During a recent meeting between Minister William Marlin and Emilio Wilson Estate Foundation (EWEF) board member Rueben J. Thompson, Minister Marlin reaffirmed Government's commitment to purchasing some 370.000 square meters of the Emilio Wilson Estate. The Minister stated that "it is Government's intention to purchase and establish the Emilio Wilson Estate as St. Maarten's first land-based protected area and National Park for the people of St. Maarten".
The EWEF encouraged Government to expedite the process of zoning the Emilio Wilson Estate as a conservation zone and establishing it as St. Maarten's first legally protected land-based National Park. The Foundation informed the Minister that The Heritage Foundation, Sint Maarten Archaeological Centre (SIMARC), Emilio Wilson Estate Foundation (EWEF), St. Maarten Pride Foundation, the Emilio Wilson Historical and Cultural Park Foundation and the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) have been involved in efforts to protect the Emilio Wilson Estate and are the local centres of expertise in the management of land-based Natural and Cultural Heritage. The Minister and the EWEF furthermore discussed plans and proposals for the sustainable and viable management of the Emilio Wilson Estate. For more information like the EWEF on Facebook at www.facebook.com/emiliowilsonestate