone of our other Earth Day activities including beach cleanups, a fair for schools, a community plant giveaway, and tree planting.

Since 2015 Friends has been supporting Virgin Islands National Park in monitoring and protecting sea turtle nests along its shores. Today the program has a robust group of well-trained volunteers and Friends expert coordinators who are leading research in collaboration with other sea turtle protection programs in the Caribbean and internationally. Be sure to read the 2023 season report including an update on the fascinating photographic identification work being done in Maho Bay.

For more information on these activities and more, please read the April Newsletter here.