The Reserve provides year-round habitat necessary for the feeding, roosting and nesting of a diversity of birds. The site has been known to natural historians on St. Croix since the 1920 s because of the wealth of bird life, particularly wading birds and ducks. Marine debris is responsible for the entanglement, strangulation and smothering of thousands of sea creatures every year. Not only do these programs raise awareness of our waterways, but we are gathering valuable information about marine debris that is used by law and policy makers worldwide. Mangrove areas are important to animals and people alike.
Mangroves provide essential habitat for many species, from birds, to fish, to crabs.
But they also protect our shorelines from erosion, and protect sea grass beds and coral reefs from being smothered in sediment. In addition, mangroves are also able to absorb pollutants from the water and soil. Hurricanes and illegal land clearing have severely damaged many of the territory's mangrove forests. NPS is the most prevalent form of pollution in the Virgin Islands. Education is the key to controlling NPS, and by targeting the youth of the VI, it is our goal to help define the behaviors of our future policy makers.