Developed land on St. Martin's Island doubles in 18 years

Over the past two decades, the biodiversity of Saint Martin's Island (SMI) has experienced a marked decline as the developed land on the coral island nearly doubled between 2005 and 2023, according to a government report.

"Between 2005 and 2023, developed land on SMI nearly doubled from 45.26 hectares to 86.13 hectares, with significant declines in agricultural and vegetated areas due to unregulated tourism and construction," said the draft "Master Plan of Saint Martin's Island".

The master plan is designed to enhance the Saint Martin's Island as a leading tourist destination, improve residents' quality of life, and protect the island's natural resources through coordinated efforts across multiple sectors, reports BSS.