The first protected area to be fenced is the site shown in the images: the main ReforeStatia site near Fair Play. The fencing was completed in August 2019. This land had once been used for agriculture and cattle grazing but had remained unused for many years.
One major success has been bringing the Lignum Vitae (also known as the Tree of Life) back from the brink of becoming endangered on Statia. In 2019, fewer than twenty mature trees remained on the island, most of them growing in private gardens alongside fruit trees. Today, more than 300 trees are growing across the island, hundreds more are thriving in STENAPA's ReforeStatia nurseries ready for future planting, and many are already producing seeds and seedlings naturally.
These improvements demonstrate that, when given space and protected from grazing livestock, nature can recover. Every fence we build and every seedling we plant brings us one step closer to a more resilient ecosystem for future generations.
This work forms part of the Nature and Environment Policy Programme (NEPP) and is carried out by STENAPA through ongoing reforestation and habitat restoration efforts. To date, STENAPA has planted and distributed more than 6,000 young trees, with over 2,000 more growing in the shade houses until the rainy season begins. More than half of these trees produce edible leaves or fruit that provide food for local wildlife.
To learn more about the Nature and Environment Policy Plan: click here.
